Daytona Duel #1

Joey Logano added a fourth Daytona Duel victory to his resume in a wild overtime finish at Daytona International Speedway. The 60-lap qualifying race appeared headed for a clean conclusion until a multi-car incident erupted on the final lap, forcing NASCAR to throw the caution and send the field into overtime. With teammate Ryan Blaney providing the push from behind, Logano was firmly planted at the front when NASCAR called the third caution on lap 63, three laps into the extra session, freezing the field and handing the two-time champion the win. Blaney crossed second for a Team Penske 1-2 sweep, while Austin Dillon deftly navigated the late-race melee to claim third.

The drama extended beyond the checkered flag as a final-lap crash collected several contenders, with Brad Keselowski tagged in the chaos and John Hunter Nemechek's bold late move backfiring. Amid the carnage, Casey Mears produced one of the night's best stories, racing from the back of the field to finish eighth and lock himself into Sunday's Daytona 500 field. The race featured 3 cautions and 15 laps led by Logano, with the overtime finish setting an aggressive tone for Speedweeks. Logano and Blaney each earned the third and fifth starting positions, respectively, for the Great American Race.