Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski win Daytona Duels as RFK Racing makes early statement

Zach Dean, The Daytona Beach News-Journal

February 17, 2022 at 11:02 PM·4 min read

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Well, so much for keeping the tow-trucks in the garage.

After a mostly tame night, the Daytona Duels turned wild on the final lap of the second race on Thursday when Chris Buescher got into the back of Joey Logano on the backstretch of the final lap.

Logano, leading at the time, went low to block Buescher, but it was too late. Buescher was already there, didn't lift, and sent Logano's No. 22 Ford into the wall and spinning back down the track.

The caution flew, NASCAR reviewed the incident, and Buescher was eventually declared the winner, making it clean sweep for the newly formed Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.

Brad Keselowski, who left Penske after last season to become a part-owner at RFK, drove his new No. 6 Ford to a win in the opening 150-mile race.

"What a way to start Speedweeks, putting both RFK mustangs in Victory Lane," Buescher said. "It's not the big show, but we have a really good hot-rod. I didn't want to get into him, I was just trying to pull down and get in front of the 15. I didn't want it to happen that way for sure."

Chris Buescher (17) celebrates after winning the Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 at Daytona International Speedway.

Neither did Logano, who took full responsibility for the incident.

"I just made a mistake," he said. "I didn't think the run would come that quick. The speed that it happened was quicker than I thought. I thought I was clear and I wasn't. I apologize. Dumb move. I just blew it."

Keselowski cruised to a win in the opening Duel after taking the lead from Ryan Blaney with four laps to go. The former Daytona winner will start in the second row for Sunday's Daytona 500, alongside Buescher.

"I felt pretty good about our car, and I have to give credit to the other Fords, we worked really well together," Keselowski said. "We all stuck together and drove away and were able to control the finish of this race. It's a great start for our team, this is special."

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Those two will start behind Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman, the two Hendrick Chevys that dominated Daytona 500 qualifying Wednesday.

Larson led a majority of the opening Duel before the Chevy camp chose to take four tires during a green flag pit stop, putting them behind the Fords that took just two tires.

Kaz Grala, driving for Floyd Mayweather's newly formed Cup team, drove the No. 50 machine to a spot in Sunday's 500 after passing JJ Yeley on the final lap of the opening race.

Greg Biffle, who won at Daytona back in 2003, drove his No. 44 Chevy to the 500 starting grid after being the highest finishing open car in the second Duel.

"It's a huge deal," said Biffle, who is driving for NY Racing and team-owner John Cohen. "I didn't have everything we needed but I had a good car and was able to work through our problems and get it on the track. The car drove so good. We had trouble getting fuel in car, ran out of gas with two to go but still finished 14th."

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Grala, who sped on pit road midway through the first Duel, admitted he thought his night was done before making the last-lap pass.

"We squeaked in by the skin of our teeth, got the hiccups out of the way and hopefully have a smooth Sunday," he added.

Defending 500 champion Michael McDowell will start sixth after finishing second to Buescher, while Blaney will start seventh alongside rookie Harrison Burton. Chase Briscoe and Kyle Busch round out the top 10.

Chase Elliott will start 11th on Sunday, Bubba Wallace will roll off 16th, and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin will start 30th after his Duel was derailed thanks to a late spin on pit road.

Projected Daytona 500 starting lineup

1. Kyle Larson

2. Alex Bowman

3. Brad Keselowski

4. Chris Buescher

5. Austin Cindric

6. Michael McDowell

7. Ryan Blaney

8. Harrison Burton

9. Chase Briscoe

10. Kyle Busch

11. Chase Elliott

12. Christopher Bell

13. Erik Jones

14. Martin Truex Jr.

15. Tyler Reddick

16. Bubba Wallace

17. Kurt Busch

18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

19. Ross Chastain

20. Joey Logano

21. Daniel Suarez

22. Kevin Harvick

23. William Byron

24. Corey LaJoie

25. Justin Haley

26. Ty Dillon

27. Landon Cassill

28. Greg Biffle

29. Todd Gilliland

30. Denny Hamlin

31. Cole Custer

32. Cody Ware

33. Daniel Hemric

34. David Ragan

35. Kaz Grala

36. Austin Dillon

37. BJ McLeod

38. Aric Almirola

39. Noah Gragson

40. Jacques Villeneuve

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski sweep Daytona duels for RFK Racing

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Projected Daytona 500 starting lineup

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