Harvick Takes Shootout Victory

Kevin Harvick passed Jamie McMurray heading into turn three on the final lap just moments before a multi-car crash ended the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona. Harvick led McMurray to the caution and checkered flags to record his first Shootout win.

Harvick was running fourth when the white flag was displayed to the field and charged between Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin exiting turn two, taking second place on the high side. McMurray attempted to hold off Harvick and Johnson by taking the high line and then low line down the backstretch. When McMurray moved back to the inside, Harvick passed McMurray on the high side just as Jeff Gordon, Casey Mears, and Johnson got together and crashed in turn three, also collecting Hamlin. Harvick, the 2007 Daytona 500 winner, will collect $200,000 for his win.

Tony Stewart and Gordon managed to clear the wreck to finish third and fourth. A.J. Allmendinger rounded out the top 5.

The race featured a record number of lead changes (23) amongst a record number of drivers (15). The final yellow flag also set a record for the most number of cautions (8).

The race started with a bang as David Ragan, Joey Logano, Scott Speed and Robby Gordon got together in turns three and four on lap five. Ragan appeared to have checked up in response to slower cars ahead of him and was tapped from behind by Gordon. None of the drivers would return to the race.

Rounding out the top ten were Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch.