Christopher Bell pulled off an impressive last-lap maneuver to snatch the win from his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Denny Hamlin, in the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel race at Daytona. Bell made a daring move on the outside of Hamlin after Turn 2, receiving a crucial push from Harrison Burton that propelled him into the lead. This marked Bell’s first victory in a Daytona qualifying race, and he led only one lap throughout the entire event.
Reflecting on his triumph, Bell acknowledged the unpredictable nature of plate races and the role luck plays in the outcome. However, he also credited his crew chief, Adam Stevens, and the team’s efforts in performing well and avoiding wrecks. In addition to Bell, the top five finishers in the race were Austin Cindric, Hamlin, John Hunter Nemechek, and Burton. Zane Smith and Brad Keselowski secured sixth and seventh place, respectively, while William Byron, Chase Briscoe, and Justin Haley completed the top ten.
Kaz Grala secured the final transfer spot into the Daytona 500 by finishing in 12th place, edging out BJ McLeod in a close battle to the finish line. Grala expressed relief at making it into the main event and praised his team, Front Row Motorsports, for their hard work in preparing the car. Despite facing challenges during qualifying and on pit road, Grala was grateful for the opportunity to compete in the Daytona 500.
The second Duel race remained uneventful until lap 49 of 60 when a multi-car crash occurred. The incident was triggered by Kyle Busch’s contact with William Byron, causing Byron to spin left and collide with Ryan Blaney, who slammed into the outside wall. Fortunately, Blaney emerged unscathed from the crash, but a total of 12 drivers were involved in the incident.
In the closing laps, Michael McDowell and Hamlin led the field, but a strategic move by Hamlin disrupted McDowell’s position and allowed Bell to move into second place behind his teammate. As the white flag waved, Bell seized the opportunity to make a winning move on Hamlin, positioning himself on the outside line in front of Burton and Cindric.
Throughout the race, there were 13 lead changes involving nine different drivers. The multi-car crash served as the only caution period. Bell’s victory secures him a fourth-place starting position in the upcoming Daytona 500.
According to the Source racer.com