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NASCAR Sprint-Cup Series
CUP: Kahne Claims Second Duel
Kasey Kahne edged Tony Stewart at the line to take the second Gatorade Duel.
Tom Jensen  |  Posted February 11, 2010   Daytona Beach, FL

Kasey Kahne celebrates in victory lane after winning the second NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Duel at Daytona International Speedway. (Photo: Getty Images)

Kasey Kahne fended off Tony Stewart by 0.015 second to put the No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford Fusion into victory lane in Thursday's second Gatorade Duel at Daytona.

RESULTS: Gatorade Duel One

RESULTS: Gatorade Duel Two

“It wasn't real strong up front, but it was strong enough to hold those guys off,” said Kahne.

Daytona 500 pole-sitter Dale Earnhardt led the first five laps in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Impala SS, before yielding the point to Juan Pablo Montoya's Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Chevy.

Then it was Brad Keselowski's turn, as he muscled the Penske Dodge Charger into the lead on Lap 9. His teammate, Kurt Busch, soon moved into the runner-up spot, reprising the Penske 1-2 in the 2008 Daytona 500, which Ryan Newman won over Busch.

They stayed that way until Lap 24, when defending 500 winner Matt Kenseth took over the point for the first time, as Keselowski fell to fourth behind the No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, Busch and Montoya.

David Gilliland brought out the first caution with a spin out of Turn 4 on Lap 27. Gilliland banged off the Turn 2 wall earlier in the lap, but kept it off the SAFER barrier in his spin.

That sent the field down pit road. Under caution, Keselowski had a commitment cone violation and was sent to the rear of the field. Earnhardt, meanwhile, was on the radio to crew chief Lance McGrew, complaining his fenders were damaged from contact from an aggressive Brian Vickers.

“I'd say we're pretty much done,” McGrew told Earnhardt on the radio after examining the damage on three of the four corners of the car.

The race restarted on Lap 31, Kenseth leading Montoya, Busch, Kasey Kahne and Vickers. Busch quickly took over out front, Kenseth dropping into second.

Kahne led briefly on Lap 43, but Busch immediately went back to the front. His teammate Keselowski, who had been at the tail end of the field, was up to eighth by this point.

On Lap 53, Vickers hooked up with Tony Stewart, taking over the top two spots ahead of Kahne and Sam Hornish Jr. The next time around, Vickers bounced off the outside wall, handing the lead to Stewart, who appeared to help Vickers get loose.

With two laps to go, Stewart had Kahne and Busch right on his tail, and Kahne moved to the front, as another great finish appeared in the offing.

Stewart went high and Kahne low, Kahne holding him off by 0.015 seconds, with Montoya third, Busch fourth and Elliott Sadler fifth.

Mike Bliss transferred into the Daytona 500, as did Scott Speed. That gave the final transfer spot to Michael Waltrip, who made the race by virtue of qualifying speed.

RESULTS: Gatorade Duel One

RESULTS: Gatorade Duel Two

Tom Jensen is the Editor in Chief for SPEEDtv.com, the former Executive Editor of NASCAR Scene and a contributing Editor for TruckSeries.com. He is the author of "Cheating: The Bad Things Good NASCAR Nextel Cup Racers Do In Pursuit of SPEED," and has appeared on television and radio shows to discuss NASCAR racing. Jensen is the past President of the National Motorsports Press Association. Jensen is the 1997 National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year and has won numerous national and state awards for news reporting, columns and feature writing. The Answer Man is back at SPEEDtv.com. Tom Jensen answers your questions during every race week and looks forward to hearing from you - please e-mail it to

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