The field has now been set for the 58th running of the Great American Race, the Daytona 500. Four drivers failed to make the field after the two 150 mile races that finalized the starting line up for Sunday’s race and two drivers celebrated in Victory lane Thursday night. Here’s how both the race went down.
Rookie Chase Elliott led the first lap of the first Duel. Elliott blocked Dale Earnhardt on lap two and the two fought for the top spot until lap two when Earnhardt grabbed the lead entering turn 1. Denny Hamlin and Elliott were side by side for second behind.
There was a three wide battle for second by lap 4 with Brad Keselowski in the mix with Hamlin and Elliott. The lead group behind Earnhardt and second place Hamlin were two by two by lap 6.
Keselowski took second on lap 7; Joey Logano was behind Hamlin in fourth.
Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.
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