A pack of cars race through turn of Daytona International Speedway during practice for the Daytona 500. Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR
For several NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and teams, today will be the most nerve wracking day of SpeedWeeks.
Drivers will be looking to lock in their starting spots today for Sunday’s Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. But, unlike other events, Daytona is a little different.
Pole qualifying was held this past Sunday, with Carl Edwards scoring the pole, and Greg Biffle taking the outside front row position.
They are the only two that know exactly where they’ll be starting on Sunday. The rest of the field will be set depending on the outcome of today’s two 150-mile Gatorade Dual qualifying races, set to roll off this afternoon shortly after 2 pm.
For many drivers, there’s not too much to worry about. They’ll just be locking in their where they’ll start. The top 35 in owner’s points from 2011 are guaranteed starting spots on Sunday. After that, the two top drivers from each Gatorade Dual that are not locked in on owner’s points will make the show.
The remaining drivers who don’t make the field any of those ways could still race, depending on their qualifying times on Sunday, or if they are a past Sprint Cup champion.
Defending Daytona 500 champ Trevor Bayne turned in a fast enough qualifying lap to lock himself into Sunday’s race. So did Tony Raines and David Stremme. Former Sprint Cup champ Terry Labonte has the Past Champion’s provisional in his pocket, as he is the most recent title winner who may need to use it.
That leaves former Daytona 500 champs Michael Waltrip and Bill Elliott looking to race their way in to the 500 field this afternoon, along with Dave Blaney, Michael McDowell, Robbie Gordon, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace, Joe Nemechek, Robert Richardson Jr., and J.J. Yeley.
Elliott, the 1988 Sprint Cup champ, will be pulling hard for Terry Labonte to race his way in, as that would open up the Past Champion’s provisional for the Georgia driver to use if needed.
All that makes Thursday one of the most stressful days of all of SpeedWeeks. After today, we’ll know who will be starting Sunday afternoon in the 54th running of the Daytona 500.
We’ll also know who will be going home heartbroken, their dreams of Daytona glory shattered for the year.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, FL
Gatorade Duel At Daytona Twin Qualifier Line Up – Feb. 23, 2012
Duel No. 1 Line Up
1. (99) Carl Edwards – Fastenal Ford
2. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard Chevrolet
3. (9) Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
4. (6) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Ford EcoBoost Ford
5. (21) Trevor Bayne – Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
6. (14) Tony Stewart – Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet
7. (43) Aric Almirola – Smithfield Helping Hungry Homes Ford
8. (27) Paul Menard – Menards/Peak Chevrolet
9. (34) David Ragan – Scorpion Truck Bedliners Ford
10. (22) AJ Allmendinger – Shell Pennzoil Dodge
11. (2) Brad Keselowski – Miller Lite Dodge
12. (29) Kevin Harvick – Budweiser Chevrolet
Hence they must only be used after consulting a medical professional. It reduces the aging effects. Thus, it is essential that such people must be provided with healthy forms of diet which helps them in a satisfied sex with the partner. It is not a disease, and can be caused due to abdominal pressure. 13. (31) Jeff Burton – Caterpillar Chevrolet
14. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya – Target Chevrolet
15. (30) David Stremme – Inception Motorsports Toyota
16. (1) Jamie McMurray – Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
17. (10) Danica Patrick – GoDaddy.com Chevrolet
18. (32) Terry Labonte – C&J Energy Ford
19. (40) Michael Waltrip – Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota
20. (11) Denny Hamlin – FedEx Express Toyota
21. (98) Michael McDowell – No.98 KLOVE/Curb Records Ford Ford
22. (83) Landon Cassill – Burger King Toyota
23. (38) David Gilliland – MHP/Power Pak Pudding Ford
24. (37) Mike Wallace – Poynt.com Ford
25. (7) Robby Gordon – MAPEI/Menards/SPEED Energy Dodge
Duel No 2 Line Up
1. (16) Greg Biffle – 3M Ford
2. (13) Casey Mears – GEICO Ford
3. (24) Jeff Gordon – Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet
4. (56) Martin Truex, Jr. – NAPA Auto Parts Toyota
5. (55) Mark Martin – Aaron’s Toyota
6. (48) Jimmie Johnson – Lowe’s Chevrolet
7. (17) Matt Kenseth – Best Buy Ford
8. (39) Ryan Newman – U.S. ARMY/Quicken Loans Chevrolet
9. (20) Joey Logano – The Home Depot Toyota
10. (5) Kasey Kahne – Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
11. (26) Tony Raines – Front Row Motorsports Ford
12. (18) Kyle Busch – M&M’s Brown Toyota
13. (09) Kenny Wallace – American Ethanol Toyota
14. (36) Dave Blaney – Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Chevrolet
15. (51) Kurt Busch – Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet
16. (33) Elliott Sadler – General Mills/Kroger Chevrolet
17. (87) Joe Nemechek – AM FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
18. (78) Regan Smith – Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet
19. (47) Bobby Labonte – Kroger Toyota
20. (97) Bill Elliott – AM FM Energy Wood & Pellet Stoves Toyota
21. (93) David Reutimann – Burger King Toyota
22. (23) Robert Richardson, Jr. – North Texas Pipe Toyota
23. (49) J.J. Yeley – America Israel Racing Toyota
24. (15) Clint Bowyer – 5-hour Energy Toyota
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