Ryan Reed, driver of the #16 Lilly Diabetes Ford, celebrates winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In a race that evolved dramatically from early attrition into stunning door-to-door competition, Ryan Reed won the PowerShares QQQ 300, the high-intensity season-opener for the NASCAR XFINITY Series on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway.
Ryan Reed, driver of the #16 Lilly Diabetes Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
It required “NASCAR Overtime” which extended the race to 124 laps, four more than the scheduled distance. Reed, driver of the No. 16 Lilly Diabetes Ford, surprisingly out-dueled three of NASCAR’s major stars – Kasey Kahne, Austin Dillon and Brad Keselowski – during the OT. Reed, the 300’s champion in 2015, edged Kahne by 0.219 seconds at the stripe.
The PowerShares QQQ 300 had two significant multi-car incidents early. The first involved 19 cars, the second one nine. Both resulted in red-flag periods. Meanwhile, Elliott Sadler was a constant, avoiding trouble and winning the first two stages – both 30 laps – to earn extra points in the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship standings. Speedweeks is serving as the debut for NASCAR’s new national series format that divides races into three stages with extra points awarded to the top-10 finishers in each of the first two stages. Sadler led 40 laps overall but exited after being caught up in a Lap 104 mishap.
Ryan Reed, driver of the #16 Lilly Diabetes Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
After that, the lead changed hands repeatedly over the last 20 laps. Reed took the lead for good on the overtime restart.
“I don’t know how that looked from the grandstands or on television but from my view it was a lot of fun,” Reed said. “Now, let’s go get some more. Let’s go win a championship.”
Prior to the PowerShares QQQ 300, the final practice for the 59th annual Daytona 500 was held, a one-hour, 25-minute session with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. posting the fastest lap on the 2.5-mile tri-oval – 196.452 mph in the No. 17 Fastenal Ford. Former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Ford) had the best 10-lap average speed of 195.635.
Chase Elliott (No. 24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet) and two-time champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet) will start 1-2 in the DAYTONA 500 with two other former race champions, Jamie McMurray (No. 1 Cessna McDonald’s Chevrolet) and Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota) starting third and fourth, respectively.
Ryan Reed, driver of the #16 Lilly Diabetes Ford, races Elliott Sadler, driver of the #1 OneMain Financial Chevrolet, during the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Hamlin is trying to become only the fourth driver to win consecutive DAYTONA 500s. The others: Richard Petty in 1973-74; Cale Yarborough in 1983-84; and Sterling Marlin in 1994-95.
Stadium tickets for the 59th annual DAYTONA 500 are sold out but premium hospitality, infield admissions and UNOH Fanzone/Pre-Race access are available at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP as well as through PrimeSport.com, the official ticket exchange and travel package provider of Daytona International Speedway. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook,Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat, and by downloading Daytona International Speedway’s mobile app, for the latest Speedway news throughout the season.
Story courtesy of Daytona International Speedway Media Relations Department. Photos courtesy of NASCAR.
Daniel Hemric, driver of the #21 Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff Chevrolet, talks with Blake Koch, driver of the #11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, during qualifying for the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
Brandon Jones, driver of the #33 Nexteer Automotive Chevrolet, poses with the 21 Means 21 Pole Award after qualifying for pole position for the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Austin Dillon, driver of the #2 Rheem Chevrolet, races Brendan Gaughan, driver of the #62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet, during the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Cars are involved in an on-track incident on the backstretch during the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
Cole Custer, driver of the #00 Haas Automation Ford, leads a pack of cars during the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Blake Koch, driver of the #11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, races Kasey Kahne, driver of the #88 Hellmann’s Chevrolet, during the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Ryan Reed, driver of the #16 Lilly Diabetes Ford, and Brandon Jones, driver of the #33 Nexteer Automotive Chevrolet, lead a pack of cars during the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
The field takes the Green Flag to start the the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
Matt Tifft, driver of the #19 Tunity Toyota, and Brandon Hightower, driver of the #40 Premier Recycling Toyota, are involved in an on-track incident at the end of the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Darrell Wallace Jr, driver of the #6 Leidos Ford, and Daniel Suarez, driver of the #18 Juniper Toyota, are involved in an on-track incident during the NASCAR XFINITY Series PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway on February 25, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
Mike Haag has covered motorsports in San Antonio and South Texas for more than 39 years. In addition to covering motorsports for the San Antonio Express-News for nearly 28 years, Mike also has co-hosted TrackSmack with Dawn Murphy for 19 race seasons. In addition to being a writer, Mike taught high school English and Journalism for 30 years before retiring in May, 2020.
