Duels At Daytona End In Flames

((HT: NASCAR on FOX))

You had a feeling that, since the first Duel at Daytona was a clean 60-lap race, the second race was going to be messy...

And it was at the end...

Johnson apologized as the initial thoughts were that the 48 ran out of gas, but it seems more like someone got out of line and wobbled Johnson into the heart of the traffic pattern..

It also made for some interesting allowances into the race at Daytona- both Labonte brothers DROVE their way in... and there are seven rookies in the field carrying the yellow back bumper tape...

Race is Sunday...

The #3 Car is Your Daytona Pole Sitter

For all the Dale Earnhardt fans that follow NASCAR, this is going to a look a little strange.

Yes, that's right, the #3 car is back on the Sprint Cup circuit. It's going to be driven this season by rookie Austin Dillon, grandson of RCR racing team owner Richard Childress who by the way was the owner of Earnhardt's car (#3) back in 2001, the day of Earnhardt's fatal crash. The #3 has not been seen in NASCAR Sprint Cup circles since.

And more importantly, the #3 car is going to be sitting in the Daytona 500 pole position next weekend.

Dillon qualified 1st Sunday at a speed on 196.019 mph Sunday afternoon, fast enough to wrest the pole away. Along side him will be Richard Childress Racing (RCR) teammate Martin Truex Jr.

Your video proof from Fox Sports: