Daytona Dueling

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Filed under: Daytona 500 

 

Dale Jr & Girlfriend Amy Reinman | Photo

 

Daytona Duel Talk — Have Your Say

Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch Winners

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Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch were winners in todays two Gatorade Duel qualifying races in Daytona.

The first of two Gatorade Duels were a little wild with Daytona 500 polesitter Martin Truex Jr. spinning, but avoiding the wall.

Bill Elliott — another fast qualifier — also had trouble and brushed the wall after he burned his transmission up.

Tony Stewart proved that his new team is a contender when he crossed the finish line just behind winner Jeff Gordon.

In the second race Dale Earnhardt Jr was out front early and often. But Junior made a rare mistake in the pits when he slid through his stall on the first pit stop. The mistake moved Junior from the lead to 7th.

Then Dale Jr had to pit again under green with tire problems — losing a lap in the process. His teammate Mark Martin also pitted with tire problems.

With just 13 laps to go David Reutimann booted Ryan Newman into the concrete wall on the backstretch. Looks like Newman will need the backup car.

Mark Martin made a strong run at Kyle Busch on the last lap, but couldn’t make the pass giving the win to Kyle Busch.

Did you see any wild moments in the race? Anything you want to talk about? Have at it.

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Comments

11 Comments on Daytona Dueling

  1. Rita on

    2. Junior not having an impressive start, or am I expecting to much?

    [Reply]

  2. marcel on

    3. The two races were good.Should that be an example of the 500, it will be exciting.Mark Martin drove a great race, he could have bumped Kyle, he was faster. Goffy kyle would have done it!

    [Reply]

  3. nascarbabe68 on

    4. How can you say that? Not impressive. Not his fault about the tire and he went from 23 to 7th in 5 laps with NO help!

    [Reply]

  4. Elaine on

    5. Smoke’s still the man, and Newman would have been up there too, if not for the 00. I think
    they are going to be a pair to draw to. Good luck Smoke and Rocket Man. I hope they can be right up there with the big boys.

    [Reply]

  5. Helen on

    6. BOTH DUELS WERE VERY GOOD JUST
    WOULD HAVE BEEN SWEETER IF JR COULD
    HAVE WON HIS…DARN TIRE!!
    IF NOT FOR THAT I THINK HE WOULD HAVE
    WON ANOTHER DUEL THIS YEAR!!
    HOPEFULLY, THE DAYTONA 500 WILL BE
    HIS SUNDAY…GIT’ER DONE DALE JR!! :)

    [Reply]

  6. sherry on

    7. I found it great. I do agree, Martin is a gentleman, and could have bumped Kyle out of the race. I would love to see Mark Matin take the daytona. he is such a great guy and very fair on his raceing.
    It was great to see Jeff G., finally win and Ella with him at the end, was just so darn cute. She is a sweet litle girl and they give her alot of love, they may have a nanny when they travel, but I don’t blame them, alot of noise she should not be around. But they are hands on, and they do all their cooking and takeing care of Ella. So they might have a maid, I would, I am disabled and have a lady clean every week.So if you can afford it, there is nothing wrong with it. JMHO
    I felt horrible for Newman,I did have a chuckle over Newman saying oo’s last name, too funny…………..
    Robby Gordan.does he not ever take some one out at every race? Geesh
    Waiting for Sunday, its going to be a real great race this year.

    Sherry

    [Reply]

  7. 24Karat48 on

    8. Go Jeff… It’s good to see the Henderick Boys up there in the front.

    [Reply]

  8. Greg on

    9. I can’t stand it when people use only the result at the finish line to be the only meter on how good a driver is. That just shows the lack of knowledge of the sport AND the actual race that she is talking about. Dale Jr. had a VERY impressive run going until the bad tire sent him to the pits. He was leading at one point for God’s sake! The sliding through the pits was a result of not having enough brake bias added to the rear wheels. He slid the front going into the pits without much help from the rear brakes. That is a mechanical issue. I was listening to his radio conversation and this was truly the problem. 23rd to 7th in 5 laps of a very rough Daytona track impressed the hell out of me. Juniors biggest problem is sitting on the pit box. Tony Eury Jr. misreads the way the car is acting and more often than not makes the car worse after Jr. comes to the pits. He is Jrs cousin and Jr. has a problem with firing blood family members. Instead…Jr. defends him so that the media will stay off his back. Jr. can drive as well or better than the rest out there. Nobody can drive a car and be competitive if the thing is not tuned to perfection. If it’s not right it will be junk before the end of the race.

    [Reply]

  9. DOC CAREY on

    10. DOC HERE IN SOUTH FL SEZ THAT GREG – WHO EVER HE IS – IS RIGHT ON ABOUT JR ( I’M NOT A JR FAN, BUT I KNOW GOOD TALENT WHEN I SEE IT )…
    GREG, THANK YOU FOR SPELLINGOUT WHAT RACING IS ALL ABOUT, FOR ALL THE FANS ( EXPECIALLY THE FEMALES ) SO THAT ALL WATCHING A RACE, KNOWS WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON…
    AND JUST SO ALL THE SMART ASSES OUT THERE KNOW, I HAVE BEEN INVLOVED WITH NASCAR SINCE I SAT DOWN WITH ‘BIG’ BILL FRANCE & OTHERS IN HIS DAYTONA MOTEL RESTURANT IN 1948; DECIDING TO START THE MOST WONDERFUL SPORT THERE IS!~!

    JUST FOR THE RECORD, I AM NOT PLEASED WITH THE CURRENT MANAGEMENT OF NASCAR; HATE THE ‘COT’; AND WISH THEY WOULD LET ALL THE DRIVERS GO BACK TO OLE TIME RACIN: DOUBT THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN

    [Reply]

  10. George Mann on

    11. It is good to see Jeff Gordon back in the winner’s circle. His daughter seemed happy also.
    I’m concerned that his car doesn’t have enough speed to repeat his win in the 500 unless they make some changes.

    [Reply]

  11. George Mann on

    12. What changes do you need?

    [Reply]

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