Competition caution at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- The 51st Daytona 500 was slowed by a planned competition caution on Lap 25, which enabled the field to pit to check their Goodyear Tires.

It was a fortuitous turn of events for Joey Logano, the 18-year-old rookie driver from Middletown, Conn., who had dropped 10 spots to 35th in the span of three laps before the competition caution was unfurled on Lap 25.

While the rest of the field pitted, Logano stayed out on the track with Greg Biffle, which enabled him to gain track position. But Logano forfeited it in order to make a traffic-free stop on pit road. When the race resumed on Lap 28, Logano had dropped to 42d.

The running order with 30 laps complete:

1. Kyle Busch
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Mark Martin