Roush Fenway Once Again Sets Pace at Daytona

Matt Kenseth led the way in Wednesday practice

Roush Fenway Racing kept its perfect streak alive, once again leading all speeds at Daytona International Speedway as the Sprint Cup Series concluded practice for tomorrow’s Gatorade Duel qualifying races. Matt Kenseth turned a lap of 44.809 during the first practice session (200.853 mph) to lead all speeds during the day’s two practice sessions. Trevor Bayne, in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, was second fastest and Roush Fenway’s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was third. Greg Biffle had the best 10-lap average at 196.259 mph.

The performance continued Roush Fenway’s stellar effort at the 2012 Speedweeks, that has included RFR cars leading speeds in all three days of practice, Biffle leading a race-high 17 laps in the Budweiser Shootout and Roush Fenway sweeping the front row in Sunday’s qualifying session.

Tomorrow’s (Thursday, Feb. 23) Twin 150 duel races will decide the remaining 41 starting positions for the Daytona 500, the races are set for 2:00 p.m. EST. The duels will be televised live on SPEED.

Edwards (starting 1st), Stenhouse (4th) and Bayne (Wood Bros.) (5th) will start in the first qualifying race, while Biffle (1st) and Kenseth (7th) will compete in the second duel. RFR has never won a Duel at DIS, but has finished second twice (Martin-1991 and Edwards-2006).