On the Fourth of July, it was only fitting that the Subway Firecracker 250 featured fireworks at the finish. An intense last two laps allowed many players to emerge in the quest for victory. Once the checkered flag flew, it was JR Motorsports sweeping the top two spots as Kasey Kahne claimed victory. He barely edged out teammate Regan Smith who was strongest throughout the night.
Compared to typical races at Daytona International Speedway, this one was on the calmer side. Only three cautions allowed for the blistering pace. In addition, very few cars suffered any damage as the entire race was fairly clean.
Joe Gibbs Racing was the team to beat early on. On lap 8, Elliott Sadler took the lead and teammates Kyle Busch and Darrell Wallace Jr. fell in behind him. The trio broke up during the first round of green-flag pit stops. Busch and Wallace Jr. remained up front. However, Sadler had to make a second pit stop due to a vibration which put him behind.
Once the lead pack led by Busch approached the slower Sadler, Busch stepped out of line to help the No. 11 car. This allowed Sadler to fall in with the pack and eventually earn his lap back during the first caution of the race.
The yellow-flag came out on lap 51 for debris. It flew just as Smith had taken his first lead of the day. On the ensuing restart, he remained out front.
As the race neared its conclusion, fuel mileage became something all teams monitored. Chase Elliott restarted second with three laps to go when he had a problem with his car’s fuel pickup. This backed up the entire inside line which caused Sadler and David Ragan to spin through the infield grass.
On the restart, Smith led but had new faces surrounding him. The No. 7 car did a great job of holding off all challengers until the final push to the finish.
As he exited turn four, he committed to the low side. Kahne had help from Ryan Sieg on the outside and he edged Smith out by a nose. This was his first NASCAR Nationwide Series victory since 2007.
The victory was the third on the year and second straight for the No. 5 team. Kevin Harvick led them to victory lane at Kentucky Speedway last weekend.
Since the event was the qualifier for Nationwide’s ‘Dash 4 Cash’ incentive, the top four finishing series regulars will be eligible for a $100,000 bonus at New Hampshire Motor Speedway next weekend. Whoever places highest among Regan Smith, Ryan Sieg, Ryan Reed and Jeremy Clements will claim the money.
Next Saturday’s race at New Hampshire stands in sharp contrast to Daytona as the flat one-mile oval will offer a short-track racing atmosphere.
Results via ESPN.com
| POS | DRIVER | CAR | MANUFACTURER | LAPS | MONEY | START | LED | PTS | BONUS | PENALTY |
| 1 | Kasey Kahne |  |
Chevrolet | 103 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | Regan Smith |  |
Chevrolet | 103 | 8 | 47 | 44 | 2 | 0 | |
| 3 | Ryan Sieg |  |
Chevrolet | 103 | 21 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Ryan Reed |  |
Ford | 103 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | Kyle Larson |  |
Chevrolet | 103 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Joey Logano |  |
Ford | 103 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | Darrell Wallace Jr. |  |
Toyota | 103 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | Jeremy Clements |  |
Chevrolet | 103 | 36 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Trevor Bayne |  |
Ford | 103 | 2 | 7 | 36 | 1 | 0 | |
| 10 | Mike Wallace |  |
Dodge | 103 | 17 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Ty Dillon |  |
Chevrolet | 103 | 16 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | Chris Buescher |  |
Ford | 103 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | Derrike Cope |  |
Chevrolet | 103 | 23 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | James Buescher |  |
Toyota | 103 | 18 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | |
| 15 | Johnny Sauter | 80 | Toyota | 103 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 16 | Brian Scott |  |
Chevrolet | 103 | 15 | 1 | 29 | 1 | 0 | |
| 17 | Kyle Busch |  |
Toyota | 103 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | John Wes Townley | 25 | Toyota | 103 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 19 | Dakoda Armstrong |  |
Ford | 103 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 1 | 0 | |
| 20 | Chase Elliott |  |
Chevrolet | 103 | 7 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 0 | |
| 21 | Elliott Sadler |  |
Toyota | 103 | 6 | 28 | 24 | 1 | 0 | |
| 22 | Eric McClure |  |
Toyota | 103 | 32 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23 | David Ragan |  |
Ford | 103 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 24 | Dylan Kwasniewski |  |
Chevrolet | 103 | 26 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 0 | |
| 25 | David Starr |  |
Toyota | 103 | 30 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | |
| 26 | Chad Boat |  |
Chevrolet | 103 | 12 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 0 | |
| 27 | Joe Nemechek | 97 | Toyota | 102 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 28 | Brendan Gaughan |  |
Chevrolet | 102 | 14 | 3 | 17 | 1 | 0 | |
| 29 | Ross Chastain |  |
Chevrolet | 101 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 30 | Landon Cassill |  |
Chevrolet | 101 | 25 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
| 31 | Scott Lagasse Jr. | 29 | Toyota | 101 | 28 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | |
| 32 | Josh Wise |  |
Chevrolet | 100 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 33 | Jeffrey Earnhardt |  |
Chevrolet | 100 | 39 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
| 34 | Carlos Contreras |  |
Chevrolet | 99 | 34 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
| 35 | J.J. Yeley |  |
Dodge | 98 | 19 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| 36 | Tanner Berryhill |  |
Dodge | 97 | 24 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| 37 | Joey Gase |  |
Chevrolet | 92 | 38 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| 38 | Mike Bliss |  |
Toyota | 62 | 29 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 39 | Mike Harmon |  |
Dodge | 58 | 22 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| 40 | Robert Richardson Jr. |  |
Chevrolet | 13 | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |