2011 Gatorade Duels

The 2011 Gatorade Duels were a pair of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car races that were held on February 17, 2011 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Both contested over 60 laps, were the qualifying races for the 2011 Daytona 500. The first race was won by Kurt Busch for the Penske Racing team. Regan Smith finished second, and Kevin Harvick clinched third. Afterward, the second race was won by Jeff Burton. Clint Bowyer followed in the second position, ahead of third placed Michael Waltrip.

During the first race, Ryan Newman was the leader at the start. However, by the end of the lap Menard became the leader. Afterward, the first caution was given after Newman spun sideways. On the 11th lap, Harvick moved to the first position. Twenty laps later, Busch became the leader. With four laps remaining, Michael McDowell's engine failed, prompting the second caution to be given. At the restart, Kenseth was the leader, but he was passed by Busch one lap later. Busch remained in the first position to win the first Gatorade Duel.

During the second race, Jeff Gordon was the leader at the start, but after one lap he was passed by Bowyer. On the third lap, Casey Mears' engine failed, prompting the first caution of the race to be given. After the restart, Kyle Busch became the leader. On lap 13, Edwards passed Busch to move into the first position. On the 15th lap, the second caution of the race was given, after Joey Logano collided into the wall. At the restart, Edwards remained the leader, ahead of Kyle Busch. At the end of the race, Burton had assistance from Bowyer to win the race. A total of 80,000 people attended both races.

Report

Background

Daytona International Speedway, the race track where the races were held.

The track, Daytona International Speedway, is one of six superspeedways to hold NASCAR races, the others being Michigan International Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Talladega Superspeedway.[1] The standard track at Daytona International Speedway is a four-turn superspeedway that is 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long.[2] The track's turns are banked at 31 degrees, while the front stretch, the location of the finish line, is banked at 18 degrees.[2] The defending winners of the races were Jimmie Johnson[3] and Kasey Kahne.[4]

Practice and qualifying

Prior to the races, there were two practice sessions to practice for the race, which were both held on February 16, 2011.[5] The first practice session lasted 90 minutes, while the second lasted 55 minutes long after rain delays.[6] In the first practice session, which was delayed because of rain,[6] Kyle Busch was quickest with a time of 44.943 seconds. He was followed by Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Johnson, and Juan Pablo Montoya in the next four positions.[7] Also in the session, Earnhardt, along with Martin Truex, Jr., collided together, and into the wall. Both sustained major damages to their car, which prompted them to move to back-up cars, meaning Earnhardt had to forfeit the pole position for the race and in the Daytona 500.[8] During the second practice, Kahne was quickest with a time of 44.985 seconds, only one-thousandth of a second faster than Joey Logano. Jeff Gordon followed in the third position, ahead of David Ragan and Kyle Busch.[8] The qualifying grids were chosen by how they qualified in Daytona 500 pole position qualifying, giving the pole position to Earnhardt in the first race,[9] and Gordon in the second.[10]

Races

The qualifying races for the 2011 Daytona 500 began at 2:00 p.m. EST and was televised live in the United States on Speed.[11] The conditions on the grid were dry before the race, the air temperature at 70 °F (21 °C) with sunny skies expected.[12] Sonny Gallman began pre-race ceremonies, by delivering the invocation. Next, Johnny Mayo, performed the national anthem.[12]

Race 1

Kurt Busch was the winner after the first Gatorade Duel (pictured in 2015)
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Ryan Newman racing in the first race.

Following the invocation and the performance of the United States National Anthem, Children of Ed Shull gave the command for drivers to start their engines.[11] On the pace laps, Johnson, after changing their engine, and Earnhardt, who had to move to a back-up car had to fall behind all the other drivers in the event after doing major changes during practice. At the start, Ryan Newman was the leader going through the first corner, but on the same lap Paul Menard, with assistance from Mark Martin, passed him. On the second lap, the first caution was given because Newman spun sideways. During the caution, he drove to pit road for a pit stop.[12]

At the lap 6 restart, Menard remained the leader ahead of Martin. On the same lap, Martin became the leader, after having assistance from Tony Stewart. By the ninth lap, Martin and Stewart had a 1.7 second lead over the third position. Two laps later, Earnhardt moved to the tenth position, while Harvick became the leader. On the 22nd lap, Johnson moved up to ninth while Harvick and Kurt Busch switched the first position in between them. On the following lap, Kahne became the leader, but after four laps, Harvick reclaimed the first position. However, on the 30th lap, Kahne took the lead from Harvick, only to get it removed by Kurt Busch one lap later. At lap 32, Earnhardt moved up to the ninth position, while Johnson moved up to fifth.[12]

On lap 34, Harvick took the lead from Kurt Busch, but on the same lap, Busch reclaimed the position. On the following lap, Menard was tenth, while A. J. Allmendinger passed Johnson for the fifth position. On lap 38, green flag pit stops began, as Bill Elliott and Brian Vickers pitted. On the following lap, most of the drivers participating in the race pitted for fuel. On lap 41, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch pitted. Two laps later, Kenseth became the leader, with assistance from Harvick. On the 45th lap, Kenseth was the leader, ahead of Harvick, Kahne, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Regan Smith. Seven laps later, Johnson moved up into the eighth position. On lap 56, the second caution was given after Michael McDowell's engine failed. At the lap 60 restart, Kenseth was the leader, but on the final lap, he was passed by Kurt Busch and Smith. Kurt Busch remained the leader to win the race, ahead of Smtih, Harvick, and Kenseth.[12][13][14]

Race 2

Jeff Burton was the winner after the second Gatorade Duel.

Following the first Gatorade Duel, Murphy Reynolds gave the command for drivers to start their engines. At the start, Gordon and Trevor Bayne were the leaders. On the first lap, Clint Bowyer became the leader after having assistance from Jeff Burton. On the following lap, Jamie McMurray moved into the third position, after drafting with Kyle Busch. On the third lap, the first caution was given because Casey Mears' engine failed. At the lap 6 restart, Bowyer was the leader, ahead of Burton, Kyle Busch, and Greg Biffle. Two laps later, Busch became the leader. On the 11th lap, Carl Edwards moved up to third, while McMurray moved up to second. Two laps later, Edwards became the leader. On lap 14, Gordon reclaimed the first position, as Trevor Bayne moved up to second. On the following lap, the second caution was given after Logano collided into the wall. Most of the drivers participating in the race pitted during the caution. At the lap 20 restart, Edwards was the leader ahead of Kyle Busch.[12]

On the 21st lap, Kyle Busch fell to the ninth position, after having no assistance. Two laps later, Bowyer took the first position, but after two more laps, he was passed by Gordon. At lap 27, Truex, with assistance from Hamlin became the leader for only a lap before Edwards reclaimed the position. Afterward on lap 30, Burton became the leader ahead Biffle and Gordon. Seven laps later, Gordon, with assistance from Bayne became moved into the first and second positions. On the 39th lap, Brad Keselowski spun sideways, prompting the third caution to come out. At the lap 43 restart, Gordon remained in the first position, but on the following lap, Edwards retook the lead. On the 46th lap, Hamlin spun sideways to cause the fourth caution. Edwards remained the leader at the lap 49 restart. Five laps later, the fifth caution was given, after Todd Bodine crashed. With three laps remaining in the race, Burton and Bowyer were in the first two positions. Burton remained the leader to cross the finish line in first, ahead of Bowyer in second. Also on the final lap, there was an accident at behind the front runners. Michael Waltrip finished third, Kyle Busch clinched fourth, and Brian Keselowski rounded out the first five positions.[12][15]

In the end, the following five drivers failed to qualify for the Daytona 500 because they could not finish high enough in their respective Duels or turn a fast enough qualifying lap: Casey Mears, Todd Bodine, Derrike Cope, Kevin Conway, and Michael McDowell.[16]

Post-race

Following the first race, Kurt Busch drove to victory lane. During the press conference, Busch said, "It's the Double Deuce power right now." He continued, "To be in those positions, you have to have a good drafting partner. I had that with Regan Smith [Thursday], had it with [Jamie] McMurray on Saturday night [in the Shootout]. But you can't be in those positions if you don't build a great race car." Also by winning the race, he will be the leader at the start of the Daytona 500, after Earnhardt was involved in an accident.[17]

Once the second race was over, Burton drove to victory lane after winning the race. In the next press conference, he said, "It’s great to be in Victory Lane but we’ve got to keep it in perspective that this wasn’t the Daytona 500. You want me to tell you what’s going to happen on Sunday? We’re going to have 400 miles of some stuff happening, but then 100 miles of a lot of things happening. We’re going to have six or seven cautions in the last 100 laps, it’s going to be a short race to [the] chequered [flag] and that’s what’s going to happen." "You’re going to do things in the end that you didn’t do in the first 400 laps, and we’re going to have the same Daytona 500 that we’ve had for the past six or seven years. It’s going to be different how we get there, but it’s the same thing every time come down here," Burton continued.[18] A crowd of 80,000 people attended the race.[19][20]

Results

Qualifying 1 and 2

race 1 race 2
No Driver Team Manufacturer Grid No Driver Team Manufacturer Grid
88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 1
27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 2 21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford 2
39 Ryan Newman Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet 3 33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 3
5 Mark Martin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 4 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 4
14 Tony Stewart Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet 5 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 5
22 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge 6 6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford 6
42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 7 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 7
9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 8 38 Travis Kvapil Front Row Motorsports Ford 8
29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 9 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 9
48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 10 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge 10
09 Bill Elliott Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 11 15 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 11
43 A.J. Allmendinger Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 12 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 12
87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 13 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 13
17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 14 56 Martin Truex, Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 14
36 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 15 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15
78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 16 60 Todd Bodine Germain Racing Toyota 16
4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 17 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Toyota 17
47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 18 77 Steve Wallace Rusty Wallace Racing Toyota 18
83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 19 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge 19
97 Kevin Conway NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 20 32 Terry Labonte FAS Lane Racing Ford 20
34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 21 37 Robert Richardson, Jr. Front Row Motorsports Ford 21
66 Michael McDowell HP Racing Toyota 22 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 22
46 J.J. Yeley Whitney Motorsports Chevrolet 23 64 Derrike Cope Max Q Motorsports Toyota 23
71 Andy Lally TRG Motorsports Chevrolet 24 92 Brian Keselowski K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge 24

Race results 1

race 1 race 2
Pos Grid Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
Run		 Pos Grid Car Driver Team Manufacturer Laps
Run
1 6 22 Kurt Busch Penske Racing Dodge 62 1 4 31 Jeff Burton Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 60
2 16 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 62 2 3 33 Clint Bowyer Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 60
3 9 29 Kevin Harvick Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 62 3 11 15 Michael Waltrip Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 60
4 14 17 Matt Kenseth Roush Fenway Racing Ford 62 4 13 18 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 60
5 17 4 Kasey Kahne Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 62 5 24 92 Brian Keselowski K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge 60
6 7 42 Juan Pablo Montoya Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 62 6 12 1 Jamie McMurray Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet 60
7 12 43 A. J. Allmendinger Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 62 7 10 2 Brad Keselowski Penske Racing Dodge 60
8 4 5 Mark Martin Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 62 8 22 11 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 60
9 2 27 Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet 62 9 14 56 Martin Truex, Jr. Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 60
10 3 39 Ryan Newman Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet 62 10 7 99 Carl Edwards Roush Fenway Racing Ford 60
11 10 48 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 62 11 9 00 David Reutimann Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota 60
12 5 14 Tony Stewart Stewart Haas Racing Chevrolet 62 12 1 24 Jeff Gordon Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 60
13 1 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet 62 13 8 38 Travis Kvapil Front Row Motorsports Ford 60
14 19 83 Brian Vickers Red Bull Racing Team Toyota 62 14 23 64 Derrike Cope Max Q Motorsports Toyota 60
15 11 09 Bill Elliott Phoenix Racing Chevrolet 62 15 5 16 Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing Ford 60
16 18 47 Bobby Labonte JTG Daugherty Racing Toyota 62 16 21 37 Robert Richardson, Jr. Front Row Motorsports Ford 60
17 23 46 J.J. Yeley Whitney Motorsports Toyota 62 17 19 7 Robby Gordon Robby Gordon Motorsports Dodge 60
18 20 97 Kevin Conway NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 62 18 20 32 Terry Labonte FAS Lane Racing Ford 60
19 13 87 Joe Nemechek NEMCO Motorsports Toyota 62 19 2 21 Trevor Bayne Wood Brothers Racing Ford 60
20 15 36 Dave Blaney Tommy Baldwin Racing Chevrolet 62 20 6 6 David Ragan Roush Fenway Racing Ford 60
21 8 9 Marcos Ambrose Richard Petty Motorsports Ford 62 21 16 60 Todd Bodine Germain Racing Toyota 54
22 24 71 Andy Lally TRG Motorsports Chevrolet 60 22 18 77 Steve Wallace Rusty Wallace Racing Toyota 54
23 22 66 Michael McDowell HP Racing Toyota 53 23 15 20 Joey Logano Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota 15
24 21 34 David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports Ford 40 24 17 13 Casey Mears Germain Racing Toyota 2
Source:[13][26]
Source:[15][27]

References

  1. ↑ "NASCAR Race Tracks". nascar.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
  2. 1 2 "NASCAR Tracks — The Daytona International Speedway". www.speedway-guide.com. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
  3. ↑ "2010 Gatorade Duel 150 #1". Racing-Reference.info. 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  4. ↑ "2010 Gatorade Duel 150 #2". Racing-Reference.info. 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  5. ↑ "Jayski's® NASCAR Silly Season Site – Race Info Page". Jayski.com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  6. 1 2 "NASCAR: Rain delays practice sessions at Daytona – AutoWeek Magazine". Autoweek.com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  7. ↑ "Practice 3 Timing and Scoring". Nascar.Com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  8. 1 2 "Practice 4 Timing and Scoring". Nascar.Com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  9. ↑ "Gatorade Duel 1 Lineup". Nascar.Com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  10. ↑ "Gatorade Duel 2 Lineup". Nascar.Com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  11. 1 2 "Sprint Cup Series Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Race Summary". Nascar.Com. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
  13. 1 2 "2010 Official Race Results : Gatorade Duel 1". Nascar.Com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  14. ↑ Black, Jacob. "Busch and Burton take out Gatorade Duel". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  15. 1 2 "2010 Official Race Results : Gatorade Duel 2". Nascar.Com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  16. ↑ 2011 Daytona 500 starting lineup
  17. ↑ Sporting News Wire Service. "Busch, Burton win Duel races – Feb 17, 2011". Nascar.Com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  18. ↑ "Burton leads RCR 1-2 in second Duel | inRacingNews.com". Iracing.com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  19. ↑ "2011 Gatorade Duel 1". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  20. ↑ "2011 Gatorade Duel 2". racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  21. ↑ "Qualifying Lineup 1". Nascar.Com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  22. ↑ "Lineup Statistics 1". MotorRacingNetwork.com. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  23. 1 2 Jayski's NASCAR Silly Season Site – 2011 Gatorade Duel 150 – Lineup and Qualifying Info
  24. ↑ "Qualifying Lineup 2". Nascar.Com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  25. ↑ "Lineup Statistics 2". MotorRacingNetwork.com. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  26. ↑ "Gatorade Duel 1 Race Results". Motor Racing Network. International Speedway Corporation. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  27. ↑ "Gatorade Duel 2 Race Results". Motor Racing Network. International Speedway Corporation. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
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