NASCAR

NASCAR Race Review-Gatorade Duels

The Gaterade Duels for the Daytona 500

The line-up for the Daytona 500 is decided differently than any other race. All other races line up according to speed in qualifying. The drivers in the top 35 are automatically in the race, with the fastest 6 that aren’t in the top 35 and, if needed a past Champion taking the final spot. But for the Daytona 500, you qualify to see how you line up for the Gatorade Duels. Only two cars from each race will race in the Daytona500. Qualifying determines only the first two spots. The Gatorade Duels determine the Line-up for the Daytona 500.

Those qualifying behind the leader are in the first race. That is, the odd numbers. The even numbers line up behind the second place qualifier. Each race is 150 miles. They can’t go 150 miles on a tank of gas, so there will be pitting. The 2, Kurt Busch gave his top 35 points to his team mate, 77 Sam Hornish, Jr. because he is the first Champion not in the points. So they are both automatically in. There are seven drivers in the first race that aren’t in the top 35 that must race their way in. But only two will race in the Daytona 500. In the second race there are eight drivers to take only two spots.

In the first race 48, the pole sitter, Jimmy Johnson, 5 Casey Mears, 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 84 A.J. Allmendinger, 66 Scott Riggs, 07 Clint Bowyer and 96 J.J. Yeley all changed engines and will have to start from the rear. In the second race, 11 Denny Hamlin, 20 Tony Stewart and 24 Jeff Gordon had engine changes, and 40 Dario Franchitti missed driver introductions. They will all have to start from the rear. 55 Michael Waltrip qualified second and will lead his race.

The first four cars on the inside all will start from the rear, leaving 12 Ryan Newman on the pole to start the race. 78 Joe Nemechek leads the first lap. They are three-wide for third place! Which brings out the first caution. There wasn’t enough room for three and 60 Boris Said gets into 83 Brian Vickers, sending 83 spinning across the track and into the infield. No one hits him, so he pits and gets back out. This was on lap 3.

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