NASCAR Cup Series

DJ Kennington of St. Thomas, Ontario will realize a lifelong dream this Sunday and for the first time since 1988 a Canadian will race in the Daytona 500. In a car fielded by Gaunt Brothers Racing with support from Kennington’s long time sponsor Castrol Canada and Lordco Auto Parts, DJ Kennington will start the 59th running of the Daytona 500 from the 30th position.

Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin won the Can-Am Duel races on Thursday night at Daytona International Speedway, as the starting grid for Sunday’s 59th annual DAYTONA 500 was established by the two 150-mile qualifying events.

Corey LaJoie made the most of his Monster Energy NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Daytona International Speedway, securing a spot in the Daytona 500 in his No. 83 BK Racing Toyota.

Sorry, but this column is arriving a day later than my usual Thursday date. Of course, it has something to do with the race that gives me the data to mess around with did not take place until Thursday. It is not my fault.

AJ Allmendinger, driver of the No. 47 Kroger Click List Chevrolet SS, finished in fourth place to lead six Team Chevy drivers in the top 10 in the Can-Am Duel at Daytona 2 at Daytona International Speedway Thursday night.

CLINT BOWYER -- No. 14 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion (Finished 2nd) -- “Damn, this is fun again. Man, what a rocket ship. Hats off to all these guys that put all this hard work into these cars for Ford. This is going to be a great year. This is fun.

Daytona 500 pole-sitter Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet SS, won the Can-Am Duel at Daytona race 1 at Daytona International Speedway Thursday night. Elliott, the series’ Rookie of the Year in 2016, led 24 of the 60 laps en route to his first qualifying points-paying race win.

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - Duel 1 Finishing Position: 5th - How was your race and were you able to learn anything for Sunday’s Daytona 500? “Yeah I think so. It was pretty good."

BRAD KESELOWSKI – No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion (Finished 2nd) – IT LOOKED LIKE YOU AND KEVIN HARVICK WERE TRYING TO GET A RUN, WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU COULD DO TO GET THE WIN? “It was a solid night for the Miller Lite Ford. We had some good speed and learned some more things about this car.

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA CHEVROLET SS – Race Winner - LAST YEAR, YOU ALMOST BEAT YOURSELF UP TOO MUCH OVER WHAT HAPPENED ON THE RACE TRACK DURING YOUR ROOKIE SEASON. WHERE DID YOU IMPROVE THE MOST THAT IT SHOWED TONIGHT? “Oh, man we had such a fast NAPA Chevy tonight. I didn’t think anybody was going to help us there at the first part of the race and I had a couple good pushes to get us out front and our spotter did a great job on the roof making sure he was calling the lanes correctly and we were able to get back in front. Just want to thank our partners and the Hendrick engine shop. They had some steam tonight at it was apparent.”