KYLE BUSCH SURVIVES LATE PUSH; WINS 2ND DAYTONA DUEL
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Kyle Busch carried his momentum from last season's championship run into Daytona International Speedway where he took his third career victory in Thursday night's second Can-Am 150. Busch was able to survive a late race push from former Daytona 500 champions Jamie McMurray and Jimmie Johnson to secure his spot up front for Sunday's Daytona 500.
Busch ran up front for majority of a rather uneventful race in Daytona terms until the end.
“It was very calm there for a long time until the last lap then it got crazy,” Busch said. “I’m looking forward to starting the Daytona 500 in the fourth spot but I think I actually will get the outside front row now.”
After failing to secure a late race pass, Jamie McMurray appeared to make contact with then third place Jimmie Johnson which sent Johnson's No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet spinning. The wreck caused major damage to Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex, Jr, and Danica Patrick.
Kenseth had already earned a spot on the front row for Sunday's race but will likely have to start from the back of the field in a backup car. This scenario would give Busch the second starting spot instead of the fourth starting spot which he earned for the duel victory.
Like the first duel, there were drivers who were under immense pressure to drive safely in order to make the show on Sunday. BK Racing's stable of Toyotas were the true winners on Thursday night by advancing Matt DiBenedetto's No. 93 and Rob Richardson, Jr's No. 26 entry.
“Two weeks ago when I got the call to run this race, I was mowing the hay pastures,” Richardson said. “I’m just very blessed to be here.”
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Number 0
Unofficial Race Results for the Can-Am Duel 2 - Thursday, February 18, 2016
Daytona International Speedway - Daytona Beach, FL - 2.5 Mile Paved
Total Race Length - 60 Laps - 150 Miles
Leader
Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Pts Bns Driver Rating Status Tms Laps
1 2 18 Kyle Busch M&M's 75 Toyota 60 45 5 127.3 Running 2 35
2 10 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald's/Cessna Chevrolet 60 39 98.1 Running
3 5 41 Kurt Busch Haas Automation/Monster Energy Chevrolet 60 38 79.9 Running
4 4 19 Carl Edwards ARRIS Toyota 60 37 100.7 Running
5 8 95 Ty Dillon(i) Cheerios Chevrolet 60 0 93.3 Running
6 11 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet 60 35 81.8 Running
7 14 10 Danica Patrick Nature's Bakery Chevrolet 60 34 77.1 Running
8 22 14 Brian Vickers Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet 60 33 56.5 Running
9 12 93 * Matt DiBenedetto Dustless Blasting Toyota 60 32 67.1 Running
10 16 46 Michael Annett Pilot/Flying J Chevrolet 60 31 44.5 Running
11 17 38 Landon Cassill Florida Lottery Ford 60 30 38.8 Running
12 19 35 * David Gilliland Ford 60 29 48.3 Running
13 3 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe's Chevrolet 59 28 74.3 Running
14 21 78 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota 59 27 75.3 Running
15 15 47 AJ Allmendinger Kroger/Scott Products Chevrolet 59 26 70.5 Running
16 1 20 Matt Kenseth Dollar General Toyota 59 26 1 89.3 Running 1 23
17 6 13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet 59 24 82.5 Running
18 18 26 * Robert Richardson Jr. Stalk It Toyota 59 23 35.8 Running
19 9 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford 59 23 1 77.1 Running 1 2
20 13 83 Michael Waltrip Maxwell House Toyota 59 21 30.2 Running
21 20 40 * Reed Sorenson CRC Brakleen Chevrolet 56 20 26.1 Running
22 7 31 Ryan Newman CAT Chevrolet 31 19 43.5 Engine
Race Comments: Kyle Busch won the Can-Am Duel #2 at Daytona International Speedway, his third victory in the qualifying event. Prior to the start of the race, the following cars dropped to the rear of the field for the reason indicated: Nos. 42, 83 (back-up car); 14 (Qualifying Time Disallowed); 78 (No Qualifying Attempt).
Failed to Qualify: N/A
Time of Race: 0 Hrs, 46 Mins, 54 Secs. Average Speed: 191.898 MPH Margin of Victory: Caution
Caution Flags: 1 for 1 laps: Laps: 60-60 (#41, 48, 78, 20, 10, 47 Accident Turn 1 [None]).
Lead Changes: 3 among 3 drivers: M. Kenseth 1-23; Kyle Busch 24-37; A. Almirola 38-39; Kyle Busch 40-60.
Chase Grid Outlook: 1.Kyle Busch 45 (1 wins);2.J. Mcmurray 39 (0);3.Kurt Busch 38 (0);4.C. Edwards 37 (0);5.K. Larson 35 (0);6.D. Patrick 34 (0);7.B. Vickers 33 (0);8.*. Dibenedetto 32 (0);9.M. Annett 31 (0);10.L. Cassill 30 (0);11.*. Gilliland 29 (0);12.J. Johnson 28 (0);13.M. Truex Jr. 27 (0);14.A. Allmendinger 26 (0);15.M. Kenseth 26 (0);16.C. Mears 24 (0).
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series
Next Race: Feb. 28, 2016 - Atlanta Motor Speedway
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