Before the green flag is waved for NASCAR’s biggest event, the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 23, we have a week of qualifying set the starting grid. Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is a bit different than what we see week to week during the regular season, though, so here’s a short explanation of what to expect.
Daytona 500 qualifying format: Pole position to be determined Sunday
Qualifying begins for the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Here’s a rundown of how the format works.
Jamie Squire
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Like qualifying sessions throughout the season, the fastest qualifying times claim the top spots for the Daytona 500. Unlike most weeks, however, only the top two spots are guaranteed. The other positions are determined by the Budweiser Duel, where the drivers are split up into two groups and do a 150-mile race. The top 15 finishers in each race will qualify for the main event. The next four spots go to the fastest racers in Sunday’s qualifying lap, and the final spots are awarded to the highest finishers in the 2013 standings.
Last year, Danica Patrick took the pole position, but finished the race in eighth place while Jimmie Johnson won his second Daytona 500. Sunday’s qualifying laps start at 1 p.m. and the Budweiser Duel takes place Thursday.
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