KURT BUSCH – 2017 Daytona 500 Race Report – BUSCH WINS!

Event:               59th Daytona 500 (Round 1 of 36)
Series:               Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Location:          Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Format:             200 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/60 laps/80 laps)
Start/Finish:      8th/1st (Running, completed 200 of 200 laps)
Point Standing: 1st (56 points, 12 ahead of second)
Race Winner:    Kurt Busch of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)

Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-60):

  • Made a pit stop during green-flag conditions on lap 28 for right-side tires and fuel.
  • Visited pit road at the conclusion of Stage 1 for four tires, fuel and chassis adjustments.

Stage 2 Recap (Laps 61-120):

  • Stopped on pit road on lap 90 for two tires and fuel after reporting that the car was handling well.
  • Scored in third-place at the conclusion of Stage 2.

 Final Stage Recap (Laps 121-200):

  • Suffered minor damage to the car during a multi-car accident on lap 129. The team was able to make repairs on pit road, keeping Busch in contention for the win.
  • Made final trip to pit road for service on lap 143 where the team changed four tires and added fuel.
  • Reported an issue with his rear view mirror in the closing laps but was able to resolve it.
  • Took over the top spot on the final lap to win the race. 

Notes:

  • This is Busch’s first Daytona 500 victory and his first points-paying win at Daytona.
  • Busch led only one time at Daytona on Sunday when he took the lead on the last lap to secure the victory, bringing his laps laps-led total at Daytona to 291.
  • Busch now owns one win, 13 top-fives and 17 top-10 finishes in 32 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Daytona.
  • Prior to his win on Sunday, Busch had finished in the runner-up spot in the “Great American Race” three times (2003, 2005 and 2008).
  • The win is the 37th win for Stewart-Haas Racing and the organization’s first in the Daytona 500.

 Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:

“There is nothing predictable about this race anymore, and the more years that have gone by that I didn’t win I kept trying to go back to patterns that I had seen in the past. My mirror fell off with 30 laps to go and I couldn’t even see out the back. It just got crazy and wild, and I am so proud of all the drivers at the end. We put on a show for a full fuel run, and nobody took each other out and it was one of the smartest chess games I have seen out there. All of the hard work that Ford and SHR put into this – and this Ford Fusion is in Daytona’s victory lane.

“I tried not to put any extra pressure on my shoulders (in regards to sponsor Monster Energy being the series sponsor). I tried to rely on my team’s strengths and not focus on what I have been through with Monster Energy the last six years. They are a strong, big company and they have chosen to be the entitlement sponsor and I can’t be happier to do the job I am supposed to do as a Monster athlete, which is to win podiums and races. Here we are. We are with the Daytona 500 trophy. Thanks to Monster Energy, Haas Automation and everybody at Ford. We are going to enjoy this one.”

 Tony Stewart, co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing:

“The look on Gene Haas’ face right now – that smile – makes it all worth it. It has been a really long hard winter and I am so proud of everyone at SHR and Ford Performance. They really worked their tails off to get ready. Doug Yates and everybody at Roush Yates Engines brought unbelievable power all week. It was a crazy race, even crazier to sit and watch it from a pit box finally. If I had known all I had to do was retire, I would have retired 17 years ago if I knew it was what it took to win the race. Kurt did an amazing job. He didn’t even have a rear view mirror. The mirror folded on him. His spotter, Tony Raines did an amazing job. That is the most composed I have ever seen Kurt at the end of a race. He deserved this.” 

Next Up:

The next event on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Folds of Honor 500 on Sunday, March 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race starts at 2:30 p.m. EST with live coverage provided by FOX.

 

DANICA PATRICK – 2017 Daytona 500 Race Report

Event:               59th Daytona 500 (Round 1 of 36)
Series:               Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Location:          Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Format:             200 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/60 laps/80 laps)
Start/Finish:      12th/33rd (Accident, completed 128 of 200 laps) 
Point Standing: 24th (16 points, 40 out of first)
Race Winner:    Kurt Busch of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)

 

Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-60):

  • Danica Patrick started 12th, finished 10th and earned one bonus point.
  • The No. 10 Aspen Dental Ford Fusion team pitted on lap 30 for right-side tires under green-flag conditions and again for left-side tires while under caution two laps later.
  • Despite fighting a loose-handling racecar off of turn four, Patrick ran as high as eighth during the first segment.
  • Between stages, crew chief Billy Scott called for a four-tire stop with packer and wedge adjustments.

 Stage 2 Recap (Laps 61-120):     

  • Patrick started 15th, finished fifth and earned six bonus points.
  • The No. 10 team pitted on lap 90 for a fuel-only stop and again between stages for four tires and fuel.
  • Once all teams pitted during Stage 2, Patrick was scored in the second position.
  • Patrick remained inside the top-five until the end of the stage.

Final Stage Recap (Laps 121-200):          

  • Patrick started 18th and finished 33rd.
  • Despite ending the second segment in the fifth position, Patrick lined up 18th for Stage 3 as some teams elected not to pit and others took just two tires.
  • On lap 127, the No. 10 Aspen Dental Ford was collected in a 17-car accident. The car sustained significant damage, forcing Patrick to the garage, which ended the team’s day.

 Notes:              

  • While Patrick was credited with a 33rd-place finish in Sunday’s race, with the points Patrick earned in Thursday’s Can-Am Duel at Daytona and in the first two stages of the Daytona 500, she leaves Daytona scored 24th in the driver point standings.

 Danica Patrick, driver of the No. 10 Aspen Dental Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:

What happened in that accident? “I don’t really know. I just know we were all three-wide, and it looks like the Nos. 6 and 48 cars had something happen. There was nowhere to go. They just kept coming and hitting me. The left rear is broken. The bodywork damage isn’t that bad, but I don’t know how long that takes to fix. The five-minute clock is an interesting new element. I don’t know if it is good or bad. We don’t want to go on track with stuff that isn’t safe, but when all these cars crash out you want to be able to get as many points as possible. The Aspen Dental Ford was really fast today. All of the Fords were really fast today. We got organized, and we were gone! It was the funnest 500 I’ve ever had. Well, probably not 500, more like 300 or 250. It is a real shame. I feel like we could have been a contender at the end.”

 Next Up:                                                                        

The next event on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Folds of Honor 500 on Sunday, March 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race starts at 2:30 p.m. EST with live coverage provided by FOX.

KEVIN HARVICK – 2017 Daytona 500 Race Report

Event:               59th Daytona 500 (Round 1 of 36)
Series:               Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Location:          Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Format:             200 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/60 laps/80 laps)
Start/Finish:      5th/22nd (Running, completed 197 of 200 laps) 
Point Standing: 4th (42 points, 14 out of first)
 Race Winner:    Kurt Busch of Stewart-Haas Racing (Ford)

 

Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-60):

  • Started 5th, finished 2nd.
  • The No. 4 car of Kevin Harvick led three times for 18 laps.
  • Harvick pitted on lap 32 for two tires and fuel immediately before the caution came out.
  • Earned nine points for his second-place finish in Stage 1.

 

Stage 2 Recap (Laps 61-120):     

  • Started 2nd, finished 1st.
  • Harvick led three times for 32 laps.
  • Harvick raced at the front the majority of the segment.

 

Final Stage Recap (Laps 121-200):          

  • Harvick pitted for four tires at the conclusion of Stage 2 and restarted farther back in the pack as several cars took two or no tires.
  • The No. 4 was collected in a 17-car accident on lap 129 and suffered substantial damage.
  • The team was able to continue following multiple stops for repairs but was taken out of contention for the win.

 

Notes:              

  • Harvick scored one playoff point for winning the second stage.
  • Harvick led six times for a race-high 50 laps to bring his laps-led total at Daytona to 229.

 

Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Jimmy John’s Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:

 “We just got some cars up there that didn’t need to be up there and wound up doing more than their car could do. I’ve just got to thank everybody on our Jimmy John’s/Busch Beer Ford for everything that they’ve done all week. We had, I felt, the fastest car in the field and right in contention for both segments, and then it’s all tore up and it came to an end. What do you do?”

 

Next Up:                                                                        

The next event on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Folds of Honor 500 on Sunday, March 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race starts at 2:30 p.m. EST with live coverage provided by FOX.

 

CLINT BOWYER – 2017 Daytona 500 Race Report

Event:               59th Daytona 500 (Round 1 of 36)
Series:               Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Location:          Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Format:             200 laps, broken into three stages (60 laps/60 laps/80 laps)
Start/Finish:      6th/32nd (Accident, completed 128 of 200 laps)
Point Standing: 23rd (18 points, 38 out of first)
 Race Winner:    Kurt Busch of Stewart-Haas Racing

Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-60):

  • Started sixth, finished 28th.
  • Clint Bowyer ran as high as second, but a tight-handling car dropped him to midpack.
  • Corey Lajoie locked his brakes entering pit road and narrowly missed Bowyer’s car before Lajoie slid across the infield grass and brought out a caution on lap 27.
  • Bowyer wasn’t as fortunate when he and Trevor Bayne made contact on the track late in the first stage, causing right-rear damage. The No. 14 crew made extensive repairs to the right side during the caution.

Stage 2 Recap (Laps 61-120):     

  • Started 33rd, finished seventh.
  • Bowyer raced in 28th early in the stage as the Mobil 1 crew assessed damaged sustained in Stage 1 contact.
  • He pitted for fuel only on lap 103, when the caution flew for a multicar accident that brought out a red flag.
  • The Mobil 1 driver restarted ninth after the red flag and stayed at the front of the field.

 Final Stage Recap (Laps 121-200):          

  • Started 22nd, finished 32nd.
  • Bowyer took four tires before the final stage commenced.
  • The Mobil 1 driver had begun working his way to the front of the field when a 17-car accident on lap 127 triggered by Bayne and Jimmie Johnson collected the No. 14.
  • Bowyer’s car came to rest in the grass, where he restarted his car and drove to pit lane. The crew determined the damage sustained was too great to continue.

 Notes:              

  • Sunday marked Bowyer’s first race with Stewart-Haas Racing replacing three-time champion Tony Stewart in the No. 14 Ford.
  • Stewart sat on Bowyer’s pit box and talked with him over the team radio throughout the race.

 Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 14 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:

“Man I hate the way it ended. No way around it. We got caught up with someone else’s mess. Just really upset right now. We’ve had a good week down here, and we still have a lot of racing left in 2017, so I’m pumped about the year. We had a really fast Mobil 1 Ford today.”

 Next Up:                                

The next event on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Folds of Honor 500 on Sunday, March 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race starts at 2:30 p.m. EST with live coverage provided by FOX.

COLE CUSTER – 2017 Daytona Race Report

Event:                     PowerShares QQQ 300 (Round 1 of 33)
Series:                    NASCAR XFINITY Series
Location:                Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Format:                 120 laps, broken into three stages (30 laps/30 laps/60 laps)
Start/Finish:          20th/37th  (Accident, completed 22 of 120 laps)
Point Standing:    30th (1 point, 46 out of first)
Race Winner:        Ryan Reed of Roush Fenway Racing (Ford Mustang)

Stage 1 Recap (Laps 1-30):

  • Started 20th, finished 37th.

Notes of Interest:             

  • This is Custer’s first career NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
  • Custer raced as high as 10th place before being involved in an accident during Stage 1 involving 20 cars.
  • This was Custer’s third race at Daytona International Speedway.

Cole Custer, driver of the No. 00 Haas Automation Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing:

“It looks like we got collected there. I saw the 42 get turned and I think we just tried to make our way through, but there was nowhere to go. It’s a shame because we had a really good Haas Automation Ford Mustang. I thought our guys did a great job. It drafted really well and we’ll look forward to Atlanta. I know we’ve got a lot of great people at Stewart-Haas and Ford, and I think we’ll have a lot of great runs this year.”

Daytona is a different animal than most every other track. Do you quickly forget about this race and move on to the rest of the season?

“Yeah, it’s Daytona. You’re gonna have this all the time, so we’ll go to the next one. That’s all you can look forward to, and I think we’re gonna be fast in Atlanta. We’ll see what we can do.”

What was the racing like?

“I wouldn’t say people were being too aggressive at first. It was definitely hectic, though. We got the third lane going a little bit, but right there at the end people were trying to make up spots for the segment and people might have gotten a little too aggressive.”

Next Up: 

The next event on the NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule is the Rinnai 250 on Saturday, March 4 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race starts at 1:30 p.m. EST with live coverage provided by FS1.

COLE CUSTER – 2017 Daytona Race Advance

Event:               PowerShares QQQ 300 (Round 1 of 33)
Date:                 Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017
Location:          Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway
Layout:             2.5-mile oval (restrictor-plate track)

Cole Custer Notes of Interest

  • The PowerShares QQQ 300 will mark Cole Custer’s sixth career NASCAR XFINITY Series start, his first career XFINITY Series start at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and his first career XFINITY Series start in a restrictor-plate race.
  • Custer’s five previous XFINITY Series starts came in 2016. His best result was a fourth-place finish May 28 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. 
  • Custer has two overall starts at Daytona between the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series. Both came in February 2016 during Speedweeks, with Custer finishing 24th in the Truck Series race and 10th in the ARCA race. 
  • Custer won the pole for the 2016 ARCA season opener at Daytona, becoming the youngest pole winner in Daytona history among the ARCA, Truck, XFINITY and Cup series.
  • Custer has competed in three restrictor-plate races – twice in the Camping World Truck Series (once at Daytona and once at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway) and once in ARCA (Daytona). All of them came in 2016. His best Truck Series finish was 24th at Daytona and his best ARCA finish was 10th.
  • Custer is competing for rookie-of-the-year honors in the XFINITY Series.

Cole Custer, Driver Q&A

What does racing at Daytona mean to you?

“Daytona is definitely one of the most historic tracks we go to, so it means a lot just to get to race there. Getting a win there also puts you with some legendary names in the sport. Growing up, I always looked forward to Daytona because the pack racing was so cool and it was the first race of the year. It’s always a surreal feeling to race at Daytona because you can’t believe you’re doing what you dreamed of as a kid.”

 You’ve competed at Daytona twice in your career, but never in the XFINITY Series. How do you feel those past experiences will prepare you for the PowerShares QQQ 300? 

“I feel the Truck and ARCA Series helped prepare me to get used to racing in the pack and working with the air. It kind of gave me an idea of where I need to be in the pack and how to stay out of trouble. There are definitely a lot of different things about the XFINITY Series that I will have to learn, though. There are a lot of guys out there with a lot of experience in plate racing, but I’m looking forward to getting in my new Haas Automation Ford Mustang and competing for a top position.”

 You’re only 19 years old, but you’ve been a rookie many times already in a career that has advanced you to the XFINITY Series. Even with all the newness of the XFINITY Series, does having been a rookie in USAC, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the Camping World Truck Series, and then establishing yourself in those series, give you the confidence you need to compete at this level?

“The XFINITY Series will definitely be a new challenge with a lot of tough competitors, but I’m confident in Stewart-Haas and Ford to give the team a great season. I think we have a great shot at a successful season and I’m looking forward to it.”

 What are your expectations for Daytona and your rookie XFINITY Series season?

“I think we have as good of a shot as anyone to win at Daytona. We’re building some great Haas Automation Ford Mustangs and have great support from Ford and Stewart-Haas. Stewart-Haas is one of the best teams in NASCAR right now, so I’m confident in our abilities. I think we’ll have a really good shot at Daytona and I’m really looking forward to it. Right now, Daytona is all about staying out of trouble and getting a solid finish. A win would be great, but a solid finish and staying out of trouble would be great, too. For the season, I would like to aim for some solid finishes to start, then make our way to the playoffs and go from there.”

Jeff Meendering, Crew Chief Q&A

 You’ve worked with a lot of veteran drivers, including championship-winning drivers Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte and Matt Kenseth. What’s it like to work with a rookie driver?“It’s really nice. It’s a new perspective and neat to see someone who is really excited about it, wants to be a part of it and puts most of his time and effort working to make it better. He goes to the wind tunnel and works all day in the shop. It’s different seeing that side of things. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

What have you learned about Custer and what are your expectations for Daytona and the season?“We just want to keep improving. We want to start by consistently being a top-15 team, then a top-10 team, then a top-five team and, by the end of the season, be contenders for a championship. We’ve done one test with Cole now and I’ve really enjoyed working with him. He gives great feedback and, when you ask him questions, he has great answers. He does a great job at steering you in the direction to make the car handle better. I think we’re going to work very well together.”

 

KURT BUSCH – Can-Am Duel Race Report

Event:                           Can-Am Duel
Series:                           Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Location:                      Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Format:                         Twin 150-mile qualifying races that set the field for the Daytona 500
Start/Finish:                  11th/3rd (Running, completed 60 of 60 laps) 
Duel No. 1 Winner:        Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Duel No. 2 Winner:        Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
 

Stewart-Haas Racing Finish:      

  • Kevin Harvick (Started 4th, Finished 3rd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 1)
  • Clint Bowyer (Started 2nd, Finished 2nd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)
  • Kurt Busch (Started 11th, Finished 3rd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)
  • Danica Patrick (Started 12th, Finished 7th / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)

Notes:              

  • Stewart-Haas Racing scored three top-five and four top-10 finishes in the Can-Am Duels at Daytona.
  • Busch and Harvick each scored eight regular-season points, Bowyer scored nine.
  • Busch’s third-place finish was his sixth top-five finish in the Duel.
  • Busch will start eighth in the Daytona 500.
  • Busch sustained right-side damage which hurt the handling of his No. 41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford Fusion, but was able to continue on to finish behind his SHR teammate Bowyer.
  • Drivers earning even-numbered positions from Sunday’s pole qualifying session were assigned to the first Duel race. Drivers earning odd-numbered positions from pole qualifying competed in the second Duel race. The starting positions for each Duel race were based on qualifying times.

 

Kurt Busch, Driver of the No. 41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:
“I’m satisfied with it. We had a good run and it’s not on the wrecker. I just didn’t execute like I needed to. Me and (Clint) Bowyer were like two brothers walking down the hallway looking at each and going in different directions. We just didn’t have a clean exchange. It wasn’t anyone’s fault, we just didn’t have a good exchange. I wasn’t able to execute to get to his back bumper and get to Denny (Hamlin) at the end. We just need to work on our straightaway speed for Sunday. I think we’re good. We have a good car to go race and try to win the Daytona 500.”

 

Next Up:                                                                        
The 59th Daytona 500 gets underway at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 26, with live coverage provided by FOX beginning with its pre-race show at 1 p.m.

CLINT BOWYER – Can-Am Duel Race Report

Event:                           Can-Am Duel (qualifying race for the Daytona 500)
Series:                           Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Location:                      Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Format:                         Twin 150-mile qualifying races that set the field for the Daytona 500
Start/Finish:                  2nd/2nd (Running, completed 60 of 60 laps) 
Duel No. 1 Winner:        Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Duel No. 2 Winner:        Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
 

SHR Finish:

  • Kevin Harvick (Started 4th, Finished 3rd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 1)
  • Clint Bowyer (Started 2nd, Finished 2nd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)
  • Kurt Busch (Started 11th, Finished 3rd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)
  • Danica Patrick (Started 12th, Finished 7th / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)

 

Notes:                          

  • Bowyer ran in second place for the first 24 laps before falling to sixth at the lap 25 competition caution.
  • Bowyer dropped to 13th after an air gun malfunction during a pit stop. He rallied in the closing laps to finish second.
  • Stewart-Haas Racing scored three top-five and four top-10 finishes in the Can-Am Duels at Daytona.
  • Bowyer scored nine regular-season points, Harvick and Kurt Busch each scored eight.
  • Drivers earning odd-numbered positions from Sunday’s pole qualifying session were assigned to the first Duel race. Drivers earning even-numbered positions from pole qualifying competed in the second Duel race. The starting positions for each Duel race were based on qualifying times.

 

Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 14 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:
“Damn, this is fun again. Man, what a rocket ship. Hats off to all these guys that put all this hard work into these cars for Ford. This is going to be a great year. This is fun. (Crew Chief) Mike (Bugarewicz) and all the guys on the 14 car, it is just – it has been a long time coming. It is fun to get out here on one of my favorite race tracks and run up front. I want to thank everybody. Tony (Stewart) and Gene Haas, Mobil 1, Haas Automation, Ford, Yates — how about that horse power man.”

Next Up:                                                                        
The 59th Daytona 500 gets underway at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 26, with live coverage provided by FOX beginning with its pre-race show at 1 p.m.

DANICA PATRICK – Can-Am Duel Race Report

Event:                           Can-Am Duel
Series:                           Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Location:                      Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Format:                         Twin 150-mile qualifying races that set the field for the Daytona 500
Start/Finish:                  12th/6th (Running, completed 60 of 60 laps)
Duel No. 1 Winner:        Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Duel No. 2 Winner:        Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
 

SHR Finish:     

  • Kevin Harvick (Started 4th, Finished 3rd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 1)
  • Clint Bowyer (Started 2nd, Finished 2nd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)
  • Kurt Busch (Started 11th, Finished 3rd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)
  • Danica Patrick (Started 12th, Finished 6th / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)

 

Notes:              

  • Patrick started 12th and ran as high as sixth before the lap 25 competition caution in the second Can-Am Duel race.
  • The No. 10 Aspen Dental Ford Fusion team pitted twice for four tires and fuel during the 60-lap race.
  • Despite dropping to 15th with four laps to go, Patrick worked the top line to draft her way back toward the front of the field and was credited with a sixth-place finish.
  • As a result of her finish in Thursday night’s race, Patrick will start 12th in the Daytona 500.
  • Patrick’s sixth-place effort marked her best-ever finish in the Duel. Her previous best result in the race was a seventh-place finish last year.
  • Drivers earning odd-numbered positions from Sunday’s pole qualifying session were assigned to the first Duel race. Drivers earning even-numbered positions from pole qualifying competed in the second Duel race. The starting positions for each Duel race were based on qualifying times.

 

Danica Patrick, driver of the No. 10 Aspen Dental Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:
 “It was nice to tell Edsel Ford that the Ford was really good. I told him I’ve had my best finishes in stock car racing in Fords. It’s been a good start. The car is in one piece. I feel like the car is more stable in traffic than it has been in years. I feel like the power is good. I feel like we have a really good shot on Sunday. So, the Aspen Dental Ford is in good shape and running well.”

 

Billy Scott, crew chief for Patrick and the No. 10 Aspen Dental Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:
 “The race went really well. The Aspen Dental Ford is in one piece, we got a decent start and we earned some points tonight. Everything was good on track. We’ve got a few minor tweaks to make for Sunday, but we should be in good shape.”

 

Next Up:
The 59th Daytona 500 gets underway at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26, with live coverage provided by FOX beginning with its pre-race show at 1 p.m.

 

KEVIN HARVICK – Can-Am Duel Race Report

Event:                           Can-Am Duel (qualifying race for the Daytona 500)

Series:                           Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Location:                      Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)

Format:                         Twin 150-mile qualifying races that set the field for the Daytona 500

Start/Finish:                  4th/3rd (Running, completed 60 of 60 laps) 

Duel No. 1 Winner:        Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)

Duel No. 2 Winner:        Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

 

Stewart-Haas Racing Finish:

  • Kevin Harvick (Started 4th, Finished 3rd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 1)
  • Clint Bowyer (Started 2nd, Finished 2nd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)
  • Kurt Busch (Started 11th, Finished 3rd / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)
  • Danica Patrick (Started 12th, Finished 7th / Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)

 

Notes:                          

  • Harvick will start fifth in the Daytona 500.
  • Harvick ran as high as second and raced in the top-five the majority of the event.
  • Harvick and Ford teammate Brad Keselowski worked together in the closing laps to attempt to catch race winner Chase Elliott.
  • Harvick scored his seventh top-five finish in a Daytona qualifying race.
  • Harvick received eight regular-season points for his third-place finish in the first Duel.
  • Drivers earning odd-numbered positions from Sunday’s pole qualifying session were assigned to the first Duel race. Drivers earning even-numbered positions from pole qualifying competed in the second Duel race. The starting positions for each Duel race were based on qualifying times.

 

Kevin Harvick, driver of the No. 4 Jimmy John’s Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing:

 “We got there, but we just didn’t clear the No. 24. Brad (Keselowski) and I were talking just about how our cars were handling. We had a very similar issue that we need to work on a little bit. We’ve got a couple things we need to work on before the 500, but, all in all, I’m pretty happy with no practice and still building our notebook on all these Fords. We’ve still got plenty of speed, so that’s a good thing.”

 

And you got some points tonight.

“Yeah, I forgot about that, so we got some points and that’s a good thing.”

 

It was close quarters racing in the end. Any concerns about that?

“That’s just how we race all the time. We want to race for the trophies and for wins and I think everybody knows there are points on the line tonight and you want to get your season started off well, so it went OK. We didn’t get to victory lane like we wanted to, but still OK.”

 

Next Up:

The 59th Daytona 500 gets underway at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26, with live coverage provided by FOX beginning with its pre-race show at 1 p.m.