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Junior wins 1st Duel; Wallace, Vickers qualify for 500

By Rea White - Associate Editor

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Article Rating: 5.0
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Rusty Jarrett / Getty Images

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Mountian Dew AMP/National Guard Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the first of two NASCAR Sprint Cup Gatorade Duels 150 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2008 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. may have taken the checkered flag in today's first Gatorade 150-mile qualifying race for Sunday's Daytona 500, but Kenny Wallace and Brian Vickers emerged as the big winners of the race.

Earnhardt Jr. showed the same ability to pass and the drafting style that marked his winning performance in Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout, moving to the front of the field for 25 of the race's 60 laps. He and his Hendrick Motorsports team appear in fine form entering the Daytona 500 with two prerace victories at the track under their belts.

Earnhardt Jr. had to race to the front after starting at the rear of the field after all the Hendrick drivers had to change their engines Wednesday.

"The guys worked overnight to bring us the replacement motors down here," Earnhardt Jr. said. "They're great, as you see."

Wallace turned Furniture Row Racing, a single-car organization based out of Denver, Colo., into the Cinderella team of Daytona with his eighth-place finish. Joe Nemechek, the full-time driver for the team in its No. 78, locked up a position in the season-opening NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race by virtue of posting the third-fastest qualifying time Sunday.

Wallace, who parted company with the team last year but then was givenbut then given a chance to make the Daytona 500 when it brought a second car to the track, battled back late in the qualifying race to grab the first of two spots available to drivers not already locked into the field through each race. With his brother, Mike, spotting for him, he qualified for the 50th running of the Daytona 500.

A somewhat emotional Wallace admitted he was stunned with the turn of events.

"I was just so focused on my driving," he said. " … I'm very grateful and, I tell you, I'm a little shocked. You get in a zone out there."

A late caution bunched up the field with two laps to go, something that made Wallace edgy – especially when all the drivers fighting for those two positions pitted except for him. Still, he held on to his position on the final laps without being challenged.

Red Bull Racing's Brian Vickers, meanwhile, had to overcome an early setback after he spun following contact with Boris Said. Then, when a caution came out with five laps to go and his car sitting in the final spot to  make the race, Vickers and his team decided to pit. It looked like a daring move, but the rest of the drivers fighting him for that spot also pitted.

Vickers re-emerged on the track third in the order of drivers outside the top 35, but quickly passed Nemechek – who didn't need the spot – and locked his way into the field.

"It's like I won a race," Vickers said. "I think the last time I felt this good was when I won a race. I mean the 50th running of the Daytona 500 is special, but just the momentum, just to get the year started off right"

Chip Ganassi Racing's Reed Sorenson finished second behind Earnhardt Jr., followed by Penske Racing's Ryan Newman, Hendrick Motorsports' Casey Mears and Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards.

The final field for the 500 will not be set until after the second qualifying race this afternoon.

Average Rating: 5.0

Comments

6 responses to "Junior wins 1st Duel; Wallace, Vickers qualify for 500"
  1. 1
    mike bellury said:
    Feb 14, 2008 at 3:57 PM

    IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A STORY ABOUT JR. WHAT HAPPENED?

    Report as Abuse
  2. 2
    Michael Knepp said:
    Feb 15, 2008 at 10:10 AM

    Way to go Vickers!! There's anough stories about Jr everywhere else - like TV guide -go read those.

    Report as Abuse
  3. 3
    clarence grubbs said:
    Feb 15, 2008 at 12:53 PM

    Maybe this will satisfy those fans who think Dale gets too much publicity. It doesn't change the facts people, he won Go Jr.

    Report as Abuse
  4. 4
    mike bellury said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:08 PM

    IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A STORY ABOUT JR. WHAT HAPPENED?

    Report as Abuse
  5. 5
    Michael Knepp said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:08 PM

    Way to go Vickers!! There's anough stories about Jr everywhere else - like TV guide -go read those.

    Report as Abuse
  6. 6
    clarence grubbs said:
    Mar 17, 2008 at 7:08 PM

    Maybe this will satisfy those fans who think Dale gets too much publicity. It doesn't change the facts people, he won Go Jr.

    Report as Abuse

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