Ford scored their first victory in the February Grand National Series race at Daytona since 1995 as Ryan Reed picked up his maiden victory driving for Roush Fenway Racing. Reed's best finish entering this race was fourth which came in the July Daytona race last year. Chris Buescher made it a Roush Fenway 1-2.
Reed past Brad Keselowski on the final lap after missing an accident involving Kyle Larson and Ross Chastian. Keselowski was leading at the start of the final lap but the gap between him and the rest of the final left the Penske driver hung out to dry as the Roush Fenway teammate blew by in turns three and four.
Austin and Ty Dillon would pass Keselowski coming to the line to finish third and fourth. Keselowski would round out the top five. David Starr took a surprise sixth place finish, a career best in NASCAR's second division for the four-time truck series race winner. His previous best finish was ninth at Talladega last year. Aric Almirola finished seventh. Larson and Chastain were the last two cars on the lead after their accident and finish eighth and ninth respectively. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finished tenth, one lap down. Earnhardt, Jr. lost his lap after pitting off sequence and having to serve a penalty for a pit lane violation.
Dakota Armstrong, Darrell Wallace, Jr and Mike Wallace all finished one lap down as well in 11th, 12th and 13th. Jeremy elements was two laps down in 14th. Mario Gosselin rounded out the top fifteen with Jeffery Earnhardt finishing 16th.
There were two red flags in the races. The first occurred after Daniel Suárez spun into Regan Smith coming out of turn four, ending both their days as well as Ryan Sieg, Scott Lagasse, Jr., Chad Boat and Justin Marks.
The second red flag occurred after when Erik Jones spun toward the outside wall exiting the tri-oval. Chase Elliott, Elliott Sadler, Kyle Busch, Brian Scott and J.J. Yeley were all contenders taken out in the accident.
Kyle Busch was taken to the hospital after the accident. Busch suffered a compound fracture in his right leg and mid-foot fracture fracture of his left foot and will not participate in the 57th Daytona 500. Two-time Truck Series champion Matt Crafton will substitute for Kyle Busch in the #18 Toyota. This will be Crafton's first career Cup Series start.
The second round for NASCAR second division will occurred next Saturday from Atlanta.
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