Welcome back to NASCAR in 1987. If you missed my recap of the Busch Clash, go back and read it.
For those who aren’t into NASCAR (which begs the question “Why are you reading this?”), NASCAR sets the front row for the Daytona 500 based on qualifying speeds. Those 2-lap qualifying runs also sets most of the field for the Duels (which have gone through a number of names over the years. I think they’re called the Can-Am Duels now) which, in turn, sets #3-30 for the Daytona 500. The rest of the field is reserved for the ten best qualifiers who have issues during the Duels.
Of course, it is different today with the chartered teams where all the charter teams get in no matter what, with a few non-chartered teams trying to race their way in during the Duels. What’s also different is today, the Duels take place a few days before the 500. In 1987, it was less than 24 hours prior.
For those who read the Busch Clash recap will recall Bill Elliott winning the Clash. The next day he went out and took the pole with a qualifying speed of over 210 mph.
If I recall, the version I am watching on YouTube shows the entire first Duel and just recaps the second one. We’ll see how it goes.
As Duel #1, Ned Jarrett shows the difference between racing in the 1960s and the 1980s. He says he got $1100 when he won his Duel qualifier and in 1987 it was closer to $30,000. I’m guessing it’s a heck of a lot more in 2020.
Buddy Baker takes an early lead but Neil Bonnett, in part due to a push from Bill Elliott, is looking to take point. However, it is all for naught as Phil Barkdoll has a fiery wreck in the trioval in perhaps the second lap. Barkdoll ends up crawling out the “passenger side” as it were.
As we go back to the race, Baker is out in front but Darrell Waltrip is challenging. However, we go back under caution with at least three cars involved, including Tommy Ellis who flipped several times in turn three. A.J. Foyt, Greg Sacks, and Jim Sauter (father of eleven children, including 2016 Camping World Truck Series Champion Johnny Sauter) were also involved. Apparently, Ellis was behind Foyt and Sauter but flew over the other two.
When the field restarts, Ken Schrader takes the lead and starts to pull away from a pack of cars including Elliott, Earnhardt, Baker, Waltrip, Lake Speed and others.
After a commercial break, Elliott has caught up to Schrader. As they come to the strip with four laps to go, Elliott and Schrader were running door to door but Schrader gets the better of the exchange. Waltrip is running in third.
As they take the white flag, Elliott tries to make a move but Schrader throws a block. Into the third turn, Elliott goes high and out of turn four gets a nose in front of Schrader. However, as they come through the trioval, Schrader inches out in front and gets the win.
In watching the replay, I’m suprised they don’t show this finish alongside such classics as Harvick-Martin, Truex-Hamlin and Busch-Craven. It was a close one, and with the pixelated video, it looks even closer.
In the post-race interview, MAN does Schrader look young. Ken Squier discussed Schrader’s sprint car background and ironically he still runs some races these days. Bill Elliott, who gives Schrader some props in a post-race interview, is set to run in Tony Stewart and Ray Evernham’s version of IROC, whenever it gets off the ground.
CBS Sports Sunday showed the highlights of the second Duel. Bobby and Davey Allison are on the front row. (Davey will start second in the 500 no matter what happens here.) Benny Parsons would win the Duel as Davey Allison almost spun out, but held on to the car and finished 6th. Bobby Allison finished second. Blackie Wangerin spun out and wrecked. I’m guessing his qualifying time wasn’t good enough as Wikipedia says his last Cup start was in 1984 (although he kept trying to qualify for superspeedway races until the 1991 Daytona 500).
In the wrap-up, Chris Economaki talks about the youth movement with Ken Schrader beating Bill Elliott in the Duel. He also talks about whether or not the cars can handle going over 200 mph over 500 miles, kinda foreshadowing what would happen later on in the season.
Up next: Bill Elliott and Davey Allison will lead the field in the 1987 Daytona 500.
johnmilner.ca 