How To Make The Daytona 500

How To Make The Daytona 500

 

Feb. 16, 2015

Staff Report

NASCAR Wire Service

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.

NASCAR ON TV

Monday, February 16
10 a.m., Sprint Unlimited (re-air), FOX Sports 1
4 p.m., NASCAR America: Expect the Unexpected 2014 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m., The List: Rookie Seasons (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
7:30 p.m., The List: Iconic Cars (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8 p.m., DAYTONA 500 Pole Day (re-air), FOX Sports 2
9 p.m., Sprint Unlimited (re-air), FOX Sports 2
2:30 a.m., The List: Dale Earnhardt Sr. (re-air), NBC Sports Network

Tuesday, February 17
10 a.m., DAYTONA 500 Qualifying (re-air), FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
8 p.m., A Perfect Storm: The 1979 DAYTONA 500 (re-air), FOX Sports 2

Wednesday, February 18
9 a.m., DAYTONA 500 Pole Day (re-air), FOX Sports 2
Noon, Sprint Unlimited (re-air), FOX Sports 2
2 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, FOX Sports 2
3 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, FOX Sports 2
4 p.m., NASCAR Gridiron Challenge (re-air), NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
1 a.m., NASCAR Gridiron Challenge (re-air), NBC Sports Network
2 a.m., The List: Greatest Finishes (re-air), NBC Sports Network
2:30 a.m., The List: Memorable Moments (re-air), NBC Sports Network

Thursday, February 19
Noon, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, FOX Sports 1
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, FOX Sports 1
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition, FOX Sports 1
3:30 p.m., NASCAR America: 2014 Chase Spectacular (re-air), NBC Sports Network
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Day, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m., Budweiser Duel at Daytona, FOX Sports 1
10:30 p.m., NASCAR K&N Series East: New Smyrna (taped), NBC Sports Network
11:30 p.m., NASCAR Gridiron Challenge (re-air), NBC Sports Network
12:30 a.m., NASCAR America: NASCAR "In the News" 2014 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
1 a.m., NASCAR K&N Series East: New Smyrna (re-air), NBC Sports Network
2 a.m., NASCAR America: Countdown 2014 (2) (re-air), NBC Sports Network
2:30 a.m., NASCAR America: 2014 Top Moments (re-air), NBC Sports Network
3 a.m., Budweiser Duel at Daytona (re-air), FOX Sports 1

Friday, February 20
6 a.m., The Day: Remembering Dale Earnhardt (re-air), FOX Sports 2
7 a.m., Budweiser Duel at Daytona (re-air), FOX Sports 2
10 a.m., A Perfect Storm: The 1979 DAYTONA 500 (re-air), FOX Sports 1
11 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, FOX Sports 1
12:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, FOX Sports 1
2 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, FOX Sports 1
3:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, FOX Sports 1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., The List: Rookie Seasons (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Set Up, FOX Sports 1
7:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250, FOX Sports 1
3 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 (re-air), FOX Sports 1

Saturday, February 21
5:30 a.m., The 10: Greatest Truck Series Moments (re-air), FOX Sports 1
6 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice (re-air), FOX Sports 1
7:30 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series NextEra Energy Resources 250 (re-air), FOX Sports 2
10 a.m., 1979 DAYTONA 500 (re-air), FOX Sports 1
10:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, FOX Sports 1
Noon, NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition, FOX Sports 1
3 p.m., NASCAR Race Day: XFINITY, FOX Sports 1
3:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Alert Today Florida 300, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m., The List: Iconic Cars (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7:30 p.m., NASCAR Gridiron Challenge (re-air), NBC Sports Network
9 p.m., DAYTONA 500 Bash at the Beach, FOX
10 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Alert Today Florida 300 (re-air), FOX Sports 1
2 a.m., NASCAR Gridiron Challenge (re-air), NBC Sports Network
3 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Alert Today Florida 300 (re-air), FOX Sports 1

Sunday, February 22
5:30 a.m., FOX Sports 1 on 1: Kevin Harvick (re-air), FOX Sports 1
6 a.m., The 10: Daytona Moments (re-air), FOX Sports 1
6:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice (re-air), FOX Sports 1
8 a.m., A Perfect Storm: The 1979 DAYTONA 500 (re-air), FOX Sports 1
9 a.m., 1979 DAYTONA 500 (re-air), FOX Sports 1
10:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Day, FOX Sports 1
Noon, NASCAR Race Day: Daytona, FOX Sports 1
1 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series DAYTONA 500, FOX
1 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series DAYTONA 500, FOX Deportes
5 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lane, FOX Sports 1
1 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lane (re-air), FOX Sports 1
1:30 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lane (re-air), FOX Sports 1
3 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series DAYTONA 500 (re-air), FOX Sports 1