Gaughan Starts 16th, Finishes 17th in Duel
Date: Feb. 13, 2020
Event: Bluegreen Vacations Duel
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway (2.5-mile oval)
Format: Twin 150-mile qualifying races that set the field for the Daytona 500
Start/Finish: 16th/17th (Running, completed 60 of 60 laps in Duel No. 2)
Duel No. 1 Winner: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford)
Duel No. 2 Winner: William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Notes:
● Brendan Gaughan started his Duel from the 16th position and ended the 60-lap race in 17th.
● The driver of the No. 62 Beard Oil Distributing/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro reported that his car was “dragging”.
● On lap 23, Gaughan brought his car down pit road for a green flag pit stop. He took fuel only and returned to the track in 20th.
● Just 11 laps later while in the 15th position, Gaughan radioed to crew chief Darren Shaw that his No. 62 Camaro, “Sucks up OK, but not as good as in the past. Overall, a little free and doesn’t move like I want it to. Something’s off from practice. It’s missing something.”
● The caution flag flew on lap 42 while Gaughan was running 15th. He wheeled the No. 62 machine down pit road for fuel only and lined up 17th for the lap-48 restart.
● When the checkered flag flew, Gaughan crossed the stripe in 17th. He keyed his mic and said, “Nice job boys. Good solid night. We did what we had to do.”
● Gaughan will start 39th in the Daytona 500. It will be his fifth appearance in the Great American Race. Gaughan’s best Daytona 500 finish is 11th, earned in 2017.
● Drivers earning odd-numbered positions from Sunday’s pole qualifying session were assigned to the first Duel race. Drivers earning even-numbered positions from pole qualifying competed in the second Duel race. The starting positions for each Duel race were based on qualifying times.
Gaughan, driver of the No. 62 Beard Oil Distributing/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro:
“Our Beard Oil Distributing/South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet made it in on qualifying, so ECR did their job with a strong motor. ECR, the Beard Motorsports guys and all the help that RCR gave got our Chevy into the show on qualifying day. So, for me, the Duels were very boring, and that is exactly what I was hoping for. Our racecar is in great shape. We’re going to do a little bit of practice – there are a couple of things I don’t like. We’ll do a little fine-tuning, but our Camaro is bad to the bone for the race. We are going to be something to reckon with in the 500.”
Next Up:
The 62nd running of the Daytona 500 takes place at 2:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 16, with live coverage provided by FOX beginning with its prerace show at 1 p.m.