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In a dramatic twist of events during the NASCAR Duel races, the focus on Justin Allgaier’s hard-fought ninth-place finish and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s emotional reaction overshadowed the intense competition in Thursday’s second Duel. While Bubba Wallace’s victory in the first Duel captured significant attention, the spectacle of the second race culminated in a close photo finish that left fans and competitors on edge.
Corey LaJoie, positioned among the front-runners, appeared to have secured his place in Sunday’s highly anticipated Daytona 500. However, the battle for the win was far from settled. As Erik Jones and Austin Cindric exited the final corner neck and neck, both drivers found themselves losing their drafting partners, leading to a tense three-wide showdown in the closing moments. The race became a thrilling one-on-one sprint as Jones edged just ahead of Cindric as they approached the finish line.
However, chaos ensued just seconds before the race concluded. A multi-car incident involving Shane van Gisbergen prompted NASCAR to swiftly display the yellow caution flag. Although Jones had ostensibly crossed the finish line first, NASCAR rules dictate that the leader at the moment the caution is issued is declared the winner.
Victory Amid Controversy
Jones celebrated his perceived victory, having parked his No. 43 Camry under the flagstand, while Cindric, uncertain yet accepting, rolled down pit road thinking he had finished second. After a thorough review of the video footage, NASCAR announced that Cindric had indeed taken the victory, leading as the yellow flag was waved, much to the displeasure of the crowd, who reacted with boos.
“A Range of Emotions”
Reflecting on the turn of events, an understandably disappointed Erik Jones expressed his frustration. “A wide range of emotions,” he commented. “It’s disappointing. If the yellow is out, the race is over. I did everything I could to set myself up and it just didn’t work out this time. Hopefully, we can find ourselves in a similar situation again on Sunday.”
Cindric, meanwhile, faced the awkward task of collecting his checkered flag from the frontstretch, where the flagman was notably absent. “I feel bad for Erik having to walk all the way over there,” Cindric remarked, acknowledging the emotional toll of the finish. “Joey [Logano] and I were just sitting ducks in the fading middle lane. I’m incredibly proud of my team for executing our strategy well today, but there’s still much more to look forward to during the race.”
The transfer battle concluded with LaJoie and Allgaier successfully qualifying for the Daytona 500, while Helio Castroneves was granted a provisional spot in 41st place. Unfortunately, four hopefuls—J.J. Yeley, Chandler Smith, Anthony Alfredo, and BJ McLeod—saw their aspirations for the Daytona 500 come to an end.
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www.motorsport.com