Joey Logano wins season-opening NASCAR Clash at Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season kicked off with the Advance Auto Parts Clash Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.
WINNER: It was a Toyota parade on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway. And then the two Fords of Team Penske rained on it.
Brad Keselowski, the pole-sitter, and teammate Joey Logano created a flying wedge to interrupt the four-car Joe Gibbs Racing contingent of race leader Denny Hamlin, rookie Daniel Suarez, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch, who was shuffled to the outside lane.
Hamlin, who ran up front almost the entire race, tried to block Keselowski’s run on the final lap, but was sent spinning, allowing Logano to jump to the front and win the Advance Auto Parts Clash. It was the 10th time in the event's history the winner was decided by a last-lap pass.
"I know the only way to beat those Gibbs cars — they are just so good working together — was to break them up," Logano said. "It was kind of right place at the right time. Brad was going to make the move and I was just going to follow him down. What a great start for Team Penske."
Busch was second, Clash rookie Alex Bowman was third and Danica Patrick was fourth, earning her best finish in a NASCAR Cup race.
Hamlin, who had not seen a replay, chalked it up to restrictor-plate racing and going for it on the last lap. “My guess is the 2 (Keselowski) had a big run there. I probably cut down on him more than likely," Hamlin, who finished 13th, said.
"You do everything you can to stay in front. But I think he had such a head of steam, there was not a whole lot I could do. Maybe try to hold my lane, but I was afraid he was going to clear me and that would have been it. I was just trying to do everything I could to stay in front and really I gotta see it again to know for sure.”
Keselowski, who finished sixth, said he had to be aggressive at the end.
“It is the Clash, it’s not the 500, and I guarantee he knows and everyone else who is watching today (knows) that I’m gonna make that move again," Keselowski said.
“I had to make the move. I know all the other drivers are back watching and they know not to make that block on me again.”
The race was postponed from Saturday night when evening rains washed over the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.
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WHAT THIS MEANS: Not much. The Clash is an exhibition race — there were no points on the line — and the field of 17 cars could only simulate so much in the draft. The field that runs next Sunday in the 59th Daytona 500 will have similar conditions — day racing and warm temperatures — but there will be more cars on the track (40) and more teamwork in play.
ROOKIE: Suarez, who was called up early at Joe Gibbs Racing to take the seat left open when Carl Edwards surprised everyone with an offseason retirement, was running his first Cup race. The 2016 Xfinity Series champion will have to learn how a Cup car handles — in and out of the draft. Sunday was his first taste, and he finished eighth.
SEVEN-TIME: Defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson got his season off to a rough start. He lost control coming out of Turn 4 twice. The first time, he got loose on Lap 17 and clipped the rear of Kurt Busch’s car, sending Busch hard into the outside wall. Johnson was able to save the No. 48 Chevrolet from spinning — in large part because he hit the No. 41 Ford — and continued. Busch, who carries Monster Energy sponsorship — also the new series sponsor — was done. On Lap 49, Johnson got loose near the same spot on his own and slid down the track, tagging the inside wall. The damage was enough to knock the seven-time Cup champion from the race. “It’s so bizarre, because the car hasn’t been loose anywhere else,” Johnson said.
NEW RULE: Kurt Busch was the first driver to be subject to a new rule. His car was not repairable on pit road, so it was towed to the garage and not allowed to return to the race.
GAME OF INCHES: On Lap 61, Martin Truex Jr., who was running in the high line, tried to slide down into the inside line in Turn 3 but cut it too close and clipped the front of Kyle Larson’s car, sending Truex into the wall and out of the race. Larson also was out of the race, but not because of damage. His crew sent too many men over the wall for repairs, which forced him to the garage.
SEGMENTS: A scheduled caution on Lap 25 marked the end of the first segment. Several drivers, including the Toyota contingent, came in a lap early to try and capitalize on the timing. Kyle Busch came in too fast and was sent to the rear of the field.
POLE: Keselowski started from the pole, thanks to the luck of the draw. Crew chief Paul Wolfe drew the winning number Friday. He was sent to the rear of the field after driving through too many pit stalls on the first caution.
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PHOTOS: 2017 Advance Auto Parts Clash
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CLASH RESULTS
1. (9) Joey Logano, Ford, 75 laps.
2. (13) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 75.
3. (8) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 75.
4. (12) Danica Patrick, Ford, 75.
5. (7) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 75.
6. (1) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 75.
7. (14) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 75.
8. (16) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 75.
9. (17) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 75.
10. (3) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 75.
11. (15) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 75.
12. (4) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 75.
13. (2) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 74.
14. (11) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, garage, 61.
15. (5) Martin Truex Jr, Toyota, accident, 60.
16. (6) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, accident, 48.
17. (10) Kurt Busch, Ford, accident, 16.
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Race Statistics
Average Speed of Race Winner: 143.819 mph.
Time of Race: 1 hour, 18 minutes, 13 seconds.
Margin of Victory: 1.121 seconds.
Caution Flags: 4 for 16 laps.
Lead Changes: 6 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: B.Keselowski 1-8; D.Hamlin 9; B.Keselowski 10-19; Ky.Busch 20-24; J.Logano 25-27; D.Hamlin 28-74; J.Logano 75
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Led, Laps Led): D.Hamlin, 2 times for 46 laps; B.Keselowski, 2 times for 16 laps; Ky.Busch, 1 time for 4 laps; J.Logano, 2 times for 2 laps.