Results from Duel races, official lineup for 2025 Daytona 500
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
Each year, the NASCAR Cup Series kicks off the season with its pinnacle event -- the Daytona 500. The 67th annual running is set for Sunday, Feb. 16 (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, 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. In short: Wednesday night's single-car qualifying set only the front row of the Daytona 500. The other drivers besides those top-two finishers lock in their Daytona 500 starting spots -- or in some cases, lock into the field in general -- based off their finish in Thursday's Duel qualifying races (two races, 60 laps each).
The results of those Duel races set the lineup for the Daytona 500 itself.
Joe Gibbs Racing's Chase Briscoe, in his first season driving the No. 19 Toyota, rocketed to the Busch Light Pole Award. Austin Cindric, who won the Daytona 500 in 2022, posted the second-quickest time to lock in the outside row for the 500. Each driver started first in their respective Duel race.
Meanwhile, two Open drivers -- both Cup Series champions -- locked into the field through qualifying. Martin Truex Jr. (No. 56) and seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson (No. 84) posted the quickest speeds among the nine Open cars to qualify.
In the Duel races, Open drivers Justin Allgaier and Corey LaJoie secured the final two spots in the Daytona 500 being the highest Open-car finishers in their respective races.
To get the full lowdown, read more here on the intricacies.
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