Joey Logano narrowly outpaced his Team Penske colleague Ryan Blaney in an overtime finish, sealing victory in the America 250 Florida Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday night. The fierce Ryan Blaney Daytona Duel finish unfolded dramatically under caution, setting the stage for an electric start to Speedweeks in Daytona Beach, Florida.
How the Duel Unfolded at Daytona International Speedway
Logano’s No. 22 Ford managed to edge ahead just before a wreck involving Corey LaJoie on the backstretch caused a caution, setting the finishing order under yellow. LaJoie, who had been vying to qualify for the Daytona 500, found himself in trouble, which allowed Casey Mears, who surged from outside the top 10, to slip into a qualifying spot for the Great American Race.
Rounding out the top finishers behind Logano and Blaney were Austin Dillon, John Hunter Nemechek, and Brad Keselowski. Dillon, the 2018 Daytona 500 champion, and Nemechek competed fiercely in the closing laps to claim their positions, while Keselowski strengthened Ford’s presence at the front of the order.
Key Moments and Lead Changes During the Race
Kyle Busch set the pace at the beginning, starting from the pole and leading the 23-car field to the green flag. Despite his strong start, it was Ryan Preece, the previous week’s winner at Bowman Gray Stadium in The Clash, who crossed the line first on Lap 1. Dillon made an early push for the front, but Blaney and Logano soon asserted themselves in the ongoing shuffle for the lead.
In a show of team coordination, the RFK Racing Fords—driven by Preece, Chris Buescher, LaJoie, and Keselowski—worked together in the lower groove to control the top four spots by Lap 11. Meanwhile, Chandler Smith, an open driver seeking a spot in Sunday’s Daytona 500, maneuvered his No. 36 Ford to seventh on Lap 33, aware that he needed to finish ahead of both LaJoie and Mears to qualify.
Pivotal Incidents and the Late-Race Overtime Finish
The racing intensified on Lap 39, with the field breaking out into three-wide action as they approached their only scheduled pit stops. Among the frontrunners, only Busch in his Chevrolet and Nemechek’s Toyota broke the Ford dominance in the top group. With 16 laps to go, chaos erupted as Mears and Noah Gragson spun together onto the infield grass during pit entry, triggering the night’s first caution and reshuffling the order.
That caution bunched the field for a late shootout. Logano maintained the advantage with Blaney just behind with six laps remaining, while Busch droped back to the rear to safeguard his pole position for the Daytona 500. With five to go, Bubba Wallace timed a pass on Logano for the lead, but things quickly turned as Dillon lost control and spun Wallace entering Turn 3. Shortly after, Buescher, Smith, and two-time defending Daytona 500 winner William Byron were ensnared in a wreck at the top of the track, bringing out another caution and forcing the race into overtime.
What This Duel Means for the Daytona 500 and the Field
The final restart confirmed Logano at the front, capitalizing on the race’s last pivotal incident to capture the win under caution in the Ryan Blaney Daytona Duel finish. His victory not only provides momentum heading into the Daytona 500 but also demonstrates Team Penske’s formidable form heading into NASCAR’s biggest event. Casey Mears’ late-race surge secured him a coveted spot in the Daytona 500, while heartbreak struck for Corey LaJoie, who missed the cut following the late accident.
The dramatic twists and the team dynamics among Ford drivers promise an unpredictable and competitive Daytona 500 on Sunday. Star drivers like Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, and Austin Dillon remain ones to watch, as does Ryan Blaney, whose strong showing in the Duel reaffirms his status as a contender for the season’s biggest race.
