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It was Kevin Harvick's second consecutive victory for at the Daytona Duels in two years.
Harvick, driving for Richard Childress Racing, was at the front of the field when a caution came out with less than two laps remaining of the scheduled 75, as a multi-car wreck unfolded behind him when Greg Biffle got tapped from behind by Jeff Gordon.
Harvick was actually ill on Thursday and chose to skip practice, but that didn't stop him as he recovered to get back behind the wheel on race day and claim his second win at Daytona since his last points-paying victory, in the 2007 season-opener.
Incidentally, the 34-year-old's primary car got wrecked while driven by teammate Clint Bowyer during the practice he missed earlier in the week, but Harvick managed to pilot his back-up machine to victory without fault.
"We were able to get the best restart we had all night and push [Biffle] out there and were able to just carry that momentum in to Turn 1," Harvick noted after winning his first race alongside crew chief Gil Martin.
"I kind of dragged the brake a little bit to let [Kasey Kahne] get right up behind us to stay side-by-side with [Biffle] so that we didn't get any three-wide or anybody else involved in the mix. We were able to get a good push down the back," he remarked. "I don't know what happened after that."
Biffle and Kahne stayed on the track when the leaders pitted for the last time with just a handful of laps remaining, hoping to benefit from their improved track position, as only one attempt would be given at a green-white-chequered finish.
Harvick was one of the many drivers who took on two new tyres towards the end, and he made the most of the fresh right-side Goodyears on the short sprint before the caution came out for the final time.
Daytona Duel 1 Results
1. Kevin Harvick Chevrolet 76 laps
2. Kasey Kahne Ford 76 laps
3. Jamie McMurray Chevrolet 76 laps
4. Kyle Busch Toyota 76 laps
5. Denny Hamlin Toyota 76 laps
6. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 76 laps
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