DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kevin Harvick wrecked in the first practice of the season at Daytona International Speedway.
He was collected the next day in a 16-car crash triggered by Jimmie Johnson in the first race of Speedweeks.
It took his third time out, in his new Ford Mustang, for Harvick to finally get it right.
Harvick went unchallenged to win the first of two Daytona 500 qualifying races — a victory Thursday night that earned him a spot in the second row for the start of “The Great American Race.” The win was the first for Ford with the Mustang it will use in NASCAR’s top series this year.
“We tore up so many of these superspeedway cars, it’s just good to finally bring one to victory lane,” Harvick said.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished second and Paul Menard, who dominated an exhibition race Sunday until Johnson triggered the 16-car crash, was third in a 1-2-3 sweep for Ford teams. The podium represented three teams — Harvick from Stewart-Haas Racing, Stenhouse from Roush Fenway Racing and Menard from The Wood Brothers — and showed the commitment the Ford camp has made to work together to win Sunday’s main event.
Parker Kligerman, a part-time racer and commentator for NBC Sports, finished 12th but high enough to claim one of the transfer spots into the 40-car field.
Johnson, meanwhile, ended the event facing criticism for another on-track incident.
The seven-time champion went three-wide 25 laps into the race and it caused Kyle Busch to spin and bring out the caution. Johnson sent an apology through his team but Busch was unforgiving.
“Tell him I don’t want to hear it. Tell him to use his eyeballs. That’s twice in two races he’s done the same thing,” Busch said, using expletives to note that Johnson also caused a 16-car accident Sunday.
Johnson used an aggressive move in the Sunday exhibition race to get past Menard for the lead, and while it gave Johnson his first victory in more than a year, it wiped out most of the field. His incident with Busch was different circumstances, but Johnson was far more contrite than he was in the exhibition victory.
“I just got it wrong, clearly,” Johnson said. “I just misjudged that situation. That was a mistake, for sure.”
Joe Gibbs, team owner for Busch, was bothered by Johnson’s aggression.
“Everybody saw it. Not much I can say about it,” Gibbs said. “Everybody’s still trying to feel everything out but that messed us up right there.”
Joey Logano led another Ford sweep in the second qualifying race for the Daytona 500.
The reigning NASCAR champion was fourth on the final lap Thursday night in the 150-mile qualifying race when he pulled out of line for an attempt to make a pass for the lead. He got a solid push from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney to move to the front.
Logano earned a spot in the second row for the Daytona 500. He will start next to Harvick.
Logano was followed by Clint Bowyer and Aric Almirola as Mustang drivers went 1-2-3 in the second race.
Harvick led Stenhouse Jr. and Menard in the first race for the initial Ford sweep.
Ford this season unveiled the Mustang to race at NASCAR’s top level.
Brendan Gaughan finished 15th to earn the final transfer spot into Sunday’s race.
Joey Gase and Ryan Truex both missed the 40-car field.
New England Patriots receiver and Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman has been named the honorary starter for Sunday’s Daytona 500.
The honor caps a whirlwind two weeks for Edelman, who since winning his third Super Bowl on Feb. 3 has visited Disney World with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and served as a presenter at the Grammy Awards.
A half-dozen NFL quarterbacks have served as honorary starters at Daytona, including Ken Stabler, Troy Aikman and Terry Bradshaw. Other athletes from outside of racing include track star Jackie Joyner-Kersee, baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. and the 2015 U.S. women’s soccer team.
Last year’s honorary starter was Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron.