DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: Looking to give his Gaunt Brothers Racing team its seventh start at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway since joining the NASCAR Cup Series ranks as a part-time team in 2017, Ty Dillon found himself one lap short of making Sunday’s Daytona 500.
During Thursday night’s Duel at Daytona, Dillon’s No. 96 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry spent the majority of the race in the top-15 and even climbed to as high as fifth – things looked pretty solid for the veteran driver until the last lap of the 60-lap event.
Sitting in prime position to draft Gaunt Brothers Racing back into the Great American Race, Dillon found himself behind a slowing Joey Logano coming to the checkered flag which halted the momentum of the No. 96 Toyota Camry – and allowed just enough room for Ryan Preece to sneak by and shut out the Mooresville, N.C.-based team from the season-opening race for the second consecutive year.
“It hurts for sure,” said Dillon after the race. “It’s been just unique this off-season for me with the ups and downs. It’s a blessing to get to drive a race car in NASCAR first of all and you get so close to being in the Daytona 500 again. It’s tough.”
Despite the misfortune, Dillon was thankful for the opportunity to drive for Gaunt Brothers Racing.
“I have to thank Johnny Morris and Marty Gaunt, Toyota,” added Dillon. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime to continue to drive race cars. I believe in myself that I can get it done in these races and to finish sixth and not get any reward for it is hard.
“I’ll get the great reward of spending time with my kids on Sunday and we’ll probably watch the race. It definitely hurts.”
Gaunt Brothers Racing will keep Ty Dillon in its No. 96 Toyota Camry for the NASCAR Cup Series’ second race of the 2021 season when drivers turn left and right Feb. 21 on the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway road course.
GBR will be locked into the race from their 2020 NASCAR Cup Series car owner standings.
Follow Grace Krenrich on Twitter @Grace3140.
CATCHFENCE.com senior writer Chris Knight contributed to this report
