Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), was running third when he took the white flag in his Can-Am Duel qualifying race Thursday night at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. However, he became collateral damage when a six-car accident triggered by Jimmie Johnson and Jamie McMurray battling for second place on the white-flag lap brought out the caution flag, freezing the field and allowing Busch to take the checkered flag where he ran at the time of the caution.
Photo Credit: stewarthaasracing.com
“Tony Gibson (crew chief) gave me a great car,” Busch said. “We brought it home third. We got some damage on the Haas Automation/Monster Energy Chevy. We will see what we have to do to fix it up. It’s Speedweeks, and you just feel like you always want to bring your best bullet to the Daytona 500. We are going to have to polish on this one to make it the best one we’ve got because of the damage that we got going into turn one. It’s exciting, it’s a thrilling type of finish with guys blocking and guys trying to make a move. We did the best we could.”
Busch started fifth but was shuffled out of line early and spent much of what was a fairly uneventful, follow-the-leader style race toward the back of the field. He followed the leaders to pit road on lap 39, opting to take fuel only on what would be his only pit stop of the race. Quick work by the Haas Automation/Monster Energy crew allowed him to gain several positions once the cycle of stops was completed.
As the field closed in on the final lap, drivers began jockeying for position. Once the field took the white flag, McMurray made an evasive maneuver to protect his position from Johnson. The two made contact, which sent Johnson’s car spinning, collecting Busch and resulting in heavy right-side damage to his No. 41 Chevrolet.
Gibson and his Haas Automation/Monster Energy team assessed the damage and made the decision to repair the racecar rather than going to their backup car and to the tail of the field for the start of Sunday’s 58th Daytona 500.
With the Can-Am Duel now complete, the field for the Daytona 500 is set. On the pole is Chase Elliott, and alongside him is Matt Kenseth. By notching the two quickest times during Sunday’s qualifying session, both drivers were able to lock themselves into the front row for the Daytona 500.
Failing to qualify for the Daytona 500 were David Gilliland, Reed Sorenson, Cole Whitt and Josh Wise.
The Daytona 500 gets underway at 1 p.m. EST Sunday, Feb. 21, with live coverage provided by FOX.
