Start your engines!
Play RPM.ESPN Stock Car Challenge!
|
|
Thursday, February 15
Skinner to start fourth on Sunday
ESPN.com news services
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Mike Skinner won by mere
inches as he defeated Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a dramatic
side-by-side battle in Thursday's second Gatorade Twin 125
qualifying race for the Daytona 500.
Skinner took the lead with three laps remaining and was in front
two laps later when the white flag waved to start the final lap.
As the field charged into the first turn, Earnhardt went to the
inside of Skinner's Chevrolet out of the first turn. Earnhardt
was in front, but Skinner was able to protect his outside line as
the two cars raced side by side through the third and fourth
turns.
As the field charged toward the checkered flag with the two cars
next to each other, Skinner was able to nudge the bumper of his
car just past Earnhardt by about six inches.
It was a dramatic finish to the second race that determines the
starting lineup for Sunday's Daytona 500. The top 14 drivers
advanced into the Daytona 500 and will form the outside rows
from 2-14.
Jeff Burton was third followed by Ward Burton and Rusty Wallace.
Ricky Rudd finished 14th to earn the final transfer position
into the Daytona 500. The remainder of the 43-car field will be
filled by qualifications and provisional starting positions.
|
|
|
|
