The second portion of the 2014 Budweiser Duel at Daytona International Speedway is complete, setting the field for Sunday’s 56th annual Daytona 500. Here’s how the intense nightcap played out.
Budweiser Duel 2014 results: Denny Hamlin escapes wreck, wins second Duel
Hamlin took advantage of Brad Keselowski’s miscue and the ensuing bad luck, then escaped a huge final-lap wreck to earn his second victory of the week.
Brian Lawdermilk
What did we learn?
It’s not over until it’s over. Denny Hamlin won the race after taking the lead on Lap 40 following Brad Keselowski’s penalty for going over the speed limit while exiting pit road. Keselowski’s problems were compounded when he smoked his brakes while serving his penalty, which caused a flat tire. But the whole landscape of the Duel changed when Jimmie Johnson and Jamie McMurray collided on the final lap, setting off a seven-car wreck.
Did Martin Truex Jr. play it safe?
Truex Jr. stated before the race that his crew was “here to race,” and sure enough, he was close enough to the rest of the pack to get caught up in the carnage at the end. Truex’s car was badly mangled and he’ll be forced into a backup car, which will knock him out of the front row on Sunday. That clears the way for Hamlin to take his place, and share the front row with pole-sitter Austin Dillon.
More Daytona: Kenseth wins first heat of Budweiser Duel
How did Jimmie Johnson do?
Johnson was right in the mix until he ran out of gas on the final lap. That triggered the collision that was responsible for the wreck, and Johnson was remorseful after the race, saying that he felt “terrible to tear up that many race cars and to see the 15 (Clint Bowyer) flip.” Bowyer somewhat miraculously landed back on all four wheels and came out of the mess unscathed.
How did Kurt Busch do?
Needing to race his way into the 500, Busch hung around the top five for most of the night and ended up in third-place, behind Hamlin and Jeff Gordon.
Who raced into the Daytona 500?
It appeared that brothers Bobby and Terry Labonte weren’t going to qualify until the final-lap wreck pushed the duo into the top 15. That ensured Bobby’s streak of Daytona 500 appearances -- which started in 1993 -- will continue. Trevor Bayne (who finished sixth) and ninth-place finisher Landon Cassill also raced their way into the Daytona 500. Parker Kligerman, whose status was up in the air after the first heat, has made it into the race as well. Maybe the most interesting story was Casey Mears’. He ran out of gas and came down pit row to refill just before the wreck, saving him from the carnage and allowing him to finish 14th.
Who missed the Daytona 500?
Truex’s brother Ryan did not make the field after finishing in 19th place. Morgan Shepherd and Eric McClure also failed to qualify by finishing 22nd and 23rd, respectively. Michael McDowell and Joe Nemechek, both of whom failed to finish in the top 15 in the first heat, will also miss the Daytona 500.
Any wrecks?
Yes, you could say that.
Results
1. Denny Hamlin
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Kurt Busch
4. Paul Menard
5. Brian Scott
6. Trevor Bayne
7. Kyle Larson
8. Martin Truex Jr
9. Landon Cassill
10. Clint Bowyer
11. Jamie McMurray
12. Terry Labonte
13. Bobby Labonte
14. Casey Mears
15. Carl Edwards
16. Jimmie Johnson
17. David Ragan
18. Michael Waltrip
19. Ryan Truex
20. Justin Allgaier
21. Michael Annett
22. Morgan Shepherd
23. Eric McClure
24. Brad Keselowski
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