Neel Survives Beating and Banging Thriller in Daytona Photo Finish
Neel Survives Beating and Banging Thriller in Daytona Photo Finish
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The towering high banks of Daytona Superspeedway delivered an unforgettable night of high speed drafting, three wide battles, and intense post race controversy. While Carson Neel managed to muscle his way across the finish line first in a chaotic, door banging photo finish, strict rulings from race control ensured the drama continued long after the checkered flag waved.
The event began with single car speeds during the qualifying session. Austin Edstrome captured the pole position with a flawless run, laying down a blazing lap of 50.105 seconds to narrowly edge out Joseph Causey for the coveted top starting spot.
However, once the green flag dropped, the draft became the ultimate equalizer. The race quickly evolved into a chess match at 190 miles per hour. Causey and Neel established themselves as the undisputed heavyweights of the pack, dictating the flow of the race and splitting the honors for the most laps led, pacing the field for 21 laps apiece.
The intensity of the pack racing peaked early during the stage break. In a breathtaking display of superspeedway racing, Causey captured the stage victory in a spectacular three wide photo finish, setting a fiercely aggressive tone for the remainder of the night.
As the laps ticked down, the tension reached a boiling point, culminating in a frantic final dash. Thundering out of Turn 4 toward the start/finish line, it came down to a heavy weight brawl between Neel and Keegan Sobilo. The two drivers were beating and banging doors all the way down the tri oval, refusing to lift. Neel ultimately crossed the line first, edging out Sobilo by mere inches in a jaw dropping finish.
The officials Room
The celebration, however, was quickly tempered by the watchful eye of race control. Officials reviewed the chaotic final sprint and determined that Neel’s aggressive defensive moves crossed the line, officially penalizing him for forcing Sobilo below the double yellow line. As a result of the block, Neel was handed a championship points penalty and will be forced to start at the End of the Line (EOL) in his next race.
Neel wasn’t the only driver to draw attention of the officials. Coby Jackson also found himself in the crosshairs of race control after a restart violation. Jackson was caught changing lanes before crossing the start/finish line as the field came up to speed. Like Neel, Jackson was slapped with a strict points deduction and will also serve an EOL penalty in his next start.
Looking Ahead
Following the torn up sheet metal and tempers of Daytona, the league will take a well deserved week off to regroup. The drivers will return to action in two weeks as the series heads west to tackle the flat, tricky dogleg of Phoenix Raceway, a track where both Neel and Jackson will have their work cut out for them as they attempt to carve their way through the field from the very back of the pack.
