Cindric Noses Out Erik Jones to Win Second Daytona Duel

NKP Photo

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – RIS – Austin Cindric nosed out Eric Erik Jones in the second Duel qualifying race for Sunday’s Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday.  Jones made a last lap move on the outside to even himself with Austin Cindric on the inside. Then, he snuck ahead just before the stripe, but a caution flag arrived. A multi-car crash brought out the yellow with Cindric leading just feet before the cars reached the line.

Jones began his victory celebration before NASCAR officially reviewed the finish.  At the moment of the official finish, Cindric was ahead.

Jones made a late charge in the closing laps to position himself at the front and came across the finish line side by side with Cindric as the field wrecked behind them. Meanwhile, open driver Corey LaJoie raced his Rick Ware Racing Ford into the Daytona 500 with a sixth-place finish.   As a result, Anthony Alfredo and BJ McLeod failed to qualify for Sunday’s (Feb. 16) race. 

 Jones parked his Toyota on the frontstretch, but after the finish was reviewed by NASCAR officials, it was determined that Cindric’s Team Penske Ford was ahead of Jones when the caution came out.

Chris Buescher finished third behind Cindric and Jones, while Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano rounded out the top five. LaJoie, Todd Gilliland, Ryan Blaney, John Hunter Nemechek and Christopher Bell rounded out the top 10.

Unofficial Results for the Duel 2 at DAYTONA, February 13, 2025 - Daytona International Speedway
Fin, Str, Driver, Car, Laps, Pts, Status, Tms Led, Laps Led
1) Austin Cindric, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford, 60, 10, Running, 4, 5
2) Erik Jones, No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota, 60, 9, Running, 3, 16
3) Chris Buescher, No. 17 Fastenal Ford, 60, 8, Running, 3, 9
4) Denny Hamlin, No. 11 National Debt Relief Toyota, 60, 7, Running, 1, 14
5) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 60, 6, Running, ,
6) Corey LaJoie*, No. 01 Take 5 Oil Change/DuraMax Ford, 60, 5, Running, ,
7) Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, 60, 4, Running, ,
8) Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Menards/Peak Ford, 60, 3, Running, 3, 5
9) John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Dollar Tree Toyota, 60, 2, Running, ,
10) Christopher Bell, No. 20 DEWALT/Interstate Batteries Toyota, 60, 1, Running, ,
11) Kyle Larson, No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, 60, 0, Running, ,
12) Riley Herbst #, No. 35 Monster Energy/Zero Sugar Toyota, 60, 0, Running, ,
13) Anthony Alfredo(i)*, No. 62 Fortify Building Solutions Chevrolet, 60, 0, Running, ,
14) Shane Van Gisbergen #, No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, 60, 0, Running, ,
15) Cody Ware, No. 51 Parts Plus/Jacob Construction Ford, 60, 0, Running, ,
16) Cole Custer, No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford, 60, 0, Running, ,
17) BJ McLeod*, No. 78 HitchGo Chevrolet, 60, 0, Running, ,
18) Noah Gragson, No. 4 Rush Truck Centers Ford, 60, 0, Running, ,
19) Jimmie Johnson*, No. 84 Carvana Toyota, 60, 0, Running, ,
20) Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Kroger/Cottonelle Ford, 48, 0, Accident, 1, 2
21) Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet, 47, 0, Accident, 2, 9
22) Alex Bowman, No. 48 Ally Chevrolet, 47, 0, Accident, ,
(i) Ineligible for driver points, (#) Rookie, (*) Must qualify on time

Race Length: 60 Laps, 150. Miles
Time: 55 Mins, 41 Secs.
Average Speed: 161.628 mph
Margin of Victory: Under Caution

Comments: Austin Cindric has won the Duel at DAYTONA 2 at Daytona International Speedway, his first victory in the DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Race.

Prior to the start, the following vehicle(s) dropped to the rear of the field under penalty for the reason(s) indicated: No. 20 (Unapproved Adjustments)

Cautions: 2 for 6 laps;
Laps: 49-53 (No. 6, 48, 99 Incident Backstretch [None]);
60-60 (No. 5, 88, 35, 62, 51 Incident Frontstretch [None]).

Lead Changes: 16 among 7 drivers;
A. Cindric 1;
D. Hamlin 2-15;
E. Jones 16-17;
R. Blaney 18;
E. Jones 19-31;
D. Suarez 32-33;
R. Blaney 34-36;
D. Suarez 37-43;
R. Blaney 44;
B. Keselowski 45-46;
C. Buescher 47-53;
A. Cindric 54;
C. Buescher 55;
A. Cindric 56;
C. Buescher 57;
A. Cindric 58-59;
E. Jones 60.