DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt took the first of two Budweiser Duel qualifying races Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.
Budweiser Duel 2015 results: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins Daytona 500 qualifying race
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start third in Daytona 500 after winning his qualifying race Thursday.
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
The victory firmly establishes Earnhardt, the defending Daytona 500 winner, as the favorite for Sunday’s Great American Race. Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer completed the top-five finishers. Earnhardt will start third Sunday.
Based on their finishes, Landon Cassill (ninth), Cole Whitt (10th), Michael McDowell (12th), J.J. Yeley (13th), Michael Annett (14th) and Ty Dillon (16th) race their way into the Daytona 500 field. Each had been on the bubble entering Thursday due to poor times in qualifying last Sunday, along with being too low points and not eligible for a provisional.
Justin Marks and Ron Hornaday Jr. did not qualify. An engine failure put Casey Mears in the garage early and he will have to wait on the results of Duel No. 2 to see if he qualifies.
A wreck will likely force AJ Allmendinger to a backup car for the Daytona 500. Allmendinger was running in a pack of cars when he tagged Johnny Sauter, triggering an accident. Other cautions fell for Mears’ blown motor and an accident involving Trevor Bayne and Kyle Larson.
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