Results (with starting position) for the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway
1. (16) No. 20 Matt Kenseth, Toyota 2. (10) No. 78 Martin Truex, Chevrolet SS 3. (14) No. 19 Carl Edwards, Toyota 5. (25) No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS (Larson) 24. (21) No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet SS (McMurray)
Larson Charges from Tail of Field to Finish Fifth in Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway
Kyle Larson’s 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season got off to an early start with his participation in the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona. The non- points race, in which Larson earned a spot by winning the Coors Light Pole Award at Pocono Raceway, allowed Larson and 24 other drivers the opportunity to run two extra practice sessions at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) and log actual race laps in anticipation of next week’s Daytona 500.
Larson started the 25-car race in dead last after a random draw for starting positions turned up the unfortunate spot. The 75-lap race was highlighted by several large wrecks that collectively forced more than half the field to retire early from the race. Although Larson’s No. 42 Target Chevrolet was right on the fringe of a couple of the incidents throughout the evening, he managed to avoid any damage during the race.
Larson was able to move the car towards the front row early in the race, but lost some spots as he tried to run closer to the bottom of the track. Larson would continue to hang around the middle of the field throughout the race, ultimately working his way towards the front again in the closing laps. With eight laps left, Larson cut his running position in half, moving from 10th to fifth place, where he would finish the race.
NOTES OF INTEREST:
• This was Larson’s first time competing in the Sprint Unlimited • Larson was the fastest driver during the first 25% of laps run following a pit stop • With an average speed of 197.331 mph, Larson was the second-fastest driver under green flag conditions, only .001 off the top speed • The 75-lap race was under caution four times for a total of 17 laps, and was red-flagged twice as clean-up crews worked on the track • Only 12 of the 25 cars entered in the race were on-track when the checkered flag was shown • The Sprint Unlimited is a non-points race with the field set by former Unlimited winners and Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full-time in the NSCS last season, 2014 Coors Light Pole Award winners, and 2014 Chase for the Sprint Cup participants
TCGRFS QUOTEBOARD
Kyle Larson – No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS – “Tonight’s race was a pretty good one for us, and our Target Chevy felt good throughout the night. We got to the front pretty quick there in the beginning and then I tried getting to the bottom to learn as much as I could. Our team hasn’t had the best of luck at Daytona, so nice to get to the finish with a clean race car. It was an exciting race, with everyone being pretty aggressive, and I learned quite a bit today. Still lots of racing left to do next week, so I’ve got a lot more learning left to do. I feel like I’m gaining some more confidence on superspeedways, so that is a good thing.”
Early Exit For McDonald’s Team in Sprint Unlimited
Twenty-five cars took the green flag for the 75-lap Sprint Unlimited at Daytona. Jamie McMurray was involved in a multi-car crash In the final segment of the race, that was divided into two segments (25 laps/50 laps), McMurray restarted the final segment at the tail-end of the field and quickly raced back to the front before being involved in an accident on lap-46 that took the McDonald’s Chevy SS out of competition and relegated to a 24th-place finish.
The 2015 edition of the Sprint Unlimited included pole winners from 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) races along with 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup participants. The field was also extended to former Sprint Unlimited race winners and Daytona 500 pole winners who competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series full time in 2014
McMurray wielded a strong McDonald’s Chevy that he quickly drove to the front after starting the race from the 21st position. Following the first pit stop under caution the No. 1 team was assessed a penalty for a crew member going over the wall too soon, forcing the team to restart at the back of the field again. McMurray quickly diced his way back to the front within 10 laps when he was hit from behind, while running in the third position, causing a multi-car crash that took him out of contention for the remainder of the race.
NOTES OF INTEREST:
• This was McMurray’s ninth time racing in the Sprint Unlimited at Daytona • McMurray has a total of 34 career starts at Daytona International Speedway in NSCS competition. (10 Sprint Unlimited, 12 Daytona 500, 12 Coke Zero 400). He claims two victories (2007 Coke Zero 400 & 2010 Daytona 500)
CGRFS QUOTE BOARD Jamie McMurray – No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet SS: – “I got tapped from behind a couple of times and it got me sideways, but I was able to regain control. I just wasn’t able to save it there that last time before the wreck. Our McDonald’s Chevy SS was really quick tonight. Everybody was racing really hard, it was actually a lot of fun out there. When I got hit in the back there, I just couldn't hang on to it any more. I’m proud of my guys and the effort from everyone at the shop.”
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will remain in Daytona for another week with the Budweiser Duel Qualifying Races and the Daytona 500 next on the schedule. Budweiser Duels will take place Thursday Feb. 19, 7 p.m. ET and the Daytona 500 on Sunday Feb. 22, 1 p.m. ET. FOX, Sirius/XM NASCAR Channel 90 and MRN affiliated radio stations will have live coverage of both events.