Chase Elliott claimed a thrilling victory in the Daytona Duel 2 on Thursday night at the Daytona International Speedway, pulling off a dramatic, late-race pass to secure his first Duel win since 2018. The Chase Elliott Daytona Duel 2 triumph adds another accolade to the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion’s career, propelling him and Hendrick Motorsports into a strong starting position for the Daytona 500.
Elliott Claims Checkered Flag in Nail-Biting Finish
On the evening of February 12, Chase Elliott, hailing from Dawsonville, Georgia, demonstrated relentless determination as he battled from his fourth-place starting slot in the America 250 Florida Duel 2. Over a field of 22 starters, Elliott led nine of the scheduled 60 laps, consistently keeping himself in contention through skillful drafting and timely moves in the tightly packed formations that are a hallmark of superspeedway racing. As the momentum built late in the race, a critical sequence of green-flag pit stops began with 16 laps to go, shuffling the running order and giving Elliott an opportunity to strike.
After pitting, Elliott returned to the fray and executed a decisive pass on Carson Hocevar with just eight laps remaining. Utilizing aerodynamic help from Hocevar, Elliott leveraged the draft to fend off competitors during the final sprint. His fast, controlled driving ensured he held the front position coming out of the last turn, ultimately delivering Hendrick Motorsports its 17th victory in a Daytona Duel and securing Chevrolet’s 54th overall win in the event.
Intense Early Action Sets the Stage
Leading up to Elliott’s late surge, the race started with Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin occupying the front row after their strong single-lap qualifying performances on Wednesday. Briscoe quickly used the outside lane to take the lead from teammate Hamlin and showed dominance by maintaining his position at the front through the early laps. This set up a competitive dynamic as teammates and rivals such as Elliott, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, and Ty Gibbs vied for placement within aggressive, multi-lane drafting packs.
As the laps ticked by, Briscoe and Hamlin established a slight gap over the rest of the field, while Elliott and Larson staged their own duel for third place. Notably, Erik Jones attempted to move forward from the third lane with BJ McLeod, demonstrating just how critical lane selection and drafting partners are at Daytona. The close-quarters battles continued through the top 10, with drivers like Austin Cindric, Michael McDowell, and Zane Smith also making their presence felt in tightly clustered groups.
Lead Changes Highlight Fierce Competition
Approaching the midway point, Briscoe maintained command over a field separated by less than two seconds. Anthony Alfredo, running as the highest open entry, was in an advantageous position to lock in a Daytona 500 starting spot. The racing intensified as Ty Dillon, aided by a strong push from Ricky Stenhouse Jr., briefly took the lead, only for Briscoe and others like Riley Herbst and Connor Zilisch to shuffle the frontrunners in rapid succession.
Tensions climbed as the event featured 12 official lead changes among 10 different leaders, a testament to the unpredictable nature of superspeedway racing at Daytona. Drivers worked in and out of lines, making strategic moves and executing drafting maneuvers in pursuit of the lead. Even as Briscoe spent a race-high 38 laps in front, no one was able to pull away, and the competitive spirit remained palpable throughout every turn, with only milliseconds separating the top racers.
Fuel Strategy and Pit Stops Shape the Final Laps
With just 16 laps to go, teams dove into green-flag pit stops, a vital component of the Duel 2’s strategy. Briscoe, Elliott, Hamlin, Jones, and McLeod were among the first to pit, primarily topping off for fuel. The ensuing shuffle briefly placed Anthony Alfredo in the lead; however, as pit cycles continued, Connor Zilisch and Riley Herbst each took their turn at the front. Once the dust settled, Justin Allgaier, who employed a different strategy by staying out longest, emerged with a large lead, while Tyler Reddick was the best-placed among those who had pitted.
As the field compressed with 10 laps to go, the battle at the front became increasingly aggressive. Reddick briefly took the lead before being overtaken by Carson Hocevar and Elliott, who made a pivotal move beneath Hocevar to reclaim first. From this point, the competition was unrelenting, with Hamlin, Cindric, and others all jockeying for top-five positions. Elliott’s bold maneuver to pass Hocevar from the middle lane highlighted his expert racecraft and nerves under pressure.
Elliott Maintains the Lead Under Intense Pressure
With five laps left, Elliott continued to hold off persistent challenges from Hocevar and Hamlin, demonstrating calm composure even as racing lanes stacked three-wide behind him. When the white flag signaled the final lap, nearly the entire pack had moved into a single-file line against the outside wall. Hocevar managed to close within striking distance on Elliott’s rear bumper, but without drafting assistance, he was unable to challenge for the win as the checkered flag loomed.
Elliott’s masterful defensive driving in the last stretch allowed him to secure the win, finishing a slender 0.065 seconds ahead of Hocevar at the line. The energetic and passionate finish was soon followed by celebration and reflection on the frontstretch.
“That was a great way to get the blood pumping, for sure, on a Thursday night,”
Elliott said on the frontstretch when speaking to FS1.
“There was a lot going on. Those last handful, really ever since we came off of pit road after the [pit] cycle, we were getting after it. It was a lot of fun. Had some great support there. Carson [Hocevar] did a great job helping me to control those lanes, helping get Team Chevy to Victory Lane tonight. So certainly, I owe him an appreciation for just sticking with it and also pushing me well. It’s really easy to get people out of control. Good night. Looking forward to Sunday.”
– Chase Elliott, 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion
Victory Boosts Elliott’s Place in Daytona History
Elliott’s impressive drive makes him the eighth three-time winner of the Duel at Daytona, joining distinguished names such as Buddy Baker, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Sterling Marlin, David Pearson, Fireball Roberts, and Tony Stewart. His win guarantees Hendrick Motorsports a celebrated milestone, while Chevrolet extends its own legacy at Daytona. Additionally, the victory nets Elliott 10 bonus points and secures him a fourth-place starting spot in the Daytona 500—the marquee event for the sport. As anticipation builds, Elliott eyes the chance to become the 44th driver to win the Great American Race.
Drama in Qualifying: Disqualifications and New Opportunities
While Anthony Alfredo initially celebrated a hard-fought achievement as the highest-finishing open competitor in 17th, NASCAR later disqualified Alfredo and the Beard Motorsports Chevrolet No. 62 after discovering technical infractions during post-race inspections. This misfortune elevated BJ McLeod, who finished 18th and passed inspection, into a Daytona 500 starting spot for the 2026 season, marking the sixth trip to the big race for McLeod and his Live Fast Motorsports team. Alfredo now joins JJ Yeley as the two open cars from Duel 2 who failed to make the field.
Recap of the Duel 2 Results
The final order saw Chase Elliott earn the win, followed by Carson Hocevar, who led a lap and finished a fraction behind in second place. Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, and Christopher Bell filled out the top five positions, cementing strong runs for their teams. Other notable finishers included Josh Berry, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Todd Gilliland, Ty Gibbs, and Denny Hamlin in the top 10. Although Chase Briscoe led a race-high 38 laps, he was unable to challenge for the victory after a slow final pit stop, ultimately settling for 20th place. Notably, the event ran caution-free and saw nearly every starter remain on the lead lap at the finish. The tightly contested duel embodied the unpredictability that characterizes superspeedway racing.
1. Chase Elliott, nine laps led
2. Carson Hocevar, one lap led
3. Kyle Larson
4. Michael McDowell, three laps led
5. Christopher Bell
6. Josh Berry
7. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
8. Todd Gilliland
9. Ty Gibbs
10. Denny Hamlin
11. Erik Jones
12. Tyler Reddick, one lap led
13. Riley Herbst, one lap led
14. Zane Smith
15. Connor Zilisch, one lap led
16. Ty Dillon, three laps led
17. Austin Cindric
18. BJ McLeod
19. Chase Briscoe, 38 laps led
20. Justin Allgaier, two laps led
21. JJ Yeley, three laps down
22. Anthony Alfredo – Disqualified, one lap led
Looking Ahead to the Daytona 500
With the field now set for the 68th running of the Daytona 500, anticipation surges for Sunday’s main event, scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM, and HBO MAX. For Chase Elliott, this Duel victory injects confidence and momentum as he aims to become part of NASCAR history. The season opener also marks the start of the NASCAR Cup Series’ 78th year, promising intense competition with contenders like Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, and others all ready to challenge on Daytona’s high banks.
