2012 Gatorade Duels

The 2012 Gatorade Duels were a pair of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car races that were held on February 23, 2012 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Both contested over 60 laps, and were the qualifying races for the 2012 Daytona 500. Tony Stewart won Duel #1, with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finishing second and Marcos Ambrose finishing third. Matt Kenseth won Duel #2, with Regan Smith finishing second and Jimmie Johnson finishing third.

Report

Background

Daytona International Speedway, where the race will be held.

Daytona International Speedway is one of six superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the others being Michigan International Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway.[1] The standard track at Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long.[2] The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.[2]

Race summary

Duel #1

The first duel set the starting grid for the inside line at the Daytona 500. Carl Edwards started on the pole position while Dale Earnhardt, Jr. started on the outside pole.

At the drop of the green flag, Carl Edwards led for one lap before being passed by Tony Stewart on lap 2. During the first few laps, smoke was seen trailing from Robby Gordon's tires. Stewart led until lap 4 when Edwards reclaimed the lead with a shove from Trevor Bayne. One lap later, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. took the lead from Edwards.

On lap 8, with Earnhardt, Jr. leading, the first caution flag was thrown for a three car accident in turn 1. It started when David Gilliland spun off the bumper of Michael McDowell, and shot up the track, collecting Juan Pablo Montoya and Paul Menard. Brad Keselowski also suffered some minor damage from debris. Most of the drivers pitted on lap 10 for fuel. At the restart on lap 12, Marcos Ambrose claimed the lead with a shove from Aric Almirola. On lap 15, Denny Hamlin claimed the lead.

Hamlin led the field until he pitted on lap 44 with Marcos Ambrose, giving the lead back to Tony Stewart. On lap 52, the second caution was waved when Michael Waltrip, trying to get back up to speed after making a pit stop, lost control of his car transitioning from the apron to the track on the back straightaway and struck the outside wall. Under the caution flag, Stewart, Kevin Harvick, and Carl Edwards stayed out to lead when the race restarted on lap 57. Earnhardt, Jr. briefly led on lap 59 before being repassed by Stewart. The first duel ended under caution on lap 60, with Tony Stewart the winner, due to a crash off the exit of turn 2. It started when Aric Almirola got into the back of Jamie McMurray's car, which caused Danica Patrick to be collected. Danica's car took the worst of it, as she skidded across the apron at full speed and slammed head on into the inside SAFER barrier, destroying the car.[3]

Duel #2

This duel set the outside line for the starting field. Greg Biffle started on the pole and Casey Mears on the outside pole.

At the start of the second duel, Greg Biffle led the opening laps, before being passed on lap 4 by Matt Kenseth through a shove from Jimmie Johnson. On lap 18, Kyle Busch claimed the lead from Kenseth as Kenseth fell back in the field. On lap 23, Biffle reclaimed the lead from Busch. Around lap 47, Joey Logano briefly led before being passed by Biffle. On the last lap, heading to the finish line, Biffle tried to block Kenseth, who with help from Johnson went on to win the second duel.[4]

Lineups

bold indicates drivers who can qualify by transfer spot; italics indicates drivers already qualified on speed, or past champion's provisional

Duel 1

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Grid
1 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 1
2 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 2
3 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 3
4 6 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 4
5 21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford 5
6 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 6
7 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 7
8 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 8
9 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 9
10 22 A. J. Allmendinger Penske Racing Dodge 10
11 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge 11
12 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 12
13 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 13
14 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 14
15 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Toyota 15
16 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 16
17 10 Danica Patrick Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 17
18 32 Terry Labonte FAS Lane Racing Ford 18
19 40 Michael Waltrip Hillman Racing Toyota 19
20 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 20
21 98 Michael McDowell Phil Parsons Racing Ford 21
22 83 Landon Cassill BK Racing Toyota 22
23 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 23
24 37 Mike Wallace Rick Ware Racing Ford 24
25 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge 25
Source:[5]

Duel 2

Pos No. Driver Team Manufacturer Grid
1 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 1
2 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Ford 2
3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 3
4 56 Martin Truex, Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 4
5 55 Mark Martin Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 5
6 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 6
7 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 7
8 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 8
9 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 9
10 5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 221
11 26 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford 11
12 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 10
13 09 Kenny Wallace RAB Racing Toyota 13
14 36 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 12
15 51 Kurt Busch Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 15
16 33 Elliott Sadler Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 14
17 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 17
18 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 16
19 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 19
20 97 Bill Elliott NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 241
21 93 David Reutimann BK Racing Toyota 21
22 23 Robert Richardson, Jr. R3 Motorsports Toyota 18
23 49 J. J. Yeley Robinson-Blakeney Racing Toyota 23
24 15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 20
Source:[6]
1 Car moved to the back of the grid for going to a backup car (#5), changing engines (#97).

Results

bold indicates drivers who qualified by transfer spot; bold italics indicates drivers who qualified by speed or champion's provisional; italics indicates drivers who failed to qualify

Duel 1

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Led
1 6 14 Tony Stewart Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 60 21
2 2 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 60 5
3 3 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 60 5
4 13 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 60 0
5 1 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 60 2
6 21 98 Michael McDowell Phil Parsons Racing Ford 60 0
7 12 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 60 0
8 10 22 A. J. Allmendinger Penske Racing Dodge 60 0
9 25 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge 60 0
10 16 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 60 0
11 4 6 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Roush Fenway Racing Ford 60 0
12 5 21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford 60 0
13 11 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge 60 0
14 9 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford 60 0
15 7 43 Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 60 0
16 17 10 Danica Patrick Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 59 0
17 20 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 59 27
18 19 40 Michael Waltrip Hillman Racing Toyota 52 0
19 15 30 David Stremme Inception Motorsports Toyota 28 0
20 24 37 Mike Wallace Rick Ware Racing Ford 24 0
21 18 32 Terry Labonte FAS Lane Racing Ford 13 0
22 23 38 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 8 0
23 14 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 8 0
24 8 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 8 0
25 22 83 Landon Cassill BK Racing Toyota 3 0
Source:

Duel 2

Pos Grid No. Driver Team Manufacturer Laps Led
1 7 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 60 10
2 2 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 60 0
3 6 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 60 0
4 16 33 Elliott Sadler Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 60 0
5 1 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 60 40
6 9 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 60 5
7 12 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 60 5
8 3 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 60 0
9 8 39 Ryan Newman Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet 60 0
10 10 5 Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 60 0
11 5 55 Mark Martin Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 60 0
12 14 36 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 60 0
13 4 56 Martin Truex, Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 60 0
14 15 51 Kurt Busch Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 59 0
15 24 15 Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 59 0
16 19 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 59 0
17 17 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 59 0
18 2 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Ford 59 0
19 22 23 Robert Richardson, Jr. R3 Motorsports Toyota 58 0
20 20 97 Bill Elliott NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 58 0
21 13 09 Kenny Wallace RAB Racing Toyota 57 0
22 11 26 Tony Raines Front Row Motorsports Ford 9 0
23 21 93 David Reutimann BK Racing Toyota 6 0
24 23 49 J. J. Yeley Robinson-Blakeney Racing Toyota 4 0
Source:

References

  1. ↑ "NASCAR Race Tracks". NASCAR. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "NASCAR Tracks — The Daytona International Speedway". www.speedway-guide.com. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  3. ↑ Race Summary: Duel #1
  4. ↑ Race Summary: Duel #2
  5. ↑ "Race Lineup – Gatorade Duel 1". NASCAR. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  6. ↑ "Race Lineup – Gatorade Duel 2". NASCAR. Retrieved 2011-02-20.