Kevin Harvick Claims Back-To-Back Budweiser Shootout Wins

Kevin Harvick survived a crash-shortened green-white-checkers finish to claim his second consecutive Budweiser Shootout. Harvick pitted for tires with just a few laps remaining, jumped to the bottom on the restart and avoided the wreck en route to victory in Daytona.

Qualifying Draw

Carl Edwards drew the pole position in Thursday night's random lottery. Kevin Harvick drew number two and started on the outside of the front row. Brian Vickers, Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle made up the rest of the top five starters.

The Opening Segment

The inside lane moved forward first and Carl Edwards lead lap number one with Vickers and Greg Biffle tucked tightly in behind. The drivers were pretty patient during the early going knowing that there was a 10 minute break coming after lap 25. Biffle, Stewart and Kahne each took turns challenging for the lead but Edwards held them off until the break on lap 25.

The Final 50

After the ten minute break the cars returned to the track for the final 50 lap sprint to the finish.

Edwards continued to lead when the race went back to green flag racing. The pack continued to chip away at Edwards' lead and they finally got past.

The driver in the lead proved to be tough to pass as there was a lot of side-by-side racing but not a lot of passing for the lead. Hopefully this was caused by the drivers being cautious for this non-points event and not by the new engine and aero package. Will the drivers be able to pass for the lead in next week's Daytona 500 or are we in for another follow-the-leader snooze fest?

Chasing The Checkers

The caution flew with five laps to go. Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne stayed out on old tires while the rest of the leaders got fresh rubber for the final sprint to the checkers.

The green flag flew with two laps to go and the race was on for the $200,000 payday. Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick made up row number two as the first two with fresh tires.

Biffle got the jump on the outside lane and Kevin Harvick jumped underneath. Jeff Gordon was pushing Biffle down the back stretch and didn't back off when they got to turn three. Gordon turned Biffle in front of the entire field and when the caution flew for the mess in turn three the race was over and Kevin Harvick was the winner.

The Top Five:

1. Kevin Harvick
2. Kasey Kahne
3. Jamie McMurray
4. Kyle Busch
5. Denny Hamlin