2018 Daytona 500 qualifying: Time, TV schedule, and format for Sunday’s event

The front row for the Daytona 500 will be determined in qualifying Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, with the top two qualifiers assured of their spots in the Feb. 18 race. The bulk of the starting lineup then will be set by the finishing order of the Duels qualifiers on Thursday night.

Pole Day qualifying will consist of drivers making single-lap runs around the 2.5-mile track. The fastest will earn the pole position and lead the field to the green flag in the season-opening race for the Monster Energy Cup Series.

Fox will televise Daytona 500 qualifying beginning at noon ET. Mike Joy will handle play-by-play duties and be joined by analysts Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip in the broadcast booth.

Chase Elliott captured the Daytona 500 pole the past two seasons and is a strong contender to make it three in a row on Sunday. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron posted the fastest speed in final practice Saturday, recording a lap at 201.681 mph. However, that lap came while running in the draft where he had cars behind him pushing his No. 24 Chevrolet.

How drivers qualify Sunday will set the lineup for the twin qualifying races on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, FS1). The 60th Daytona 500 will air next Sunday on Fox with the network beginning its coverage at 2 p.m. ET.

Kurt Busch is the defending race winner and is seeking to become just the fourth driver to win the Daytona 500 in consecutive years. He would join Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84), and Sterling Marlin (1994-95).