Qualifying, speed, owner points lock in 13; six must race in
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Now that the front row is set for the 57th running of the Daytona 500 (Feb. 22, 1 p.m. ET, FOX), it’s time for a rundown of the scenarios involving the rest of the field — who’s locked in and who must race their way in during Thursday’s Daytona Duels (7 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1).
WHO’S IN
Via Coors Light Pole Qualifying: Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson (front row).
Via top qualifying speeds: Aric Almirola, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Carl Edwards and Jamie McMurray.
Via owner points: Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth.
Via most recent past Sprint Cup champion provisional: Tony Stewart.
WHO NEEDS TO RACE IN
Six drivers need to race their way into the Daytona 500:
• Michael Annett
• Ryan Blaney
• Ron Hornaday Jr.
• Justin Marks
• David Ragan
• Reed Sorenson
RELATED: Team Xtreme rebuilds Sorenson’s car for Duel
Since Edwards is new to Joe Gibbs Racing, he didn’t have owner points to fall back on, so the fact he is locked in takes pressure off the No. 19 team for the duels.
Stenhouse, who failed to qualify last fall at Talladega, also can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to his speedy run in the first round of group qualifying on Sunday.
Almirola is the most recent winner at Daytona after he took the rain-shortened Coke Zero 400 last July.
McMurray won the 2010 Daytona 500.
RELATED: Complete Daytona Duel lineups
Here is a complete look at how the lineup is taking shape for the Daytona 500:
| Row | Inside | Outside | Explained |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeff Gordon | Jimmie Johnson | Top two qualifiers (Final round of Coors Light Pole Qualifying) |
| 2 | Top 15 from Duel races (Inside: First race; Outside: Second race) | ||
| 3 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 4 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 5 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 6 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 7 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 8 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 9 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 10 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 11 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 12 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 13 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 14 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 15 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 16 | Top 15 from Duel races | ||
| 17 | Aric Almirola* | Ricky Stenhouse* | Four fastest qualifiers from any round |
| 18 | Carl Edwards* | Jamie McMurray* | Four fastest qualifiers from any round |
| 19 | Kevin Harvick* | Ryan Newman* | 2014 owner points |
| 20 | Denny Hamlin* | Joey Logano* | 2014 owner points |
| 21 | Brad Keselowski* | Matt Kenseth* | 2014 owner points |
| 22 | Tony Stewart* | xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | Past champion or 2014 owner points |
*Drivers can race into positions 3 through 32 in the Daytona Duels.
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