TC Daily Pit Stop: Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric Claim Victory in Duels at Daytona
TC Daily Pit Stop: Friday, February 14th, 2025
The field is officially set for the 2025 DAYTONA 500! After qualifying and Thursday’s Duel races, the four drivers that failed to make the event were: JJ Yeley (44), Anthony Alfredo (62), Chandler Smith (66), and BJ McLeod (78).
Bubba Wallace Turns Push from Tyler Reddick into Daytona Duel #1 Victory
Bubba Wallace will line up from third-place in Sunday’s DAYTONA 500, after crossing the checkered flag first in Thursday’s first of two 60-lap Duel races from Daytona International Speedway.
The driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE used a push from 23XI Racing teammate Tyler Reddick to himself out front, before managing to hold the pack at bay in the race’s closing laps, beating William Byron to the start-finish line.
William Byron finished second, with Ty Dillon third, Ross Chastain, and Tyler Reddick rounding out the top-10.
Justin Allgaier, driving the No. 40 for JR Motorsports, finished ninth in the qualifying race and locked himself into ‘The Great American Race’ by being the highest-finishing open entry, requiring Martin Truex, Jr. to fall back on his qualifying speed.
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DUEL RESULTS
Austin Cindric Given Awkward Victory After Caution-Spoiled Finish in Duel 2
An already great Speedweeks got even better for 2022 DAYTONA 500 champion Austin Cindric, who parlayed his outside front-row start for Sunday’s event into a victory in the second Duel race on Thursday.
It didn’t come without some controversy, though.
On the final lap of the qualifying race, Erik Jones got a massive shove on the backstretch from Chris Buescher, surging the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB entry neck-and-neck with Cindric.
As the pair raced side-by-side towards the checkered flag, the field crashed in a major way behind them, causing NASCAR to display the checkered flag moments before the leaders crossed the start-finish line.
Jones crossed the start-finish line first, but at the moment of caution, NASCAR ruled Cindric was ahead.
Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano rounded out the top-five. Corey LaJoie, who placed sixth, raced his way into the Daytona 500 for Rick Ware Racing.
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Video: Chandler Smith POUNDS Wall in Multi-Car Wreck Involving Helio Castroneves
After making a masterful climb through the pack from a 22nd-place starting spot to third, Chandler Smith’s chances of making the DAYTONA 500 ended quickly on the 14th lap of Thursday’s first Duel race at Daytona.
Smith, driving the No. 66 for Garage 66, came down on Justin Haley when he wasn’t clear, causing the QuickTie Ford Mustang to overcorrect into the outside wall extremely hard, and take several others with him.
Helio Castroneves was also involved in the wreck, and will have to take an Open Exemption Provisional, starting 41st in Sunday’s 500-mile contest.
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Allgaier Locks Up Emotional Daytona 500 Cup Debut for JR Motorsports
Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway marks the 83rd career start in the NASCAR Cup Series for Justin Allgaier.
There’s no landmark, or incredible statistic to go along with it, and it’s definitely not his first run in ‘The Great American Race’, but it’s destined to be one of the most special events for the Riverton, Illinois-native, for a selfless reason.
When the command to fire engines is given on Sunday, and Allgaier rolls off pit road in Daytona Beach, Florida on Sunday, February 16, it will officially mark the first-ever NASCAR Cup Series event for JR Motorsports – owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and sister Kelley Earnhardt-Miller.
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Other NASCAR Headlines and Stories:
Erik Jones Celebrates Victory Before NASCAR Names Different Winner
Corey LaJoie Laid Down 'Kids' College Fund' For Daytona 500 Chance
Justin Allgaier Dishes on Testing Chevrolet Blazer EV.R NASCAR Prototype
Todd Gilliland, Cody Ware Crew Chiefs Ejected From Daytona for Improper Weights
Thursday’s TV Schedule
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying: 3:00 PM ET
NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice: 4:35 PM ET
NASCAR Cup Series Practice: 5:35 PM
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race: 7:30 PM ET
Full Daytona 500 Race Weekend TV Schedule
Daytona 500 Weekend Resources
2025 Driver/Team Charts: NASCAR Cup | NASCAR Xfinity | NASCAR Trucks
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