NASCAR Cup Series Race Report - Duel 1

February 14, 2020

Track: Daytona International Speeday
Race: Bluegreen Vacation Duel 1
Date: Februaru 13, 2020

No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang – Brad Keselowski
Start: 12th
Finish: 4th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 60/60
Laps Led: 0
Driver Point Standings (behind first): NA

Notes:

Brad Keselowski rallied from a 12th-place starting position to score a fourth-place finish in the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 Thursday evening at Daytona International Speedway. The driver of the Discount Tire Ford will start ninth in the Daytona 500 on Sunday afternoon.
The start of Duel 1 was delayed by a brief rain shower that pushed the scheduled green flag back approximately one hour.
Keselowski was running fifth when the one and only caution of the race came out on lap 31. Cars in the lead draft slowed to make a scheduled green flag stop. The lapped car of Daniel Suarez made contact with the No. 12 of Ryan Blaney in Turn 4 near the entrance to pit road – and just to the immediate right of Keselowski, who escaped without damage. Keselowski pitted under caution on lap 35 for four tires and restarted fifth when the race went green on lap 37.
Starting on the inside lane, Keselowski struggled to find a clear lane to make it to the front of the pack. He was shuffled back to 12th-place on lap 41. Keselowski steadily worked his way through traffic as the laps ticked off and claimed a fourth-place finish when the checkered flag waved on lap 60.

Quote: "I thought we were really in a good spot until that crash with Ryan Blaney and Daniel Suarez. We were right there, for sure. That cycled us back a few spots and I could never get a clear lane to make anything happen. It was still a decent result for sure. The Discount Tire Ford Mustang drives well and has good speed. Let’s go race."

No. 12 Menards / Peak Ford Mustang – Ryan Blaney
Start: 14th
Finish: 14th
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 60/60
Laps Led: 0
Point Standings (behind first): NA

Notes:

Ryan Blaney started and finished 14th in Thursday night’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 after being involved in a two-car incident during the cycle of green flag pit stops. After multiple pit stops for repairs, Blaney soldiered n oin the lead pack, but lost several spots near the end of the race. As a result of the damage sustained, the No. 12 team has opted to go to a backup car for Sunday’s race.
After starting 14th, Blaney moved the Menards Ford Mustang into the top-10 in the opening 10 laps of the 60-lap event. He would then begin to bide his time riding in the top line behind fellow Ford Performance teammates.
On lap 31, while attempting to come to pit road, Blaney and the No. 96 car of Daniel Suarez made contact off turn 4. The crew would make repairs and get the High Point, NC native back on track still on the lead lap.
Blaney managed to hold on to the lead pack, but the aerodynamically challenged Ford Mustang struggled to make moves to get back to the front. As a result, Blaney would settle for a 14th-place finish in the Duel. Blaney will roll of pit road in the 27th position on Sunday, but have to drop to the rear of the field due to the backup car.

Quote: "We got lucky and should not have never been in that spot in the first place. It was just an error on my part and kind of a little lack of communication that didn’t end well. I feel bad for my guys, but I know we will have a Menards Ford as strong as the primary car and get ready for Sunday."

No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang – Joey Logano
Start: 6th
Finish: 1st
Status: Running
Laps Completed: 60/60
Laps Led: 19
Point Standings (behind first): NA

Notes:

Joey Logano claimed a second consecutive victory in the Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona, powering to Victory Lane in the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang, leading 19 laps and scoring 10 points with the victory. The win secured Logano the third starting position in Sunday afternoon’s Daytona 500, where Logano will be seeking a second victory.
Logano worked in the outside line with numerous Ford Performance teammates as the race began, remaining inside the top-10 as the field ran the opening laps side-by-side. On the tenth lap of the race, the top lane began to prevail with Logano moving into the top-five for the first time of the event.
During the opening run, Logano reported the Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang was good overall with the handling only slightly free. However, 24 laps into the run, Logano reported the car had begun four-wheel skating. With the Chevrolet and Toyota competitors electing to pit, the Ford Performance competitors remained on track, attempting to make speed and put distance over the other cars.
The Ford contingent began to hit pit road at lap 29 when a multi-vehicle incident ensued, collecting Penske teammate Ryan Blaney. The No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil crew elected to pit for four tires and an air pressure adjustment, looking to give Logano stability for the final laps. The team would have to pit from the fourth position.
When the race resumed, Logano restarted fourth and quickly powered to the lead with a push from the No. 10 Ford Mustang of Aric Almirola. As the field began to shuffle, Logano found his way to the bottom line, with the top-six cars all being Fords. Logano used drafting help from Almirola to maintain the lead as the laps clicked off.
On the final lap as the field began to battle behind the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Mustang, Logano was able to pull ahead and claim victory in the first Bluegreen Vacation Duel at Daytona. The victory is the second consecutive for Logano in a Duel qualifying race, as Logano won the second Duel in 2019 with a last lap pass.

Quote: "We had a really good Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang tonight. TJ (Majors) did a great job spotting and keeping ahead of who had the runs and when we needed to change lanes. Aric Almirola really helped us get to Victory Lane, his pushes late in the race were critical to keeping us out front. It’s great to get a win this early in the year with this group and build some momentum heading into the Daytona 500 Sunday."