Toyota one-two as Jarrett, Andretti advance to 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Jeff Gordon pushed Denny Hamlin past Hamlin's teammate Tony Stewart with one lap to go, and Hamlin hung on to win the second Gatorade 150 qualifying race at Daytona International Speedway.
Stewart held on to give the Joe Gibbs Toyota team a one-two finish. Gordon was third, followed by Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin, David Ragan, Kevin Harvick, Greg Biffle, Dale Jarrett and John Andretti.
Jarrett, a three-time Daytona 500 winner and former NASCAR champion, stole the show in a green, white, checkered finish because just about everybody on the race track offered to help him clinch one of the two spots available to drivers out of the top 35 in points from last year. Jarrett's ninth-place finish made him the first of seven drivers trying to grab the two positions.
Veteran John Andretti sped past David Reutimann on the last lap to grab the other spot. Reutimann joins Joe Nemechek as one of the two drivers earning spots in Sunday's 50th anniversary of the Great American Race.
A problem with a right front tire on Patrick Carpentier's Dodge ended his chances to make the race with three laps remaining. Carpentier slammed into the wall coming out of turn two after holding down one of the two spots available in the race for the highest finishers not in NASCAR's top 35 points.
Dave Blaney also showed he is going to be a factor in the 500, running with the leaders before suffering engine problems.
Hamlin's win was the first for Toyota in a NASCAR Sprint Cup race
Four cars had to start from the rear in the second race, including Stewart, Gordon and Hamlin because of engine changes, and Franchitti, who missed driver introductions.
Shortly after the green flag, front row starter David Reutimann joined the back of the pack after jumping the start. He received a pass through the pits penalty for crossing the start-finish before his teammate and pole-sitter Michael Waltrip. The pole-winner must cross the line first under NASCAR rules.
Waltrip led the first few laps with Blaney and Kenseth in tow.
Kenseth took the lead on the 13th lap with Kasey Kahne on his bumper. Waltrip slipped to third.
On the 15th lap, Jacques Villeneuve lost control of his Toyota in turn four and slid up the track, collecting Stanton Barrett, Franchitti and Jamie McMurray in the process.
After a lengthy caution to clean up debris on the track, Kenseth took up where he left off before the caution flag, in front of the pack.
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