DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – From his perch atop Regan Smith’s pit box, team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a clear view of the Daytona International Speedway finish line.
He thought he was about to watch Smith win as his driver pulled away from the pack on the final lap Friday night in the Nationwide Series race. Then Kasey Kahne came charging through the outside lane, pulled alongside Smith and nipped him at the finish line.
No worries for Earnhardt: Kahne also was in one of JR Motorsports’ Chevrolets.
“I was just glad that it was one of our cars when I saw somebody flying by on the top,” Earnhardt said. “When I got a glimpse of it, I was happy to see it was (Kahne.)
It was Kahne’s first Nationwide victory since a 2007 win at Bristol while driving for Ray Evernham.