Kyle Busch wins first stage of Daytona 500
Kyle Busch won the first ever Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Stage.
Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota wins Stage 1
Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top five.
Joey Logano was the first driver with an issue in Stage 1. He developed a loose wheel 14 laps into the race and was forced to pit while running 20th. When he returned to the track, he dropped to 40th, but moved up to 37th and remained on the lead lap with an assist from Kevin Harvick. Harvick pushed Logano to the front of the pack which allowed the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford not to lose a lap.
The Toyota contingent came down pit road on Lap 17 but the strategy did not pay off for rookie Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez. Jones overshot his pit stall and Suarez was busted for speeding. Suarez lost two laps in the process. Former Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth also experienced issues and dropped off the lead lap.
When the Stewart-Haas Racing Fords elected to pit on Lap 30, rookie Corey LaJoie joined the group but did not slow down in time. LaJoie missed the entrance to pit road and slammed into the front stretch wall to ignite the first caution. Kurt Busch received a speeding penalty in the pits and had to drop to the rear.
Kevin Harvick led the field to green on Lap 36 followed by Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. Kyle Busch took the lead on Lap 42. Truex led one lap but Busch regained the lead on Lap 44. Ryan Blaney blasted past the No.18 Toyota to take the lead on Lap 49. Before he could lead the first lap, a collision occurred between David Ragan, Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Paul Menard. Ragan was forced to pit.
Busch regained the lead on Lap 51 followed by Blaney Brad Keselowski, Harvick and McMurray. On Lap 53, Stenhouse bounced off the wall between Turns 3 and 4 and nearly took out Ryan Newman.
With five laps remaining in the segment, it was Busch, Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Blaney and Kyle Larson.
On Lap 57, Truex, Stenhouse and Jones pitted.
Harvick’s 18 laps led were the most during the 60-lap segment.
Stage 1 Results
Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick
Ryan Blaney
Brad Keselowski
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Kyle Larson
Jamie McMurray
Denny Hamlin
Jimmie Johnson
Danica Patrick
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