Gatorade race 2: Waltrip wins

He will line up fourth for the 500 on Sunday after seeing off Tony Stewart in a hectic race.

"I didn't need this to think I was a contender," said Waltrip. "I already had enough [confidence]. I have a whole lotta stuff going and I know I have the opportunity to win my second straight Daytona 500."

Waltrip and Stewart ran together for the first part of the race, only for Stewart to lose his way in the draft. But the Pontiac star fought his way back up the field to claim second place at the flag.

An eight-car pile-up caused mayhem in the race when Mike Skinner hit trouble and suddenly slowed. He was hit by Buckshot Jones, which started a chain reaction. Skinner still made it to the finish and qualified for the 500.

One driver who survived the incident was Ganassi's Jimmy Spencer, but his Daytona week ended in misery later in the race. A tyre blow-out put him in the wall and out of the race. With no provisional starting position to fall back on, it means Spencer has failed to make the field for Sunday's big race.

Michael Waltrip Chevrolet
Tony Stewart Pontiac
Jerry Nadeau Chevrolet
Kevin Harvick Chevrolet
Bobby Labonte Pontiac
Robby Gordon Chevrolet
Dave Marcis Chevrolet
John Andretti Dodge
Kenny Wallace Chevrolet
Mike Skinner Chevrolet