Logano Wins NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona

Feb 21, 2017

NASCAR, Joey Logano, K&N, Daytona International Speedway

Joey Logano wins the Clash at Daytona International Speedway

Joey Logano won the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, weaving around the crashed cars of Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski on the last lap.

Hamlin, who was leading the race with one lap to go, and Keselowski collided in turn one on the last lap. Hamlin won the season-opening Daytona 500 in 2016. Keselowski, Logano’s teammate with Team Penske, tried to pass Hamlin for the lead. Hamlin went to block him and made contact.

“Denny had to make the block, but I was able to see that the block was coming way too late and it wasn't going to work,” Logano said, “so I immediately went to the top because I saw that they were going to crash, and we were basically in the right place at the right time and were able to drive our Shell-Pennzoil Ford into victory lane at the Clash, so it was a pretty fun, eventful race. Fun to be able to change our strategy up and figure out a way to win throughout the race.”

Logano took the lead twice for four laps in the 75-lap exhibition race. The race was delayed a day because of rain. Logano said he made some mistakes early in the race and worked his way to the front to put himself in position to take the lead, working with Keselowski and Kevin Harvick during the race.

NASCAR, Kyle Busch, Alex Bowman, K&N, Daytona International Speedway

Kyle Busch finishes second in front of Alex Bowman

“We kind of grabbed one at a time, one at a time, and Brad was doing a good job of getting a run, getting outside of them, pulling back, and I was able to follow Brad through,” Logano said. “Kevin was following me, and then there at the end, I kind of got shuffled out, got stuck in the middle, lost some spots, and was able to eventually get a good enough run to break free again, get back to Brad's bumper, give him the run into Turn 1, but that was either going to win the race or they were going to crash. And the good thing is he had the run, he had to make the move.”

Hamlin and Keselowski each led twice, with Hamlin out front for 48 laps and Keselowski leading for 18 laps.

"You do everything you can to stay in front," Hamlin said. "But I think he had such a head of steam, there was not a whole lot I could do."

Kyle Busch came in second place, finishing 0.018 seconds in front of Alex Bowman, who finished in third. Busch led once and was in the lead for five laps.

“Everything as far as the 2018 Camry feels good,” Busch said after the race on Sunday. “Feels like the guys at Joe Gibbs Racing have done a great job building some really fast speedway cars. We had the fast cars last year. I feel like we've got fast cars again this year thanks to JGR and Toyota. I'm looking forward to closing out this week today, I guess, and getting some qualifying laps in and seeing where we stack up in order to get ready for the Duels next week.”

Joey Logano celebrates his victory at Daytona International Speedway

Danica Patrick came in fourth place moving up from 10th place on the last lap after Hamlin and Keselowski crashed.

Logano is the first Ford driver to win The Clash race at Daytona since Dale Jarrett did it in 2004. The field for the Clash at Daytona premiered 17 drivers, all invited, and made up mainly from the pole winners and drivers who were in the Chase for the Cup Championship playoffs.

The Daytona 500, the season-opening race for the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series, is Sunday, Feb. 26, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Chase Elliott won the pole for the Daytona 500.

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