Now that Coors Light Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 is complete, it’s time for the Duel at Daytona – two ‘twin’ 60-lap qualifying races on Thursday night (FOX Sports 1 at 7 p.m. ET) that will set the complete Daytona 500 field on Sunday at 1 p.m. on FOX.
Here’s what we know: Jeff Gordon will start on the Coors Light Pole and will be joined on the front row by Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson.
And that’s it as far as locked in starting positions. However, we do know that a few more drivers are guaranteed a spot somewhere along the starting grid – and we’ll find out exactly where on Thursday night.
Because of their fast speeds in qualifying, Aric Almirola, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Carl Edwards and Jamie McMurray will start the Daytona 500. Also, thanks to their car’s finish in 2014 owner points, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth are also locked in. Finally, as the most recent past champion not already locked in, Tony Stewart will start The Great American Race.
Here’s a breakdown of how the entire field will be set…:
• The front row – Gordon and Johnson – was set after Sunday’s Coors Light Pole qualifying
• The highest 15 finishers in each Duel race – excluding the already locked-in front row – will earn a spot in the Daytona 500, and fill positions 3-32.
• Based on their finishing position in the first Duel race, the top 15 will line up on the inside row (odd-number starting positions).
• Based on their finishing position in the second Duel race, the top 15 will line up on the outside row (even-number starting positions).
• Positions 33-36 will go to the four fastest cars from any round of qualifying that have not already earned a spot. That’s why Almirola, Stenhouse, Edwards and McMurray are in. Worst case scenario, they can fall back on their times.
• Position 37-42 will be provisional positions, and go to the highest six cars in 2014 owner points that have not already qualified via the Duel or Coors Light Pole qualifying. And that’s why Harvick, Newman, Hamlin, Logano, Keselowski and Kenseth are in, even if they have poor finishes in the Duel.
• Finally, the 43rd starting position will be assigned to any car owner who has the most recent eligible past NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion who did not make the field by any other method. Since Harvick (2014 champion), Johnson (2013 champion) and Keselowski (2012 champion) would have already made the field using one of the means detailed above, this spot would go to Stewart, the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion. If the 43rd position remains unused by a past champion it will be assigned to the next highest car in 2014 owner points not already locked into the field.
Source: NASCAR Wire Service
