Setting the field for the Daytona 500 is unlike any other race in the world, and that is one of the many reasons why this event holds so much prestige.
Single-car qualifying on Feb. 14 will have two rounds, with the top-10 qualifiers in Round 1 moving on to the second round. The fastest two cars in Round 2 will lock in as the front-row starters for Sunday’s Daytona 500.
The rest of the starting grid will be decided by the BlueGreen Vacations Duel – two 60-lap qualifying races.
First, the single-car qualifying results will set the lineups for the Bluegreen Vacation Duel races on Thursday evening. Cars finishing first, third, fifth, seventh, etc. in single-car runs will comprise the field for Duel 1. The cars in even-numbered finishing positions in single-car qualifying will comprise the field for Duel 2.
Then the results from the Bluegreen Vacation Duels will set the starting lineup for the Daytona 500.
If more than 40 cars are entered in the race, the two fastest open cars, without a charter, in single-car qualifying will lock their way into the race regardless of the results of Thursday’s Duel. The final two spots of the 40-car field will be determined by the best finishers of the qualifying races.