DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Aric Almirola, who was supposed to be retired, was able to avoid potential mayhem from 22-year-old Todd Gilliland to win Thursday’s Bluegreen Vacations Duel qualifying race at Daytona Int’l Speedway.
“I had my hands full,” Almirola said. “This Smithfield Ford Mustang was going to be fast, but he said I would probably have my hands full. We kind of went for it in qualifying and put on the speed in the car sacrificed some handling, and as you could see tonight it was a handful, but, man, this is so cool.
“Daytona is such a special place to me. I’ve grew up sitting in those grandstands dreaming about racing here. I want that one on Sunday, though … We’re going to keep focused on that one. The job is not finished.
“Just really proud. So thankful. I’m not even supposed to be here. I’m supposed to be retired. This is awesome. Thank you, Shane, and everybody back at Smithfield headquarters, Ford, Doug Yates. Doug came and told me in the window before the race started, I’d meet you in victory lane, so I’ve got a date with him. I’ll see him in a minute.
“Alex just flew down here with the pit crew this morning from school, so he was up on the spotter’s stand with Joel helping him spot. I’m waiting for him. He should be coming down any minute. I told him we’d go to victory lane. Alex, where you at, buddy? We’re waiting on you.”
The most remarkable story, however, was NTT IndyCar Series driver Conor Daly making the race in a car that broke before the race ever started. Daly’s No. 50 Chevrolet for The Money Team was bucking like a Bronco before it left pit road. When the green flag dropped, the bucking smoothed out, but the car was dreadfully slow.
It appeared Daly had no shot at making the Daytona 500.
Then, mayhem happened.
Daniel Suarez ran into the back of race leader Kyle Busch on lap 41 as the field headed down the backstretch with 20 laps to go. The impact turned Busch’s No. 8 Chevrolet into the wall, triggering a multi-car crash that also involved Travis Pastrana, who ran into the back of Austin Hill. Daly had to finish in front of Pastrana and Hill to make the race.
Brad Keselowski avoided Busch’s spinning Chevrolet by inches and was able to continue in the race.
Hill’s Chevrolet went into the garage. With Pastrana already out of the race, but locked in because of speed, that means Daly’s tub of a car was in the Daytona 500. Daly said he had a one-in-a-million shot to make the Daytona 500. He cashed in on Thursday.
“Well, we were inherently unlucky for the last 36 hours, but we got lucky.” Daly said. “I wish I could have said that I drove it in on pure pace, but it was just crazy. When we went out there, the car was bouncing around. I had no idea what was going on.
“I thought the drivetrain was broken, and Tony (crew chief Tony Eury, Jr.) just made it better every time. We got lucky with the yellows to try to get some experience, but it is pretty crazy. This race, I’ve watched it for so many years and so much crazy stuff can happen, and thankfully we were on the right side of the craziness. It’s pretty amazing.
“I can’t believe we made the Daytona 500. This is the coolest thing ever. Honestly, I’m glad we got to the end because we learned so much. I would have rather raced my way in, instead of having luck, but I’m thankful for the experience. I booked a flight to Los Angeles for Friday after last night. I think I reverse-psychologied myself.”
Hill was the lone driver who was eliminated from this race.
“I had no idea who started wrecking, I saw the 8 (Busch) spinning,” Hill said. “Going down the backstretch off Turn 2, I saw the wreck start to happen and dirt going across the track. I lost sight of what was happening, got in the dirt, got loose, and hit the outside wall. There was no way to fix it and it ended our night. We knew where the 50 (Daly) was, multiple laps down, and all we had to do was beat him.
“I didn’t react fast enough. The wreck started and we were in it. It was just dumb on my part. I should have saw what was happening and let them do their thing. All I had to do was finish in front of the 50.”
Almirola’s No. 10 Smithfield Ford finished ahead of defending Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric’s Ford. Chase Elliott’s Chevrolet was third followed by Brad Keselowski’s Ford. Corey LaJoie’s Chevrolet rounded out the top five.