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Harvick wins qualifying race for Daytona 500

Jonathan Ferrey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Kevin Harvick has won the first qualifying race for the Daytona 500.

Harvick went unchallenged to the checkered flag Thursday night in the first of two 150-mile qualifying races that set the field for the Daytona 500. The finish earned Harvick a spot on the second row Sunday in the season-opening race.

Parker Kligerman finished 12th to snag one of the open spots in the Daytona 500 field.

Jimmie Johnson irked Kyle Busch when contact between the two caused Busch to spin just 25 laps into the race.

Johnson sent an apology through is team but Busch was not forgiving.

''Tell him I don't want to hear it. Tell him to use his eyeballs. That's twice in two races he's done the same thing,'' Busch said, using expletives to note that Johnson also caused a 16-car accident in Sunday's exhibition race.

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More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

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