Each year, the NASCAR Cup Series kicks off the season with its pinnacle event — the Daytona 500. The 66th annual running is set for Monday, Feb. 19 (4 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). And, like any big event, some unique quirks are part of the build-up.
The most notable difference in the “Great American Race” 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.
RELATED: Daytona 500 schedule | Complete Daytona 500 winner history
The process begins with single-car qualifying on Wednesday, where the two fastest drivers — Joey Logano and Michael McDowell — secured the front-row starting positions for Monday’s race. Additionally, the two fastest Open cars — Anthony Alfredo and David Ragan — clinched a spot in Monday’s main event
The remaining results from single-car qualifying set the field for the two Bluegreen Vacations Duel races on Thursday. The duel races are 60-lap affairs, the results of which set the lineup for the Daytona 500 itself.
Drivers who are in odd-numbered positions on the speed chart from single-car qualifying make up the starting grid of Duel No. 1, while those who qualify in even-numbered positions make up Duel No. 2 (although NASCAR ensures an even number of Open cars in each race, so there may be slight adjustments). The highest-finishing Open car in each duel advances into the Daytona 500.
The results of Duel No. 1 set the inside row for the 2024 Daytona 500, while the results of Duel No. 2 set the outside row for Monday’s race.
Below are the results of the Duel races and the Daytona 500 starting lineup.
Official Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 1 Results
* denotes Open, non-Charter team
| Finishing Position | Car No. | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45 | Tyler Reddick |
| 2 | 9 | Chase Elliott |
| 3 | 48 | Alex Bowman |
| 4 | 77 | Carson Hocevar |
| 5 | 43 | Erik Jones |
| 6 | 99 | Daniel Suárez |
| 7 | 22 | Joey Logano |
| 8 | 54 | Ty Gibbs |
| 9 | 5 | Kyle Larson |
| 10 | 17 | Chris Buescher |
| 11 | 1 | Ross Chastain |
| 12 | 84 | Jimmie Johnson* |
| 13 | 41 | Ryan Preece |
| 14 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. |
| 15 | 7 | Corey LaJoie |
| 16 | 44 | J.J. Yeley* |
| 17 | 38 | Todd Gilliland |
| 18 | 3 | Austin Dillon |
| 19 | 62 | Anthony Alfredo* |
| 20 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
| 21 | 31 | Daniel Hemric |
Official Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 2 Results
* denotes Open, non-Charter team
| Finishing Position | Car No. | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Christopher Bell |
| 2 | 2 | Austin Cindric |
| 3 | 11 | Denny Hamlin |
| 4 | 42 | John H. Nemechek |
| 5 | 21 | Harrison Burton |
| 6 | 71 | Zane Smith |
| 7 | 6 | Brad Keselowski |
| 8 | 24 | William Byron |
| 9 | 14 | Chase Briscoe |
| 10 | 51 | Justin Haley |
| 11 | 23 | Bubba Wallace |
| 12 | 36 | Kaz Grala* |
| 13 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger |
| 14 | 78 | BJ McLeod* |
| 15 | 60 | David Ragan* |
| 16 | 34 | Michael McDowell |
| 17 | 4 | Josh Berry |
| 18 | 12 | Ryan Blaney |
| 19 | 8 | Kyle Busch |
| 20 | 15 | Riley Herbst |
| 21 | 10 | Noah Gragson |
Projected Daytona 500 starting lineup
* denotes Open, non-Charter team.
** BJ McLeod and JJ Yeley did not qualifying for the Daytona 500
| Position | Car No. | Driver | How Spot is Determined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | Joey Logano | Busch Light Pole winner |
| 2 | 34 | Michael McDowell | Second fastest in qualifying |
| 3 | 45 | Tyler Reddick | Duel No. 1 results |
| 4 | 20 | Christopher Bell | Duel No. 2 results |
| 5 | 9 | Chase Elliott | Duel No. 1 results |
| 6 | 2 | Austin Cindric | Duel No. 2 results |
| 7 | 48 | Alex Bowman | Duel No. 1 results |
| 8 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | Duel No. 2 results |
| 9 | 77 | Carson Hocevar | Duel No. 1 results |
| 10 | 42 | John H. Nemechek | Duel No. 2 results |
| 11 | 43 | Erik Jones | Duel No. 1 results |
| 12 | 21 | Harrison Burton | Duel No. 2 results |
| 13 | 99 | Daniel Suárez | Duel No. 1 results |
| 14 | 71 | Zane Smith | Duel No. 2 results |
| 15 | 54 | Ty Gibbs | Duel No. 1 results |
| 16 | 6 | Brad Keselowski | Duel No. 2 results |
| 17 | 5 | Kyle Larson | Duel No. 1 results |
| 18 | 24 | William Byron | Duel No. 2 results |
| 19 | 17 | Chris Buescher | Duel No. 1 results |
| 20 | 14 | Chase Briscoe | Duel No. 2 results |
| 21 | 1 | Ross Chastain | Duel No. 1 results |
| 22 | 51 | Justin Haley | Duel No. 2 results |
| 23 | 84 | Jimmie Johnson* | Duel No. 1 results |
| 24 | 23 | Bubba Wallace | Duel No. 2 results |
| 25 | 41 | Ryan Preece | Duel No. 1 results |
| 26 | 36 | Kaz Grala* | Duel No. 2 results |
| 27 | 19 | Martin Truex Jr. | Duel No. 1 results |
| 28 | 16 | AJ Allmendinger | Duel No. 2 results |
| 29 | 7 | Corey LaJoie | Duel No. 1 results |
| 30 | 4 | Josh Berry | Duel No. 2 results |
| 31 | 38 | Todd Gilliland | Duel No. 1 results |
| 32 | 12 | Ryan Blaney | Duel No. 2 results |
| 33 | 3 | Austin Dillon | Duel No. 1 results |
| 34 | 8 | Kyle Busch | Duel No. 2 results |
| 35 | 47 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Duel No. 1 results |
| 36 | 15 | Riley Herbst | Duel No. 2 results |
| 37 | 31 | Daniel Hemric | Duel No. 1 results |
| 38 | 10 | Noah Gragson | Duel No. 2 results |
| 39 | 62 | Anthony Alfredo* | Qualifying speed |
| 40 | 60 | David Ragan* | Qualifying speed |