Kurt Busch Wins First Duel, Will Lead 500 Field To The Green Flag

Kurt Busch has quickly put himself in a position to be considered the favorite for Sunday's Daytona 500. Busch won the first of two Gatorade Duels on Thursday, marking the second consecutive race he has won at the track. Due to the crash of 500 pole sitter Dale Earnhardt Jr. in yesterdays practice, Busch will inherit the top starting spot, when Earnhardt is forced to start at the tail end of the field on Sunday. After Michael McDowell lost an engine late in the race, bringing out a caution and forcing a green-white-checkered finish, Busch got a big push from Regan Smith to take the lead over Kasey Kahne. Smith, the driver who Busch was planning on working with the most in last Saturday nights Shootout crossed the line in second. The rest of...

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