Joey Logano and Aric Almirola Wins the Daytona Duels

Joey Logano edging out Christopher Bell in Duel 1 Photo Credit (AP/Photo Chris O Meara)

Duel 1 Recap

Defending Cup Series Joey Logano wins the first duel by 0.018 seconds against Christopher Bell. Some analysis from the first duel was the manufacturers working together during the 60 lap heat. It was the blue oval Fords that were up in the front most of the race. That pack was led by Logano followed by Harvick Blaney, and Buescher. There was a late charge towards the end of the race with the Toyota’s that was led by Bubba Wallace first, then was taken over by Christopher Bell. Zane Smith also races his way into the Daytona 500 by defeating Chandler Smith in this Duel 1 race.

Almirola leads the pack in Duel 2 (Getty Images)

Duel 2 Recap

The script was flipped for the second duel. A lot more drivers became aggressive with the pushing toward the end of the race. The Chevys were working together; leading that pack was Kyle Busch followed by Daniel Suarez and Kyle Larson. Suarez pushed Busch aggressively putting Busch’s car head-on in the backstretch wall with 20 to go. Collecting him in the pile-up was Austin Hill who was racing his way into the Daytona 500, was out of the race, and won’t compete in Sunday’s main event. Travis Pastrana and Riley Herbst were also caught up in the wreck as well. Late in the race, it was the Fords that suburb dominance at the end of the race. The pack was led by Austin Cindric, Todd Gilliand and Aric Almirola. The final lap was filled with action as Larson was too aggressive with the push to Gilliand. A spectacular save from Gilliand as he didn’t wreck the car and did not collect any cars. The battle for the lead on the final lap was Almirola versus Cindric; it was Almirola holding off Cindric to secure the win for Duel 2.