Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott Win Can Am Duel Races at Daytona

February 15, 2018

Rick Nyman,

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Roger Penske has a car capable of winning the Daytona 500.

Maybe even three of them.

Penske again went 1-2 at Daytona International Speedway for its second sweep of Speedweeks. Ryan Blaney won the first of two Thursday night qualifying races that are used to set the Daytona 500 field. Joey Logano finished second for the Ford sweep.

Logano also finished second to teammate Brad Keselowski in last week’s all-star race, and Keselowski is the Las Vegas favorite to win Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500. But Keselowski wrecked with two laps remaining in the qualifier, and he’ll need a backup for the main event.

If it’s anything like the cars Team Penske has fielded all week at Daytona, Keselowski will be in great shape.

The three Penske drivers dominated the all-star race last Sunday and were at the front of the field for the entire Thursday night race. Blaney won it in overtime after Keselowski’s accident brought out the caution.

Chase Elliott won the second qualifying race for the Daytona 500. The win temporarily put the brakes on what has been a Team Penske route of Speedweeks.

Elliott’s victory gives him a starting spot in the second row of Sunday’s season-opening race. He’ll line up next to Ryan Blaney, winner of the first qualifier Thursday night.

Blaney’s victory was the second of Speedweeks for Team Penske and set the three-car team up as the favorites to win the Daytona 500. Brad Keselowski won last week’s all-star race and Joey Logano has finished second to his teammates in both events.

Elliott’s win was a victory for Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports, which also has driver Alex Bowman on the pole for the Daytona 500.