Matt Kenseth made a terrific move past teammate Greg Biffle as they passed under the white flag and held on for the last lap to win Thursday's second Gatorade Duel qualifiying race. It is the first-ever Thursday victory for team-owner Jack Roush, starting his 25th season as a team owner.
Regan Smith and Jimmie Johnson seemed prime to make a move at Kenseth on the last lap, but the pair banged together on the backstretch, breaking their momentum. Smith finished second ahead of Johnson and Elliott Sadler. Biffle dominated the race, quite tame compared to the opening event, but was felled when he attempted a block on Kenseth coming to the white flag. Kenseth dove to the inside with help from Johnson to grab a lead he didn't relinquish.
Dave Blaney and Joe Nemechek made the Daytona 500 by being the top-two go-or-go-home drivers in the event. Dawsonville's Bill Elliott finished 20th and was one of four drivers in the race who failed to qualify, including popular veteran Kenny Wallace, Robert Richardson Jr., and J.J. Yeley who fell out of the race early. Elliott has failed in three of his last six attempts to make the 500.