It’s Gatorade Duels day at Daytona International Speedway. We’ve got the actual race start time and some other facts about today’s Daytona 500 qualifying races for you below.
Gatorade Duel 2012: Start Time, TV Schedule And More
What time do the Duels start? The first Duel race begins at 2:19 p.m. EST (engines will be fired at 2:07 with a command by Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte), followed by the second Duel at approximately 4:01 p.m. The second Duel start time is approximate because NASCAR officials can’t be sure how long the first Duel will last.
Race name/distance: The Gatorade Duels are a pair of 150-mile qualifying races (60 laps around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway) which set the field for the Daytona 500. The starting lineup for every other race in the NASCAR season is determined by a time trial, but the Daytona 500 is unique and uses the twin qualifying races. After today’s short races -- which each include half the Daytona 500 entrants -- the starting grid for Sunday’s main event will be set.
TV and radio: Today’s races can be seen on SPEED. If you’re stuck at work and aren’t near a TV, the radio broadcast can be found on your local Motor Racing Network affiliate. Click here to see a list of stations where you can listen. You can also listen online for free here.
National anthem: Singer Catina Mack of nearby Orlando, Fla., will do the honors today.
Tickets: Wide open. You’ll have no problem getting tickets if you want to make a quick trip to Daytona for the Duels. In fact, the Daytona 500 itself has yet to sell out this year.
Weather: The National Weather Service is predicting mostly sunny skies with a high near 85. It will be a bit breezy, however, with wind gusts as high as 25 mph.
Last year: Kurt Busch claimed the first Gatorade Duel race last year by holding off drafting partner Regan Smith, and Jeff Burton edged then-teammate Clint Bowyer to win Duel No. 2.
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