Filed under: Clint Bowyer, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup, Richard Childress Racing, NASCAR
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jeff Burton, with help from teammate Clint Bowyer, swept to victory in the second Gatorade Duel Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.
It was the first Speedweeks victory ever for the veteran driver, 43, from South Boston, Va.
Bowyer was second, followed by Michael Waltrip, Kyle Busch and surprising, unsponsored Brian Keselowski, who got a big push from his little brother, Brad, to become the most unlikely top-five finisher in a Sprint Cup race in quite awhile. Full results are here.
In the first Gatorade Duel, Kurt Busch captured the checkered flag.
"It's a shame two cars can't fit in here (in victory lane)," Burton said. "With the way things are going (with the two-car draft), Clint and I decided we were just going to find each other early and it worked out for both of us. For us, it was a great start (to the season)."
Waltrip's finish put him in his 25th consecutive Daytona 500. Waltrip and Brian Keselowski were the two drivers who raced their way into the 500 by virtue of their finishes in the second Duel.
"They like to put a car together at MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing) for the old man," Waltrip said. "To race in the Daytona 500 is just such a great opportunity. I'm certainly proud we have a fast car. We're going to be up in the middle of all that mess."
Bowyer said, "I don't know if there will be another rule change. It was fun out there. Obviously, you always want to win, but I probably should have made my move a little earlier."
As Burton took the checkered flag, Trevor Bayne and Jeff Gordon lost control of their two-car draft and Bayne spun into David Ragan, sending them both spinning.
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