Chase Elliott Wins First Race at the Can-Am Duels at Daytona Speedway

Chase Elliott celebrates his win at the Can-Am Duels at Daytona Speedway

The first of the two qualifying races was a relatively easy one. Elliott led for the final 24 laps of the 60-lap race.

"I know it's just a Duel win and you obviously wish it was Sunday so it counts for the playoffs. But it still means a lot to me, means a lot to our team,” Elliott said after the race.

Elliott won the pole position for the Daytona 500 in qualifying. He will start the race on the front row after winning the first qualifying race.

“Oh, I think the biggest thing is, as everybody knows, it's not so much about where you start and more about where you finish,” Elliott said. “Daytona 500 pole day, as it should be, is more about the teams and what they bring over the off-season from the chassis shop to the 24 shop in particular, the body shop, our Hendrick department, Chevrolet. I think that's what Daytona 500 qualifying has always been about. I think that's where the attention should be, where it should be centered.”

Elliott led twice for 25 laps, the majority of them toward the end of the race. Brad Keselowski led for a race-high 28 laps, before a scheduled caution during the race. After the break in the race, Elliott took the lead. Keselowski came in fourth place and led three times.

Chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski race at the Can-Am Duels at Daytona Speedway

“Tonight's result hasn't changed my opinion on that. I'm looking forward to it obviously. You love to get that qualifying spot on Sunday, but we really earned it tonight, to start on the front row, which is even better,” Elliott said regarding his pole win and starting position for the Daytona 500.

Jamie McMurray came in second place, moving into the runner-up position coming after a caution with eight laps to go in the race.

“I thought Chase did an awesome job. It doesn't matter who it is, at some point we all make a bad decision out there,” McMurray said on the driving of Elliott late in the race.

Kevin Harvick came in third place and did not lead during the race. The entirety of the race went smoothly, and ended up being an exciting one. Rainy weather has played a major role in the practicing and preparation of the racers at Daytona so far this season.

Corey Lajoie spun out Reed Sorenson to secure a spot in the Daytona 500. The crash eliminated Sorenson, who finished in last place. Sorenson did not qualify for the Daytona 500 due to results from the second Can-Am Duel race.