NASCAR Cup Series
By Staff Report
NASCAR.com
Published: 16 Feb, 2022
3 Minute Read
Each year, the NASCAR Cup Series kicks off the season with its pinnacle event — the Daytona 500.
The 64th annual running is set for Sunday, Feb. 20 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio/FOX Sports App) at Daytona International Speedway. And like any big event, some unique quirks are part of the build up.
The Great American Race’s most notable difference compared to any other on the Cup schedule is how the starting lineup is set. Forty cars will make the Daytona 500 starting grid. Thirty-six teams are guaranteed starting spots thanks to their Charters, leaving only four spots available for Open teams.
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The process began with single-car qualifying on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 8:05 p.m. (FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio/FOX Sports App), where the two fastest drivers – Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman – secured the front-row starting positions for Sunday’s race, with Larson claiming the Busch Light Pole.
The remaining results from qualifying set the field of the two Bluegreen Vacation Duel races on Thursday, Feb. 17 (7 p.m. ET, FS1/MRN/SiriusXM NASCAR Radio/FOX Sports App). Drivers who qualified in odd-numbered positions make up the starting grid of Duel No. 1, while those who qualified in even-numbered positions make up Duel No. 2.
The highest-finishing Open car in each Duel will advance into the Daytona 500, while the final two spots in the Daytona 500 field will be awarded to the two fastest Open cars based on their single-car qualifying speeds.
The results of Duel No. 1 will set the inside row for the 2022 Daytona 500, while the results of Duel No. 2 will set the outside row for Sunday’s race.
Stay locked on this page throughout Wednesday and Thursday as we update in real time.
* denotes Open, non-Charter team
Note: In addition to two Open cars that make the race on their qualifying speed, two additional Open cars will make the race based on their Duel results and will line up according to their finish in that race.