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Joey Logano won the fourth America 250 Florida Duel of his career on Thursday night to secure a third-place starting spot in Sunday’s Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
There’s really nothing else like it. GREEN. 🏁 #HotPass pic.twitter.com/nNYeQWXCDk
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026
In a second Duel that ran caution-free, Chase Elliott took control of the race on Lap 53 of 60 and held off Carson Hocevar by 0.065 seconds to win his third 150-mile qualifying race and earn the fourth starting position for the Daytona 500. With an earnest push from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney, Logano was at the front of the field when NASCAR called the third caution of the first Duel on Lap 63, three laps into overtime.
A dejected Corey LaJoie outside the care center. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/uIp7WcpVGx
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 13, 2026
Both Logano and Blaney are among the favorites to win Sunday’s 68th edition of the “Great American Race.” Blaney ran second and will start fifth in NASCAR’s biggest race.
"Damn right, we're in!" Listen to the scanner from Casey Mears and the No. 66 team. pic.twitter.com/fOtZyEqMbJ
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026
“Just a lot of teamwork all the way through,” Logano said of the win. “I think about the 22 team in particular. Nick Hensley, our gas man, did a fantastic job getting us in position out of pit road. (Spotter) Coleman Pressley up on the roof giving us great information. My teammate Ryan Blaney being committed and working together.
A quick splash for Reddick and the No. 45 team. #HotPass pic.twitter.com/EAEwVszsW6
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026
“It’s nice when everything works out the way it’s supposed to.”
Big trouble on the last lap! Joey Logano wins Duel at Daytona No. 1 under caution. pic.twitter.com/nnPCK7Odrf
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026
Logano has finished ninth or better in 12 straight Daytona Duels. Former Daytona 500 winner Austin Dillon ran third, followed by Brad Keselowski — recovering from a broken right femur — and John Hunter Nemechek. Shane van Gisbergen, Daniel Suarez, Casey Mears, Ryan Preece and Alex Bowman completed the top 10.
Daytona Duel damage. 👀 #HotPass pic.twitter.com/WnY2ke0YNq
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026
Mears came from a lap down to earn the one Open position in the Daytona 500 available from the first Duel. Mears advanced when fellow Open competitor Corey LaJoie — running in the top five at the time — turned into the outside wall in a chain-reaction collision on the final lap of overtime.
Chase Elliott wins Duel No. 2 at Daytona! pic.twitter.com/bDFPEoYfxU
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026
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Casey Mears races to Daytona 500 starting spot; BJ McLeod qualifies after Alfredo’s finish disallowed
Casey Mears races to Daytona 500 starting spot; BJ McLeod qualifies after Alfredo’s finish disallowed
Anthony Alfredo had a relatively stress-free run to claim the Daytona 500 spot available to Open cars in the second Duel, or so he thought. Though Alfredo finished 18th, 23 seconds ahead of BJ McLeod — the next-best Open driver — his finish was disallowed after post-race inspection, and McLeod will compete in the “Great American Race” on Sunday.
An emotional Anthony Alfredo talks with @ReganSmith after making the Daytona 500. pic.twitter.com/IwMV6xZnQK
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026
According to NASCAR Cup Series director Brad Moran, a transmission cooling hose on Alfredo’s No. 62 Chevrolet was not fastened properly, and another hose was disconnected, affecting both cooling and airflow.
NASCAR Cup Series director Brad Moran on the issue with the Anthony Alfredo car: @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/tkyU17TzH4
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 13, 2026
The complexion of the first race changed dramatically after Mears slid into the Ford of Noah Gragson coming to pit road on Lap 46. Preece had led 38 laps to that point but needed more fuel on his stop and fell back after the subsequent restart on Lap 50.
B.J. McLeod car has cleared tech and McLeod is in the Daytona 500. @NASCARONFOX
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 13, 2026
Mears lost a lap because of his spin into the infield grass, but regained it as the beneficiary under caution under the second caution for a five-car accident on Lap 56 that eliminated the No. 24 Chevrolet of William Byron, the two-time defending winner of the Daytona 500.
Duel No. 1 is GREEN on FS1 and @watchfoxone! https://t.co/kIpAkwq3Do pic.twitter.com/jKN9UYQYbg
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026
Byron will start Sunday’s race from the rear of the field in a backup car.
Trouble in Duel No. 1! Bubba Wallace takes the lead … then chaos. pic.twitter.com/ETpQxwiJsA
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026
In the final wreck on Lap 63, Mears’ No. 66 Ford nosed into the Chevrolet of Daniel Suárez after passing LaJoie’s spinning Ford for the critical position. Mears had the leading Open car when NASCAR called the caution that froze the field.
Well that's awesome. pic.twitter.com/W20Y7Nb9sx
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026
“I hit somebody square,” Mears said, unsure whether his Carl Long-owned car could be repaired or if a backup would be required. “And I knew when I hit him flat, it didn’t tear up the car too much, and I was going to be able to get back (to the checkered flag).
ENGINES FIRED IN DAYTONA. #HotPass pic.twitter.com/ADzznBMsVn
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026
“But I didn’t know who was in front of me, still, whether or not we made it. All the guys started going nuts on the radio.”
Sensing danger as the first Duel barreled toward a frenetic conclusion, Daytona 500 pole winner Kyle Busch dropped to the rear of the field after the Lap 50 restart to preserve his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet for Sunday’s race. He finished 18th in the 23-car field.
“I can go into the Hall of Fame and be vindicated, validated by the rest of the success that I’ve had along my career and this isn’t a career defining moment that gets me there.”@KyleBusch is eager to check off his Daytona 500 win box: pic.twitter.com/ZzZ9ZzGEw0
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) February 12, 2026
Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, already locked into the 500 on an Open Exemption Provisional, ran a conservative race and finished 15th.
In the second Duel, Elliott led twice for nine laps and became the third Hendrick Motorsports driver to win three or more Duels. NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon leads the organization with five.
“It is a chess match at high speed over here… It’s choreographed chaos.”@JamieLittleTV explains why pole position matters on a drafting style track: pic.twitter.com/jvlXotyRA5
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) February 12, 2026
“A great way to get the blood pumping for sure on a Thursday night,” said Elliott, who is seeking his first Daytona 500 win. “There was a lot going on those last handful (of laps). Really, ever since we came off of pit road after the cycle, we were getting after it. It was a lot of fun.
“Had some great support there. Carson did a great job helping me control those lanes, helping get Team Chevy for Victory Lane tonight. Certainly, owe him an appreciation for just kind of sticking with it, also pushing me well. It’s really easy to get people out of control. Appreciate that.”
“We’ve Lost Dale Earnhardt: 25 Years Later”
Tonight after the Duel at Daytona, 10p ET on FS1! pic.twitter.com/pi9O2xKyMn
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 12, 2026
Reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Larson ran third, followed by former Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell and Christopher Bell. Josh Berry, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Todd Gilliland, Ty Gibbs and Denny Hamlin claimed positions six through 10, respectively.
Chase Briscoe, who locked into the second starting position during Wednesday night’s time trials, led a race-high 38 laps but fell victim to a lengthy green-flag pit stop on Lap 45, lost the draft and finished 20th.
Courtesy: nascar.com
By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service
Published: February 12, 2026
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