NASCAR: William Byron wins second Bluegreen Vacations Duel

William Byron took the checkered flag to win the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona International Speedway, securing a second row starting position for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500.

For the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career, Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron took the checkered flag and drove his way to victory lane, doing so in the second of two Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona International Speedway to set the starting lineup for the 2020 season-opening Daytona 500 at the track this Sunday afternoon.

Byron made a late move to the high side to take the lead from Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick, who led more than half of the 60-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked superspeedway oval in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Byron’s quest for his first official Cup Series win will continue when he starts this Sunday’s main event in fourth place behind the wheel of his #24 Chevrolet alongside Team Penske’s Joey Logano, who won the first Duel. He won tonight’s race from fourth.

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Harvick had to settle for fourth place in his #4 Ford, as two other Chevrolet drivers made their way past him in the closing laps. Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson finished right behind his teammate in second in his #48 Chevrolet, and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson drove his #42 Chevrolet to a third place finish, giving Chevrolet a 1-2-3 sweep.

Stewart-Haas Racing rookie Cole Custer finished in fifth place in his #41 Ford ahead of the race’s highest finishing Toyota driver, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Erik Jones, in sixth in his #20 Toyota.

Wood Brothers Racing’s Matt DiBenedetto finished in seventh place in his #21 Ford ahead of Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kurt Busch, who made a bold late move that almost ended up causing a big wreck in an attempt to get to the front, in eighth in his #1 Chevrolet.

Spire Motorsports’ Ross Chastain and Richard Childress Racing rookie Tyler Reddick rounded out the top 10, finishing in ninth and 10th place in their #77 Chevrolet and #8 Chevrolet, respectively.

The race featured only one caution flag period, but that caution flag period determined the 40th and final driver for the Daytona 500. Rick Ware Racing’s J.J. Yeley, who needed to race his way into the field, saw his night come to an end early when he crashed, eliminating him from competing this Sunday.

As a result, MBM Motorsports’ Timmy Hill locked himself into the Daytona 500. He finished the second Duel in 16th place in his #66 Ford ahead of Beard Motorsports’ Brendan Gaughan in 17th. Gaughan locked his #62 Chevrolet in the field in this past Sunday’s single-car qualifying session.

This race featured eight lead changes among five drivers. Byron led only the final three laps after taking the lead from Harvick, who led a race-high 34. Jones also led the race, as did teammate Kyle Busch and race polesitter Alex Bowman of Hendrick Motorsports. Bowman, who finished in 15th place, already secured the second place starting position for the Daytona 500.

Here are the full race results of the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel at Daytona International Speedway.

Race Results
1st – William Byron
2nd – Jimmie Johnson
3rd – Kyle Larson
4th – Kevin Harvick
5th – Cole Custer
6th – Erik Jones
7th – Matt DiBenedetto
8th – Kurt Busch
9th – Ross Chastain
10th – Tyler Reddick
11th – Ty Dillon
12th – Michael McDowell
13th – Kyle Busch
14th – David Ragan
15th – Alex Bowman
16th – Timmy Hill
17th – Brendan Gaughan
18th – Brennan Poole
19th – Corey LaJoie
20th – B.J. McLeod
21st – J.J. Yeley

The field is officially set for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season opener. The 62nd annual Daytona 500 is set to be broadcast live on Fox from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, February 16.