By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kevin Harvick led the last 44 laps on Thursday night to win the first Gander RV Duel at Daytona 150-mile qualifying race for Sunday’s Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer Car2Can Ford, crosses the finish line to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander RV Duel At DAYTONA #1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Harvick finished .165 seconds ahead of fellow Ford driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who edged Paul Menard at the line for the runner-up position. Matt DiBenedetto ran fourth, followed by Martin Truex Jr. and Bubba Wallace.

With a late pass of Tyler Reddick, who had already qualified for the Daytona 500 based on qualifying speed, Parker Kligerman earned the transfer spot into Sunday’s race.

With two Mustangs behind him, Harvick didn’t expect any outlandish moves in the closing laps.

“I’m just glad we finally came out on the right side of this, and everything’s not tore up,” said Harvick, who had finished fourth, third and second in his previous three Daytona qualifying races.

A two-time Duel winner, and the 2007 Daytona 500 champion, Harvick will start third in Sunday’s race, with Stenhouse behind him in fifth and Menard in seventh.

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Busch Beer Car2Can Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Gander RV Duel At DAYTONA #1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2019 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

In a three-wide situation on Lap 26—with Jimmie Johnson on the inside, Kyle Busch in the middle and Tyler Reddick on the outside—Johnson’s No. 48 Chevrolet moved up the track into the left rear quarter panel of Busch’s Toyota Camry, sending Busch spinning into the infield to cause the 60-lap race’s only caution.

After pitting with a flat tire and exiting alone, Busch soon lost a lap and ultimately finished 18th. But he teamed with Kligerman, a fellow Toyota driver, to make the crucial pass of Reddick.

Daytona 500 pole winner William Byron, who did not compete in last Sunday’s Advance Auto Parts Clash, dropped to the back mid-race and used the final lap for a practice pit stop before coming home 16th—and preserving his car for the top starting spot in Sunday’s Great American Race.

Media Center Interviews:

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Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – 

Parker Kligerman – 

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race – Gander RV Duel 1

Daytona International Speedway

Daytona Beach, Florida

Thursday, February 14, 2019

                1. (8)  Kevin Harvick, Ford, 60.

                2. (10)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 60.

                3. (6)  Paul Menard, Ford, 60.

                4. (16)  Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 60.

                5. (4)  Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 60.

                6. (17)  Bubba Wallace, Chevrolet, 60.

                7. (12)  Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 60.

                8. (2)  Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 60.

                9. (13)  Ryan Newman, Ford, 60.

                10. (15)  Ryan Preece #, Chevrolet, 60.

                11. (11)  Daniel Suarez, Ford, 60.

                12. (19)  Parker Kligerman(i), Toyota, 60.

                13. (9)  Tyler Reddick(i), Chevrolet, 60.

                14. (14)  Ryan Truex(i), Chevrolet, 60.

                15. (20)  Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 60.

                16. (1)  William Byron, Chevrolet, 60.

                17. (3)  Daniel Hemric #, Chevrolet, 59.

                18. (7)  Kyle Busch, Toyota, 59.

                19. (18)  Matt Tifft #, Ford, 59.

                20. (5)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 58.

                21. (21)  Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 58.

Average Speed of Race Winner:  177.749 mph.

Time of Race:  0 Hrs, 50 Mins, 38 Secs. Margin of Victory:  .165 Seconds.

Caution Flags:  1 for 3 laps.

Lead Changes:  2 among 3 drivers.

Lap Leaders:   W. Byron 1-15;L. Cassill 16;K. Harvick 17-60.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Kevin Harvick 1 time for 44 laps; William Byron 1 time for 15 laps; Landon Cassill 1 time for 1 lap.

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