The Clash at Daytona results: Brad Keselowski leads Team Penske 1-2 sweep

Keeping his promise that he would win from the back, Brad Keselowski led a Team Penske 1-2 finish in capturing The Clash exhibition opener Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

A random draw placed Keselowski last in the 17-car field, prompting him to tweet pre-race that he would still win despite the disadvantageous starting position. He followed through by picking off positions during the early stages before capturing the lead on lap 39 of 75, a lead he wouldn’t relinquish as he held off teammate Joey Logano.

Kurt Busch finished third, Ryan Blaney in another Penske car was fourth, with Austin Dillon fifth. The top four finishers all drove Fords, with Dillon in a Chevrolet.

Widely regarded as the best active driver in restrictor-plate races, Keselowski had yet to win the Clash before Sunday and is still seeking his first Daytona 500 victory. He will be among the favorites to the win NASCAR’s biggest race on Feb. 18, which opens the 2018 Cup Series season. His best Daytona 500 finish was fourth in 2013.

“It means a lot. I have never won anything here during Speedweeks and I feel like I have choked them away to be quite honest,” Keselowski said. “You need one to break through. Hopefully this is our breakthrough.”

Penske teammates Keselowski, Logano, and Blaney firmly held the top positions over the closing laps, giving the impression something unusual would have to occur for one of them not to reach victory lane. And although Blaney attempted to pass Keselowski on the final lap, he couldn’t muster a run and faded. That left Logano on the back of Keselowski’s bumper but without a drafting partner to push him forward.

Keselowski’s biggest concern over the final laps was a large piece of debris that affixed itself to the nose of the No. 2 Ford. Although his engine temps rose, the 2012 Cup champion had little issue holding off Logano to grab the win.

“I was worried about the run (by Logano),” Keselowski said, “but the car was way overheating there at the end and I was more worried about it blowing up than anything else.”

Contact between Kyle Larson and Jimmie Johnson on the backstretch triggered a multi-car crash on the final lap. Larson appeared to have a run when he tapped Johnson’s rear bumper, turning Johnson’s No. 48 car into the outside wall.

The cars of Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott and Kasey Kahne also sustained damage. None of the drivers involved were injured.