The start of the 60th season of the Automobile Racing Club of America series started like many others of late - with a victory by Bobby Gerhart.
After three drivers ran out of fuel on the final lap, Gerhart inherited the lead and held off Drew Charlson to win Saturday's Lucas Oil 200 - his eighth win in the series opener at Daytona International Speedway.
Gerhart had to do a lot of work to pick up this win.
He qualified for the pole Friday, but his speed was disallowed after his No. 5 Chevrolet failed post-qualifying inspection.
"That's just unbelievable," said Gerhart. "I was coming from the back. The only place to go was go high."
Brandon McReynolds was leading on the final restart on Lap 82 but was precariously close on fuel.
After taking the white flag, it appeared McReynolds could make it to the finish, but he ran out of gas exiting Turn 4 of the last lap.
"I never give up on this hot rod - never, never, never," Gerhart said.
McReynolds, the son of former NASCAR crew chief and current Fox TV analyst Larry McReynolds, led 62 of the 83 laps. The last lap was the only one Gerhart led.
Charlson, 18, was making just his second series start.
"That was unbelievable. I came out of (Turn) 4 and gave Bobby a shove and away we went," he said.
"The best advice I got today was 'Stick with Bobby Gerhart.' "
BK Racing debuts
BK Racing announced plans to field two Sprint Cup teams this season, with driver Landon Cassill in the No. 83 Toyota all season and David Reutimann driving the No. 93 just at Daytona. Travis Kvapil will drive the No. 93 beginning with the season's second race at Phoenix.
BKR has acquired assets from Red Bull Racing and moved into a race shop in Statesville.
"The race shop, equipment, ownership group, leadership and crew members are in place for us to race at Daytona but also continue to be prepared for success for the rest of the season," Cassill said.
Development driver added to Earnhardt-Ganassi roster
Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing has signed 19-year-old Kyle Larson to its roster of development drivers. Larson earned 22 feature wins last season, including victories in World of Outlaws Sprint Car, U.S. Auto Club national divisions and the American Sprint Car Series.
Larson, who is Japanese American, also will participate in the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program in 2012 for Rev Racing in the K&N Pro Series East.
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Photo Gallery
Slideshow: Daytona 02.18.12 (60 images)
