NASCAR – Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin win the Duels

The first of the two duels contested to know the starting grid (except the first line already known for several days with Austin Dillon and Martin Truex Jr.) was won by a short head by the Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing, driven by Matt Kenseth after the disqualification of the Stewart Chevrolet-Haas Racing by Kevin Harvick, who did not pass post-race inspections (non-compliant track bar gap). He will finally start 38th on Sunday. Kenseth therefore recovered the victory ahead of the Chevrolet Hendrick of Kasey Kahne. This allows him to take third place on the starting grid for the Daytona 500 which will be run next Sunday.

For the second Duel, after a race without hitches for 59 laps, the last loop ended with a new Big One, after the free practice session which left Dave Blaney behind. Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Chevrolet), outgoing champion, ran out of fuel a short distance from the finish. Jamie Mc Murray was unable to avoid the No. 48 and the traditional chain reaction followed. In the case, Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr, Michael Waltrip and David Ragan found themselves involved with an impressive figure of speech for Bowyer's Toyota. Fortunately, no injuries among the pilots. " I feel bad. » explains Jimmie Johnson. “I knew I was going to get hit if I crashed. The good news is that everyone is fine, but I feel bad for what happened. » The 2013 champion will start in 32nd position just ahead of Brad Keselowski, 2012 champion.

Here is the starting grid for the Daytona 500, with Danica Patrick in 27th position and domination by the Chevrolet and Toyota engines, the first Ford only arriving 7th with Marcos Ambrose:

1. Austin Dillon (Richard Childress – Chevrolet)
2. Martin Truex Jr (Furniture Row – Chevrolet)
3. Matt Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing – Toyota)
4. Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing – Toyota)
5. Kasey Kahne (Hendrick Motorsports – Chevrolet)
6. Jeff Gordon (Hendrick Motorsports – Chevrolet)
7. Marcos Ambrose (Petty–Ford)
8. Kurt Busch (Stewart-Haas Racing – Chevrolet)
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Hendrick Motorsports – Chevrolet)
10. Paul Menard (Richard Childress – Chevrolet)
11. Josh Wise (Parsons–Ford)
12. Brian Scott (Richard Childress – Chevrolet)
13. Aric Almirola (Petty–Ford)
14. Trevor Bayne (Wood Brothers–Ford)
15. AJ Allmendinger (JTG Daugherty – Chevrolet)
16. Kyle Larson (Ganassi–Chevrolet)
17. David Gilliland (Front Row – Ford)
18. Landon Cassill (Hillman–Chevrolet)
19. Ryan Newman (Childress – Chevrolet)
20. Clint Bowyer (Michael Waltrip Racing – Toyota)
21. Tony Stewart (Stewart-Haas Racing – Chevrolet)
22. Jamie McMurray (Ganassi–Chevrolet)
23. Cole Whitt (Swan – Toyota)
24. Terry Labonte (Go – FAS Ford)
25. Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway Racing – Ford)
26. Bobby Labonte (Hscott–Chevrolet)
27. Danica Patrick (Stewart-Haas Racing – Chevrolet)
28. Casey Mears (Germain – Chevrolet)
29. Alex Bowman (BK-Toyota)
30. Carl Edwards (Roush Fenway Racing – Ford)
31. Brian Vickers (Michael Waltrip Racing – Toyota)
32. Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports – Chevrolet)
33. Brad Keselowski (Penske–Ford)
34. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (Roush Fenway Racing – Ford)
35. Joey Logano (Penske–Ford)
36. Michael Annett (Baldwin–Chevrolet)
37. Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing – Toyota)
38. Kevin Harvick (Richard Childress – Chevrolet) Penalty
39. Reed Sorenson (Baldwin–Chevrolet)
40. Justin Allgaier (Hscott–Chevrolet)
41. Parker Kligerman (Swan – Toyota)
42. Michael Waltrip (Michael Waltrip Racing – Toyota)
43. David Ragan (Front Row – Ford)