Busch and Burton Claim 2011 Gatorade Duel Wins

The 2011 Gatorade Duel set the starting lineup for the Daytona 500. The first 60 lap race set the lineup for the inside lane and the second race set the lineup for the outside lane. Only four spaces in the field were actually open today. Most of the drivers were only racing for starting position instead of a spot in the coveted field.

Duel #1

Since Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed in practice on Wednesday and will have to start in the back whoever wins the first Duel will move up on Sunday to lead the Daytona 500 to the green flag.

The race set a record for lead changes and ended with a green-white-checkers trophy dash.

Regan Smith pushed Kurt Busch into the lead as the white flag flew. Smith took a look as they came to the checkered flag but Busch threw the block and kept the youngster at bay. Kurt Busch picked up the trophy for the first Gatorade Duel and will lead the field to the green flag in the 2011 Daytona 500. I'm sure that will look nice along side the trophy he collected for winning the Budweiser Shootout last week.

Duel #1 Top Five

1. Kurt Busch
2. Regan Smith
3. Kevin Harvick
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Kasey Kahne

Duel #2

This new two-by-two style of restrictor plate racing makes for some strange bedfellows. Jeff Gordon and Trevor Bayne were quite the odd couple of race number two. The wily veteran in a Chevy got a big push from the rookie in a Ford for most of the second Duel. the 19 year old Bayne is less than half of Gordon's age. However the two of them were fast when hooked up nose to tail.

A late spin in this race set up a three lap sprint to the checkers.

Childress teammates Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer lead the field under the white flag but the wolves were knocking at the door. As Trevor Bayne and David Ragan crashed in the tri-oval Jeff Burton held off Bowyer by inches to claim Duel #2.

Duel #1 Top Five

1. Jeff Burton
2. Clint Bowyer
3. Michael Waltrip
4. Kyle Busch
5. Brian Keselowski