Logano Clinches Duel Victory Amidst Chaotic Final Lap as Mears' Audacious Drive Secures Daytona 500 Berth

Daytona Beach, FL – Joey Logano, piloting the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, secured victory in the first Duel qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, but the spotlight was undeniably stolen by Casey Mears’ daring maneuver on the final lap to clinch a spot in the prestigious Daytona 500. The dramatic finish saw multiple cars involved in a last-gasp incident, with Mears navigating the chaos with remarkable resolve.

The 68th running of the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s season-opening spectacle, saw its field solidified through the twin 150-mile Duel races. Logano’s win, a dominant performance alongside teammate Ryan Blaney who finished second, guarantees them front-row starting positions for the Great American Race. However, the real drama unfolded further down the order, where spots in the 40-car field were fiercely contested.

For Casey Mears, a 47-year-old veteran in his 14th Daytona 500 attempt and first since 2019, the path to qualification was anything but smooth. Earlier in the race, Mears had spun, requiring a recovery that seemed to have relegated him to the periphery of contention. Compounding the tension, Corey LaJoie, who had been in a strong position to qualify, found himself caught up in a multi-car wreck on the final lap, dashing his hopes of starting the Daytona 500.

In a moment that drew comparisons to cinematic racing sequences, Mears, facing an unavoidable wreck ahead, demonstrably did not lift. He accelerated directly through the spinning and colliding machinery, his No. 66 Garage 66 Chevrolet sustaining significant frontal damage. Despite the impact and the compromised aerodynamics, Mears maintained forward momentum, crossing the finish line in seventh place. This crucial finish was sufficient to secure his entry into the Daytona 500, a testament to his tenacious driving and the resilience of his team.

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"Probably a little bit about the power of prayer, there was a lot of that going on inside the car," Mears commented post-race, a mix of disbelief and elation evident in his voice. "Just couldn’t thank everybody enough for getting us here to begin with. Had an issue on pit road, but I got a run around the outside. Decided to stay in the gas, no matter what happened. When I saw them spinning and I missed the first guy (LaJoie), I thought, okay, good, and then I hit the #7 (Suarez). Anyway, I hit somebody square. And I knew when I hit him flat it didn’t tear up the car too much and I was going to be able to get back. But I didn’t know who was in front of me still, whether or not we made it. All the guys started going nuts on the radio."

The unofficial finishing order for Duel #1, pending NASCAR’s review, saw Logano and Blaney lead the Team Penske charge. Following them were Austin Dillon, John-Hunter Nemechek, Brad Keselowski, Shane van Gisbergen, Mears, Daniel Suarez, Ryan Preece, and Alex Bowman. This order, while official for the Duel race, ultimately determines starting positions for the Daytona 500, with the open cars like Mears’ needing to qualify on speed or through the Duels.

The race began with a flurry of activity. RFK Racing, fielding four cars, quickly established a strong presence, with their machines marching forward and asserting dominance, even taking the lead from Austin Dillon. The initial laps were characterized by relatively calm pack racing, a stark contrast to the frenetic action that would define the closing stages. However, even amidst this relative calm, Joey Logano demonstrated his aggressive intent, at one point getting his teammate Blaney out of shape as they pushed forward.

The strategic element of the race intensified with approximately 15 laps remaining, as the leading contenders initiated green-flag pit stops. This period proved to be a turning point, not just for the leaders but for those vying for a starting spot. Mears’ spin during this sequence, which also collected Harrison Burton, resulted in a caution flag. This caution proved beneficial for the Ford contingent, allowing them to cycle back to the front for the final sprint to the checkered flag.

The restart, with eleven laps left on the clock, ignited a fierce battle for transfer spots. Chandler Smith, a driver also looking to secure his Daytona 500 berth, launched an aggressive charge, challenging Corey LaJoie for a coveted position. Smith’s push disrupted LaJoie’s line, pushing him back into the pack.

Meanwhile, the Team Penske duo of Logano and Blaney seized control of the race lead. Pole-sitter for the Daytona 500, Denny Hamlin, opted to fall out of line, a prescient move as the intensity of the racing escalated. Brad Keselowski executed a daring maneuver to the inside of Smith, resulting in contact that shuffled Smith further down the order.

The precarious nature of the racing was further underscored when Bubba Wallace, challenging the Penske cars for the lead, spun across the track after a bump. Fortunately, his car remained upright, but the incident triggered a larger melee. Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Ross Chastain were among those caught in the ensuing chaos, sustaining damage.

This wreck, occurring just as LaJoie seemed poised to secure his spot, forced the race into overtime, setting the stage for a dramatic two-lap shootout. The ultimate irony unfolded on the final circuit. As the field jostled for position, another multi-car incident erupted. It was within this maelstrom that Casey Mears, remarkably, maintained his full throttle. His No. 66 made contact with Daniel Suarez and the outside wall, yet Mears’ unwavering commitment to keeping the car straight and moving forward proved decisive. He threaded the needle, ultimately securing the seventh position and a coveted spot in the Daytona 500.

The final lap incident also impacted Daniel Suarez, Corey LaJoie, Ross Chastain, and A.J. Allmendinger, all of whom suffered damage and saw their immediate Daytona 500 aspirations impacted by the last-second melee.

For Corey LaJoie, the outcome was a bitter pill to swallow. "It looked good for 145.5 miles," he stated, his voice laced with disappointment after exiting the infield care center. "I thought we controlled the race as good as you can control it. The bottom lane got soft there, and the push came right as I picked the #6 [Keselowski] up, and it just turned me to the right. That sucks, man. These guys worked incredibly hard on this car. I’m honestly happy for Casey Mears and (team owner) Carl Long — it’s cool those guys got in, but I’m devastated. This is what you work for and I don’t have another one after this." LaJoie’s statement highlights the high stakes involved in the Duel races for teams operating outside the established charter system, where a single race can determine the entirety of their Daytona 500 effort.

This marks Mears’ 14th appearance in the Daytona 500, a race he has participated in since 2006. His career boasts 494 previous NASCAR Cup Series starts, and this qualification adds another chapter to his enduring presence in the sport. The performance of Garage 66, a team that often operates with limited resources, underscores the unpredictable and often dramatic nature of NASCAR’s premier event, where fortune and sheer willpower can pave the way to the starting grid.

The field for the 68th Daytona 500 is now largely set, with Logano and Blaney leading the charge for Team Penske. The inclusion of Mears, through his remarkable display of nerve and tenacity, adds another compelling storyline to the much-anticipated season opener. The racing action from the Duels also sets the stage for the broader NASCAR Cup Series season, where established teams and emerging contenders will continue their quest for victory.

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