Daytona 500 Qualifying Results: Busch Wins Pole, Full Starting Lineup

The stage is set for the 66th running of the Daytona 500, with qualifying events completed this week to determine the starting grid. The process unfolded in two phases: single-car qualifying on Wednesday night, followed by the Duel qualifying races on Thursday evening.

Qualifying and the Duel Races

Wednesday’s single-car qualifying saw drivers each take a timed lap around the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The fastest ten drivers then advanced to a second round to battle for the coveted pole position. Kyle Busch emerged victorious, securing his first Daytona 500 pole. Chase Briscoe, last year’s pole-sitter, will start alongside Busch in second place.

The single-car qualifying results also dictated the lineup for the two Duel races. Drivers with odd qualifying positions competed in Duel 1, while those with even positions raced in Duel 2. These 60-lap, 150-mile races determined positions three through forty for Sunday’s main event. Duel 1’s finishing order sets the inside rows, and Duel 2’s order sets the outside rows.

Did You Know? Points are awarded to the top ten finishers in each Duel race, contributing to the overall regular season standings, with first place earning 10 points and descending to nine for second, and so on.

Daytona 500 Starting Order

Here’s the full starting lineup for the Daytona 500, as determined by qualifying and the Duel races:

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
41. Chris Buescher

Duel Race Results

Joey Logano won Duel 1, followed by Ryan Blaney and Austin Dillon. Chase Elliott took the checkered flag in Duel 2, with Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson rounding out the top three.

Expert Insight: The Duel races are critical not only for setting the starting grid but also for providing teams with a valuable opportunity to assess their car’s performance in race conditions and make final adjustments before the Daytona 500.

Four drivers failed to qualify for the Daytona 500: Corey LaJoie and Chandler Smith after Duel 1, and BJ McLeod and JJ Yeley after Duel 2.

Frequently Asked Questions

What determines the starting order for the Daytona 500?

The starting order is determined by single-car qualifying, with the top two drivers earning the front-row positions. The remaining positions, from third to fortieth, are set by the finishing order of the two Duel qualifying races.

How do the Duel races impact the regular season?

Points are awarded to the top ten finishers in each Duel race, and these points count towards the overall regular season standings.

Which drivers failed to qualify for the Daytona 500?

Corey LaJoie, Chandler Smith, BJ McLeod, and JJ Yeley did not qualify for the Daytona 500.

With the field now set, all eyes turn to Sunday’s Daytona 500. While Busch and Briscoe will lead the pack, the unpredictable nature of superspeedway racing means any driver could contend for the win. Will a seasoned veteran claim victory, or will a rising star make their mark on the “Great American Race”?