An already great Speedweeks for Austin Cindric has gotten even better, after capturing the victory in Thursday’s second Duel at Daytona International Speedway.
The former champion of the Daytona 500 began the weekend with a strong qualifying result on Wednesday, earning himself a spot on the outside of the front row to start Sunday’s 500-mile contest, alongside Chase Briscoe.
Unlike Briscoe and the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team, who retired early from their 60-lap qualifying race, Cindric stayed in it to win it, which in the closing laps of the event ultimately paid off.
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.
Erik Jones crossed the start-finish line with the lead, by 0.004 seconds, and after completing the cooldown lap, parked it on the fronstretch waiting to be interviewed as the race-winner.
But, after some review by NASCAR, it was determined that Cindric was the leader at the exact moment of caution, giving him the victory.
“I feel bad for Erik [Jones] having to go all the way over there. They made a great move on the last lap there. Joey and I were sitting ducks with the middle lane fading there,” said Cindric. “We had really fast Discount Tire Ford Mustang. Super proud of my team and everyone to go out here and execute. Thank you to Brian for letting me race. It was very difficult to maybe persuade that, but it was his birthday. This is a good birthday present for him.
Even though Erik Jones didn’t get to bring a trophy back to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, his starting spot for Sunday’s Daytona 500 didn’t change as a result of the call, with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE set to start fourth.
Chris Buescher brought home a third-place result for RFK Racing, and will start sixth in ‘The Great American Race’. Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano rounded out the top-five, and will both nab top-10 starts on Sunday.
In sixth place, Corey LaJoie, driving the No. 01 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing, was the highest-finishing unchartered entries, thus locking himself into the Daytona 500.
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who finished the race in 19th, will have to fall back on his qualifying speed from Wednesday’s session.
Todd Gilliland brought his No. 34 Ford Mustang home in seventh place, with Kevyn Rebodello on the pit box instead of the usual Chris Lawson, due to an inspection issue on Thursday morning.
Ryan Blaney was eighth, with John Hunter Nemechek and Christopher Bell rounding out the top-10.
Anthony Alfredo (13th in Duel 2) and BJ McLeod (17th in Duel 2) both failed to qualify for the 2025 Daytona 500, joining JJ Yeley and Chandler Smith.
With both Duels at Daytona complete, the starting lineup is set for Sunday’s DAYTONA 500. Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric will lead the field to green, with Bubba Wallace and Erik Jones in the second row.
Coverage will begin Sunday, February 16 at 2:30 PM ET on FOX.
