The Daytona 500 lineup was finalized following single-car qualifying and the Duel races at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. On Wednesday night, Kyle Busch clinched his first-ever pole position for the prestigious race by posting the fastest lap time in the final round of qualifying, placing him at the front for Sunday’s event. The grid was then completed through the Duel races held on Thursday night, which determined the remaining starting positions.
Qualifying Process and Duel Race Format
The initial qualifying involved drivers running timed laps alone to set their starting spots. The top ten moved on to a second round, where the two fastest drivers earned the front row for the Daytona 500. Kyle Busch earned pole with the best time, while last year’s pole winner, Chase Briscoe, secured the second spot. Odd-positioned qualifiers competed in Duel 1, while even positions raced in Duel 2 to fill positions three through forty for the main race.
Each Duel race covers 60 laps, spanning 150 miles, and not only determines the order of the inside and outside rows of the grid but also awards points to the top ten finishers that count toward the regular season standings. Winners of each Duel receive 10 points, with descending points awarded down to tenth place.
Complete Starting Lineup for the Daytona 500
1. Kyle Busch
2. Chase Briscoe
3. Joey Logano
4. Chase Elliott
5. Ryan Blaney
6. Carson Hocevar
7. Austin Dillon
8. Kyle Larson
9. Brad Keselowski
10. Michael McDowell
11. John Hunter Nemechek
12. Christopher Bell
13. Shane van Gisbergen
14. Josh Berry
15. Daniel Suarez
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
17. Casey Mears
18. Todd Gilliland
19. Ryan Preece
20. Ty Gibbs
21. Alex Bowman
22. Denny Hamlin
23. Cole Custer
24. Erik Jones
25. Noah Gragson
26. Tyler Reddick
27. Bubba Wallace
28. Riley Herbst
29. Corey Heim
30. Zane Smith
31. Jimmie Johnson
32. Connor Zilisch
33. Cody Ware
34. Ty Dillon
35. AJ Allmendinger
36. Austin Cindric
37. Ross Chastain
38. Anthony Alfredo
39. William Byron
40. Justin Allgaier
Additional starters include Corey LaJoie and Chandler Smith from Duel 1, along with BJ McLeod and JJ Yeley from Duel 2.
Results from Duel 1 Shaping Inside Rows
Joey Logano triumphed in Duel 1, securing the top inside row position following Kyle Busch’s pole. Ryan Blaney and Austin Dillon rounded out the top three in this qualifying race, followed by Brad Keselowski, John Hunter Nemechek, and Shane van Gisbergen. The race set the order for drivers in the inside lanes, impacting their placement for the main event.
Duel 2 Outcomes Defining Outside Rows
Chase Elliott won Duel 2, earning the best spot on the outside row. Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson finished second and third, respectively. Other notable finishers included Michael McDowell, Christopher Bell, and Josh Berry. These results finalized the lineup for outside row drivers in the Daytona 500.
Importance of the Pole and Duel Performances
Kyle Busch’s pole position puts him in an optimal starting spot, boosting his chances in one of NASCAR’s most challenging events. The Duels added competitive intensity, as drivers battled not only for starting positions but also valuable season points. This setup ensures that Sunday’s race will feature a strong field poised for an intense, competitive race at the Great American Race.
