Bayne to use Brand-New Back-Up Ford Fusion for Daytona 500

Regan Smith, #51 , Denny Hamlin, #11 , Carl Edwards,#99 and Trevor Bayne, #21 spin out

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The scene in the Motorcraft/Quick Lane garage area at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday was a tale of two race cars. On one side of the aisle, there was a battered #21 Ford Fusion, one that led more than half of the first of two Budweiser Duel qualifying races, but was later wiped out in a crash. On the other side sat a brand-new Fusion, one that had never even been rolled on asphalt before it was unloaded from the Wood Brothers' hauler.

The first car, despite the damage, did its job. It was third fastest in qualifying, assuring Trevor Bayne and the team a starting spot for Sunday's Daytona 500. Bayne will start 33rd, one spot worse than he started in 2011 when he won the 500. The other car now is poised to pick up where the first one left off. First, there's plenty of preparation to be done by crew chief Donnie Wingo and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane crew. "We may not even practice on Friday, but that's OK," said team co-owner Eddie Wood. "We didn't practice on Friday in 2011, and we won that race."

There also is a final practice session set for Saturday, and Wood said he was confident the new car would be race ready by then. Despite the battered car in the background on Thursday, Wood and the rest of the Motorcraft crew seemed upbeat. "You can't be disappointed when you lead more that half the race," he said.