Tony Stewart claimed the fifth victory of his last six February races at Daytona, and the 11th Nationwide Series win of his career by taking the chequered flag at the end of the DRIVE4COPD 300 with the push-drafting assistance of Sam Hornish Jr.
Celebrations were very subdued, however, as it emerged that there were several injures among fans as a result of a horrific multi-car wreck on the final lap sparked by initial contact between Regan Smith and Brad Keselowski which saw one car launched into the catchfench and debris from it penetrate into the spectator area. (
See separate story.)
Earlier, Trevor Bayne had collected his sixth pole in 86
NASCAR Nationwide Series races, and his first in six Nationwide starts at Daytona. He led the field to the green flag but was eventually sidelined by a broken drivetrain. Joe Gibbs Racing duo Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth dominated much of the race but Busch eventually succumbed to chronic overheating problems while Kenseth was involved in a multi-car crash five laps from the end sparked by contact between Austin Dillon and Michael Annett.
Ahead of her history-making start from pole position in the
Daytona 500 on Sunday, Danica Patrick had a strong start to her Nationwide race but then suffered an engine failure and retired just 31 laps into the proceedings.
Race result1.
#33 Tony Stewart Chevrolet
120 laps 2mins 8hrs 37secs (0/0 pts)
2.
#12 Sam Hornish Jr Ford
120 laps Running (42/0 pts)
3.
#99 Alex Bowman Toyota
120 laps Running (41/0 pts)
4.
#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr Chevrolet
120 laps Running (0/0 pts)
5.
#77 Parker Kligerman Toyota
120 laps Running (40/1 pts)
6.
#2 Brian Scott Chevrolet
120 laps Running (39/1 pts)
7.
#31 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet
120 laps Running (38/1 pts)
8.
#14 Eric McClure Toyota
120 laps Running (37/1 pts)
9.
#23 Robert Richardson Jr. Chevrolet
120 laps Running (35/0 pts)
10.
#60 Travis Pastrana Ford
120 laps Running (34/0 pts)
11.
#30 Nelson Piquet Jr Chevrolet
120 laps Running (33/0 pts)
12.
#22 Brad Keselowski Ford
120 laps Running (0/0 pts)
13.
#32 Kyle Larson Chevrolet
120 laps Running (32/1 pts)
14.
#7 Regan Smith Chevrolet
120 laps Running (32/2 pts)
15.
#11 Elliott Sadler Toyota
120 laps Running (30/1 pts)
16.
#18 Matt Kenseth Toyota
120 laps Running (0/0 pts)
17.
#74 Mike Harmon Dodge
120 laps Running (28/1 pts)
18.
#87 Joe Nemechek Toyota
120 laps Running (26/0 pts)
19.
#20 Brian Vickers Toyota
118 laps Running (26/1 pts)
20.
#5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet
118 laps Running (0/0 pts)
21.
#3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet
117 laps Running (23/0 pts)
22.
#79 Jeffrey Earnhardt Ford
116 laps Accident (23/1 pts)
23.
#19 Mike Bliss Toyota
116 laps Accident (22/1 pts)
24.
#00 Jason White Toyota
116 laps Accident (20/0 pts)
25.
#4 Danny Efland Chevrolet
116 laps Accident (20/1 pts)
26.
#43 Michael Annett Ford
115 laps Accident (18/0 pts)
27.
#70 Johanna Long Chevrolet
115 laps Accident (17/0 pts)
28.
#44 Hal Martin Toyota
115 laps Accident (16/0 pts)
29.
#55 Jamie Dick Chevrolet
115 laps Accident (15/0 pts)
30.
#40 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet
102 laps Engine (14/0 pts)
31.
#6 Trevor Bayne Ford
101 laps Running (14/1 pts)
32.
#54 Kyle Busch Toyota
100 laps Engine (0/0 pts)
33.
#51 Jeremy Clements Chevrolet
88 laps Oil Line (11/0 pts)
34.
#01 Mike Wallace Chevrolet
87 laps Running (10/0 pts)
35.
#1 Kurt Busch Chevrolet
65 laps Accident (0/0 pts)
36.
#34 Danica Patrick Chevrolet
31 laps Engine (0/0 pts)
37.
#15 Juan Carlos Blum Ford
30 laps Accident (7/0 pts)
38.
#24 Blake Koch Toyota
14 laps Overheating (6/0 pts)
39.
#8 Scott Lagasse Jr Chevrolet
7 laps Accident (5/0 pts)
40.
#10 Jeff Green Toyota
4 laps Vibration (4/0 pts)
Qualifying times1.
#6 Trevor Bayne Ford
50.801s (Pole) 177.162mph2.
#12 Sam Hornish Jr. Ford
50.885s (+ 0.084s) 176.869mph3.
#77 Parker Kligerman Toyota
50.905s (+ 0.104s) 176.800mph4.
#60 Travis Pastrana Ford
50.952s (+ 0.151s) 176.637mph5.
#3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet
51.020s (+ 0.219s) 176.401mph6.
#11 Elliott Sadler Toyota
51.030s (+ 0.229s) 176.367mph7.
#54 Kyle Busch Toyota
51.030s (+ 0.229s) 176.367mph8.
#99 Alex Bowman Toyota
51.038s (+ 0.237s) 176.339mph9.
#18 Matt Kenseth Toyota
51.042s (+ 0.241s) 176.325mph10.
#33 Tony Stewart Chevrolet
51.043s (+ 0.242s) 176.322mph11.
#22 Brad Keselowski Ford
51.043s (+ 0.242s) 176.322mph12.
#34 Danica Patrick Chevrolet
51.067s (+ 0.266s) 176.239mph13.
#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet
51.071s (+ 0.270s) 176.225mph14.
#31 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet
51.078s (+ 0.277s) 176.201mph15.
#7 Regan Smith Chevrolet
51.086s (+ 0.285s) 176.174mph16.
#10 Jeff Green Toyota
51.161s (+ 0.360s) 175.915mph17.
#30 Nelson Piquet Jr. Chevrolet
51.167s (+ 0.366s) 175.895mph18.
#55 Jamie Dick Chevrolet
51.195s (+ 0.394s) 175.798mph19.
#5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet
51.202s (+ 0.401s) 175.774mph20.
#20 Brian Vickers Toyota
51.217s (+ 0.416s) 175.723mph21.
#32 Kyle Larson Chevrolet
51.222s (+ 0.421s) 175.706mph22.
#43 Michael Annett Ford
51.266s (+ 0.465s) 175.555mph23.
#01 Mike Wallace Chevrolet
51.305s (+ 0.504s) 175.421mph24.
#8 Scott Lagasse Jr. Chevrolet
51.358s (+ 0.557s) 175.240mph25.
#70 Johanna Long Chevrolet
51.363s (+ 0.562s) 175.223mph26.
#19 Mike Bliss Toyota
51.400s (+ 0.599s) 175.097mph27.
#74 Mike Harmon Dodge
51.433s (+ 0.632s) 174.985mph28.
#14 Eric McClure Toyota
51.435s (+ 0.634s) 174.978mph29.
#2 Brian Scott Chevrolet
51.450s (+ 0.649s) 174.927mph30.
#23 Robert Richardson Jr. Chevrolet
51.630s (+ 0.829s) 174.317mph31.
#79 Jeffrey Earnhardt Ford
51.632s (+ 0.831s) 174.311mph32.
#44 Hal Martin Toyota
51.713s (+ 0.912s) 174.037mph33.
#87 Joe Nemechek Toyota
51.719s (+ 0.918s) 174.017mph34.
#24 Blake Koch Toyota
51.911s (+ 1.110s) 173.374mph35.
#00 Jason White Toyota
51.929s (+ 1.128s) 173.314mph36.
#15 Juan Carlos Blum Ford
52.205s (+ 1.404s) 172.397mph37.
#51 Jeremy Clements Chevrolet
52.283s (+ 1.482s) 172.140mph38.
#4 Danny Efland Chevrolet
52.323s (+ 1.522s) 172.008mph39.
#40 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet
52.787s (+ 1.986s) 170.497mph40.
#1 Kurt Busch Chevrolet
51.435s (+ 0.634s) 174.978mphDid not qualify#85 Bobby Gerhart Chevrolet
51.831s (+ 1.030s) 173.641mph#89 Morgan Shepherd Dodge
51.912s (+ 1.111s) 173.370mph#92 Dexter Stacey Ford
52.413s (+ 1.612s) 171.713mph#52 Joey Gase Toyota
52.963s (+ 2.162s) 169.930mphPractice 21.
#5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet
46.892s (Leader) 191.930mph (5 laps)
2.
#7 Regan Smith Chevrolet
46.892s (-0.000s) 191.930mph (9 laps)
3.
#32 Kyle Larson Chevrolet
47.217s (-0.325s) 190.609mph (31 laps)
4.
#30 Nelson Piquet Jr. Chevrolet
47.219s (-0.327s) 190.601mph (35 laps)
5.
#31 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet
47.302s (-0.410s) 190.267mph (14 laps)
6.
#34 Danica Patrick Chevrolet
47.307s (-0.415s) 190.247mph (20 laps)
7.
#6 Trevor Bayne Ford
47.547s (-0.655s) 189.286mph (13 laps)
8.
#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet
47.547s (-0.655s) 189.286mph (7 laps)
9.
#87 Joe Nemechek Toyota
47.780s (-0.888s) 188.363mph (10 laps)
10.
#01 Mike Wallace Chevrolet
47.781s (-0.889s) 188.359mph (9 laps)
11.
#20 Brian Vickers Toyota
47.909s (-1.017s) 187.856mph (4 laps)
12.
#11 Elliott Sadler Toyota
47.909s (-1.017s) 187.856mph (7 laps)
13.
#99 Alex Bowman Toyota
47.941s (-1.049s) 187.731mph (25 laps)
14.
#77 Parker Kligerman Toyota
47.942s (-1.050s) 187.727mph (26 laps)
15.
#79 Jeffrey Earnhardt Ford
48.153s (-1.261s) 186.904mph (9 laps)
16.
#23 Robert Richardson Jr. Chevrolet
48.154s (-1.262s) 186.900mph (13 laps)
17.
#00 Jason White Toyota
48.345s (-1.453s) 186.162mph (12 laps)
18.
#40 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet
48.505s (-1.613s) 185.548mph (11 laps)
19.
#70 Johanna Long Chevrolet
48.738s (-1.846s) 184.661mph (14 laps)
20.
#51 Jeremy Clements Chev
48.837s (-1.945s) 184.287mph (15 laps)
21.
#60 Travis Pastrana Ford
49.207s (-2.315s) 182.901mph (16 laps)
22.
#12 Sam Hornish Jr. Ford
49.748s (-2.856s) 180.912mph (21 laps)
23.
#22 Brad Keselowski Ford
50.684s (-3.792s) 177.571mph (4 laps)
24.
#18 Matt Kenseth Toyota
50.774s (-3.882s) 177.256mph (11 laps)
25.
#10 Jeff Green Toyota
50.875s (-3.983s) 176.904mph (8 laps)
26.
#2 Brian Scott Chevrolet
50.904s (-4.012s) 176.803mph (2 laps)
27.
#3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet
51.002s (-4.110s) 176.464mph (5 laps)
28.
#8 Scott Lagasse Jr. Chevrolet
51.029s (-4.137s) 176.370mph (5 laps)
29.
#33 Tony Stewart Chevrolet
51.073s (-4.181s) 176.218mph (2 laps)
30.
#55 Jamie Dick Chevrolet
51.091s (-4.199s) 176.156mph (8 laps)
31.
#43 Michael Annett Ford
51.168s (-4.276s) 175.891mph (14 laps)
32.
#19 Mike Bliss Toyota
51.235s (-4.343s) 175.661mph (5 laps)
33.
#14 Eric McClure Toyota
51.245s (-4.353s) 175.627mph (12 laps)
34.
#74 Mike Harmon Dodge
51.325s (-4.433s) 175.353mph (14 laps)
35.
#85 Bobby Gerhart Chevrolet
51.550s (-4.658s) 174.588mph (15 laps)
36.
#24 Blake Koch Toyota
51.558s (-4.666s) 174.561mph (11 laps)
37.
#44 Hal Martin Toyota
51.676s (-4.784s) 174.162mph (6 laps)
38.
#92 Dexter Stacey Ford
51.707s (-4.815s) 174.058mph (8 laps)
39.
#15 Juan Carlos Blum Ford
51.941s (-5.049s) 173.274mph (7 laps)
40.
#4 Danny Efland Chevrolet
52.767s (-5.875s) 170.561mph (2 laps)
41.
#89 Morgan Shepherd Dodge
52.894s (-6.002s) 170.152mph (3 laps)
42.
#52 Joey Gase Toyota
53.098s (-6.206s) 169.498mph (10 laps)
43.
#41 Donnie Neuenberger Chevrolet
No time (0 laps)
Practice 11.
#12 Sam Hornish Jr. Ford
46.915s (Leader) 191.836mph (9 laps)
2.
#22 Brad Keselowski Ford
46.923s (-0.008s) 191.804mph (20 laps)
3.
#2 Brian Scott Chevrolet
47.132s (-0.217s) 190.953mph (10 laps)
4.
#3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet
47.137s (-0.222s) 190.933mph (10 laps)
5.
#11 Elliott Sadler Toyota
47.291s (-0.376s) 190.311mph (10 laps)
6.
#20 Brian Vickers Toyota
47.292s (-0.377s) 190.307mph (10 laps)
7.
#18 Matt Kenseth Toyota
47.327s (-0.412s) 190.166mph (20 laps)
8.
#54 Kyle Busch Toyota
47.328s (-0.413s) 190.162mph (23 laps)
9.
#33 Tony Stewart Chevrolet
47.331s (-0.416s) 190.150mph (7 laps)
10.
#1 Kurt Busch Chevrolet
47.333s (-0.418s) 190.142mph (8 laps)
11.
#99 Alex Bowman Toyota
47.536s (-0.621s) 189.330mph (13 laps)
12.
#77 Parker Kligerman Toyota
47.536s (-0.621s) 189.330mph (17 laps)
13.
#6 Trevor Bayne Ford
47.579s (-0.664s) 189.159mph (12 laps)
14.
#5 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet
47.579s (-0.664s) 189.159mph (16 laps)
15.
#87 Joe Nemechek Toyota
48.278s (-1.363s) 186.420mph (6 laps)
16.
#31 Justin Allgaier Chevrolet
49.935s (-3.020s) 180.234mph (5 laps)
17.
#43 Michael Annett Ford
50.170s (-3.255s) 179.390mph (9 laps)
18.
#88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Chevrolet
50.443s (-3.528s) 178.419mph (5 laps)
19.
#44 Hal Martin Toyota
50.680s (-3.765s) 177.585mph (4 laps)
20.
#60 Travis Pastrana Ford
50.731s (-3.816s) 177.406mph (8 laps)
21.
#7 Regan Smith Chevrolet
50.841s (-3.926s) 177.022mph (6 laps)
22.
#10 Jeff Green Toyota
50.910s (-3.995s) 176.783mph (2 laps)
23.
#30 Nelson Piquet Jr. Chevrolet
50.922s (-4.007s) 176.741mph (9 laps)
24.
#32 Kyle Larson Chevrolet
50.959s (-4.044s) 176.613mph (5 laps)
25.
#8 Scott Lagasse Jr. Chevrolet
51.239s (-4.324s) 175.647mph (5 laps)
26.
#55 Jamie Dick Chevrolet
51.254s (-4.339s) 175.596mph (2 laps)
27.
#01 Mike Wallace Chevrolet
51.266s (-4.351s) 175.555mph (8 laps)
28.
#19 Mike Bliss Toyota
51.313s (-4.398s) 175.394mph (5 laps)
29.
#85 Bobby Gerhart Chevrolet
51.321s (-4.406s) 175.367mph (7 laps)
30.
#79 Jeffrey Earnhardt Ford
51.684s (-4.769s) 174.135mph (4 laps)
31.
#23 Robert Richardson Jr. Chevrolet
51.714s (-4.799s) 174.034mph (2 laps)
32.
#24 Blake Koch Toyota
51.789s (-4.874s) 173.782mph (5 laps)
33.
#70 Johanna Long Chevrolet
51.958s (-5.043s) 173.217mph (2 laps)
34.
#51 Jeremy Clements Chev
52.103s (-5.188s) 172.735mph (11 laps)
35.
#15 Juan Carlos Blum Ford
52.439s (-5.524s) 171.628mph (2 laps)
36.
#4 Danny Efland Chevrolet
52.470s (-5.555s) 171.527mph (2 laps)
37.
#40 Reed Sorenson Chevrolet
52.666s (-5.751s) 170.888mph (7 laps)
Nationwide Series standings1. (--)
Sam Hornish Jr. 42pts2. (--)
Alex Bowman # 41pts (-1pts)3. (--)
Parker Kligerman 40pts (-2pts)4. (--)
Brian Scott 39pts (-3pts)5. (--)
Justin Allgaier 38pts (-4pts)6. (--)
Eric McClure 37pts (-5pts)7. (--)
Robert Richardson 35pts (-7pts)8. (--)
Travis Pastrana 34pts (-8pts)9. (--)
Nelson Piquet Jr. # 33pts (-9pts)10. (--)
Kyle Larson # 32pts (-10pts)11. (--)
Regan Smith 32pts (-10pts)12. (--)
Elliott Sadler 30pts (-12pts)13. (--)
Mike Harmon 28pts (-14pts)14. (--)
Joe Nemechek 26pts (-16pts)15. (--)
Brian Vickers 26pts (-16pts)16. (--)
Austin Dillon 23pts (-19pts)17. (--)
Jeffrey Earnhardt # 23pts (-19pts)18. (--)
Mike Bliss 22pts (-20pts)19. (--)
Jason White 20pts (-22pts)20. (--)
Danny Efland 20pts (-22pts)21. (--)
Michael Annett 18pts (-24pts)22. (--)
Johanna Long 17pts (-25pts)23. (--)
Hal Martin # 16pts (-26pts)24. (--)
Jamie Dick 15pts (-27pts)25. (--)
Reed Sorenson 14pts (-28pts)26. (--)
Trevor Bayne 14pts (-28pts)27. (--)
Jeremy Clements 11pts (-31pts)28. (--)
Mike Wallace 10pts (-32pts)29. (--)
Juan Carlos Blum # 7pts (-35pts)30. (--)
Blake Koch 6pts (-36pts)31. (--)
Scott Lagasse Jr. 5pts (-37pts)32. (--)
Jeff Green 4pts (-38pts)33. (--)
Tony Stewart(i) 0pts (-42pts)34. (--)
Dale Earnhardt Jr.(i) 0pts (-42pts)35. (--)
Brad Keselowski(i) 0pts (-42pts)36. (--)
Matt Kenseth(i) 0pts (-42pts)37. (--)
Kasey Kahne(i) 0pts (-42pts)38. (--)
Kyle Busch(i) 0pts (-42pts)39. (--)
Kurt Busch(i) 0pts (-42pts)40. (--)
Danica Patrick(i) 0pts (-42pts)41. (--)
Bobby Gerhart 0pts (-42pts)42. (--)
Morgan Shepherd 0pts (-42pts)43. (--)
Dexter Stacey 0pts (-42pts)44. (--)
Joey Gase 0pts (-42pts)i = not eligible for points in this series# = Nationwide series rookie