Kurt Busch and Burton win Duels
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.
Kurt Busch proved his victory in Saturday’s Budweiser Shootout was no fluke.
Jeff Burton, with an assist from Clint Bowyer, used the Shootout as an object lesson and figured out how to stay in front at the finish at Daytona International Speedway.
On Thursday, Busch and Burton each won a Gatorade Duel 150 qualifying race for the first time — Busch capturing the first event with a sustained push from Regan Smith, Burton edging Richard Childress Racing teammate Bowyer in a photo finish in the second.
Busch earned an extra bonus for his victory. He’ll lead the field to the green flag in Sunday’s Daytona 500, because pole winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. wrecked during Wednesday’s practice, went to a backup car and must start NASCAR’s most important race from the rear of the field.
Jeff Gordon, who qualified second on Sunday and finished 12th in the second Duel, will start from the outside of the front row based on his effort in time trials. Burton will start behind Gordon in fourth position.
Smith finished second in the first Duel and will line up in third position for the 500 after Earnhardt drops to the rear before the start. Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne completed the top five in the first Duel.
Bowyer crossed the finish line .005 seconds behind Burton and will start sixth in Sunday’s race. Michael Waltrip raced his way into the 500 by virtue of a third-place finish in the second Duel, followed by Kyle Busch and Brian Keselowski, who was pushed to his fifth-place finish by his brother Brad Keselowski.
“It’s the Double Deuce power right now,” said Kurt Busch, who changed sponsors from Miller Lite to Shell/Pennzoil and car number from 2 to 22 this year. “Great ride through these Speedweeks — being in the right place at the right time.
“To be in those positions, you have to have a good drafting partner. I had that with Regan Smith [Thursday], had it with [Jamie] McMurray on Saturday night. ”
Cars raced in pairs throughout the afternoon, despite NASCAR’s efforts to break up the two-car drafts through rule changes that theoretically would make water temperatures reach limits more quickly.
The Fords in particular were able to push other cars for sustained periods simply by ducking out from behind the lead car and getting air to the engines.
Bill Elliott and J.J. Yeley transferred to the 500 from the first Duel, joining Waltrip and Brian Keselowski in Sunday’s race. Joe Nemechek, Travis Kvapil and Dave Blaney also made the field as the fastest three cars in time trials not otherwise qualified. Terry Labonte will start the race on a past champion’s provisional.