Cindric and Wallace Secure Duel Wins, Setting Daytona 500 Field
DAYTONA BEACH, FL – – Austin Cindric and Bubba Wallace emerged victorious from Thursday night’s Daytona Duels at Daytona International Speedway, finalizing the starting lineup for Sunday’s 67th annual Daytona 500. The Duels, two 60-lap, 150-mile qualifying races, determined the remaining positions in the “Great American Race.”
Cindric, driving the No. 2 Team Penske Ford, won the second Duel in a photo finish, narrowly edging out Erik Jones. The victory came down to a review by NASCAR officials, who determined Cindric led by millimeters when the caution light illuminated on the final lap. Jones initially celebrated what he believed was a win, but the call was overturned after careful examination of the replay.
“I feel bad for Erik having to go all the way over there,” Cindric told Fox Sports after the race, referencing Jones’ initial celebration. “But obviously they made a great move on the last lap. Me and Joey were sitting ducks with the middle lane fading there. We had a really fast Discount Tire Ford Mustang… I’m super proud of my team and everyone to go out here, and execute.”
The final lap of Duel No. 2 was particularly dramatic, with Jones and Cindric drag-racing to the checkered flag while a multi-car crash unfolded behind them. According to reports, Jones crossed the finish line first in real-time, but the timing of the caution flag ultimately awarded the win to Cindric.
“It’s a wide range of emotions,” said Jones. “It’s a bummer. It’s the rule. If the yellow is out the race is over and it’s unfortunate but either way, the Advent Health Camry was really fast. It was fun running up front, fun leading some laps, fun contending for the win. I did everything I could so it just didn’t work out. Hopefully we can be in that same spot again Sunday.” Jones added that he believed he had built enough momentum to win, but it wasn’t quite enough before the caution came out.
In the first Duel, Bubba Wallace secured the victory in the No. 23 Toyota of 23XI Racing, besting defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron on the final lap. Wallace’s win guarantees him the No. 3 starting spot for Sunday’s race. “I was lucky to have (teammate) Tyler (Reddick) behind me – he did a great job pushing me,” Wallace said after his win. “I appreciate that massive 23XI effort to get us this win. But all-in-all, we’ve got McDonald’s back in victory lane at the Duel. It sets us up really good for Sunday.”
The first Duel was impacted by caution flags on laps 3 and 14, altering fuel strategies for the race. Wallace led a race-high 21 laps in the first Duel.
Corey LaJoie also secured a spot in the Daytona 500 through his performance in the Duels, finishing sixth in Duel No. 2 and racing his Rick Ware Racing Ford into the field. This result meant Anthony Alfredo and BJ McLeod failed to qualify for the main event.
“You forget how special this race is when you have to race for it, you have to earn it,” LaJoie told Fox Sports after qualifying. “When you’re racing full time, it’s just the first one of 36, but when it’s the one that you think about for months, it means that much more.”
Cindric’s Duel win positions him well for Sunday’s Daytona 500, starting him on the outside of the second row. Wallace will start from the third position. The Daytona 500 is scheduled to take place on .
During Duel No. 2, Cindric started on the pole after finishing second in Wednesday night’s pole qualifying behind Chase Briscoe, but briefly relinquished the lead to Denny Hamlin before regaining it when it mattered most.
