Keselowski wins from last in Daytona Clash

A Team Penske one-two pic: NASCAR Twitter

Brad Keselowski has come from last on the grid to lead Team Penske to a one-two finish in the NASCAR season-opening Clash at Daytona.

The Penske Fords locked out the top three for much of the last third of the 75-lap race, Keselowski leading Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano.

It was Logano who ended up second and Blaney fourth, with Kurt Busch in the #41 Stewart-Haas Ford the man in the middle.

Jimmie Johnson, however, crashed out of the Clash for the seventh year straight in a final-lap bingle.

Pole-sitter Austin Dillon, fellow front-row starter Denny Hamlin, and Chase Elliott all took turns in the lead early on before Logano moved into top spot just prior to the first Competition Caution on Lap 25.

Keselowski led Blaney away after the pit stop shuffle before an unscheduled Caution on Lap 34 when Jamie McMurray slapped the wall after the lightest of touches from Kurt Busch.

Elliott had the lead for the restart but Keselowski swept around him almost immediately, despite the former getting a push from Hamlin.

Keselowski was soon joined by Blaney, who helped keep his team-mate ahead of Martin Truex Jnr on Lap 43.

The race then developed into something of a holding pattern, with the field waiting until the very last lap to make their moves.

Blaney moved low and Logano high at Turn 1, the former losing ground.

On the back straight, Kyle Larson gave Kurt Busch a helpful push but then nudged Johnson harder.

A second hit, perhaps due to contact behind from Kyle Busch, unloaded the #48 Hendrick Chevrolet and turned it into the wall.

Larson, who pulled off a huge save when he got loose on Lap 6, ultimately took 10th.

The Speedweeks continue on Thursday night (local time) with the two Duels.

Meanwhile, Dale Earnhardt Jnr’s replacement Alex Bowman has taken pole for Sunday’s Daytona 500, when he will start alongside Hamlin.

VIDEO: Final lap

VIDEO: Brad Keselowski post-race interview

Results: The Clash, Daytona International Speedway

Pos Num Driver Make Laps Led Status
1 2 Brad Keselowski Ford 75 43 Running
2 22 Joey Logano Ford 75 1 Running
3 41 Kurt Busch Ford 75 0 Running
4 12 Ryan Blaney Ford 75 0 Running
5 3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet 75 3 Running
6 11 Denny Hamlin Toyota 75 8 Running
7 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 75 0 Running
8 20 Erik Jones Toyota 75 0 Running
9 4 Kevin Harvick Ford 75 2 Running
10 42 Kyle Larson Chevrolet 75 2 Running
11 31 Ryan Newman Chevrolet 75 0 Running
12 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevrolet 74 0 Running
13 9 Chase Elliott Chevrolet 74 17 Running
14 78 Martin Truex Jnr Toyota 74 0 Running
15 95 Kasey Kahne Chevrolet 74 0 Running
16 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jnr Ford 73 0 Running
17 1 Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 43 0 Crash

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