CUP: How To Make The Daytona 500 Field

Sprint Cup

CUP: How To Make The Daytona 500 Field

Qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 is unique...

NASCAR Communications | Posted February 05, 2010 Daytona Beach, FL

Watch the 52nd Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway Sunday, Noon ET Live! on Fox. (Image: NASCAR)

Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is unlike any other qualifying procedure in auto racing. Drivers have two chances to qualify for the season-opening race, as opposed to the one qualifying session format used at other races.

The first chance: Daytona 500 Qualifying, which will be held Saturday, Feb. 6.

The second chance: The Gatorade Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races held on Thursday, Feb. 11.

Below is a breakdown of the Daytona 500 qualifying procedure:

Daytona 500 Qualifying Day

•Each team may run two laps with the fast lap counting as a qualifying time. The two fastest qualifiers are “locked into” the front row for the Daytona 500. Those are the race’s only guaranteed positions coming out of qualifying day.

•The Gatorade Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races, determine starting positions for the Daytona 500 beyond the front row. In the event of cancellation, the field will be set according to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.

Gatorade Duel

•The highest-ranked 35 teams in final 2009 car owner points will be assigned to Gatorade Duel races based on those points. Teams with odd-numbered owner points positions will compete in the first Gatorade Duel race; even-numbered owners will compete in the second.

•The only exception is that the fastest qualifier from Daytona 500 qualifying will start on the pole in the first Gatorade Duel race and the second fastest qualifier will start on the pole in the second, regardless of 2009 car owner points.

•Teams who failed to finish in the top 35 of the 2009 owner points will be assigned to a Gatorade Duel race based on qualifying times. The fastest qualifying team goes to the first Duel; the second-fastest next to the second, etc., alternating through the remaining entries.

•Starting positions for the Gatorade Duel races are based on qualifying times.

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