What to know about Thursday's Daytona Duels, the qualifying races for the 2024 Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Single lap runs by single cars are one thing ... It's time to go racing, for real, now.
That's right, Daytona 500 qualifying, which went down on Wednesday night, may have been the first session with cars on the track at Daytona International Speedway this week, but on Thursday night, beating, banging and bump drafting will commence.
It will come in the form of two 150-mile qualifying races, known now as the BlueGreen Vacation Duel at Daytona. Of course, throughout history they've been referred to as many things, namely the "Twin 125s".
Thursday night is unique only to Speedweeks with the Duels serving as the only qualifying races in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season.
So, what is the Duel? How does it work?
We're so glad you asked. Here's everything you need to know about the Duel at Daytona:
When are the Daytona Duels tonight?
The first of two Duel races is set for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday night with the second beginning after the first's conclusion. The estimated start time of Duel 2 is 8:45.
How many laps are the Daytona Duels?
The two races are scheduled for 60 laps apiece.
How to watch the Duels at Daytona on TV
Both BlueGreen Vacation Duel at Daytona races will air on FS1 (Fox Sports 1).
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How do the Daytona Duel races work?
Wednesday's single-car qualifying runs determined only the front row for Sunday's Daytona 500. Joey Logano won the pole, and Michael McDowell finished second and will start beside him on the front row.
The rest of the field will be set during the Duels. The drivers who posted qualifying times in the odd-numbered positions will run in one race with the even-numbered times participating in the other. The finishing order of the two races will determine the starting order in the two rows for Sunday's Great American Race.
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Daytona Duels lineup
Race 1
- Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
- Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Ryan Preece, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
- Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford
- Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
- Anthony Alfredo, No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
- Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
- Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
- Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- JJ Yeley, No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet
Race 2
- Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
- Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
- William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
- Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
- Harrison Burton, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
- Riley Herbst, No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford
- Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
- Noah Gragson, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
- Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
- AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
- Josh Berry, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
- Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford
- David Ragan, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
- Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
- Justin Haley, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
- Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
- Zane Smith, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
- John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
- BJ McLeod, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet
- Kaz Grala, No. 76 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Daytona Duel winners by year
- 1959: Bob Welborn, No. 49 Chevrolet; Shorty Rollins, No. 99 Ford
- 1960: Fireball Roberts, No. 22 Pontiac; Jack Smith, No. 47 Pontiac
- 1961: Fireball Roberts, No. 22 Pontiac; Joe Weatherly, No. 8 Pontiac
- 1962: Fireball Roberts, No. 22 Pontiac; Joe Weatherly, No. 8 Pontiac
- 1963: Junior Johnson, No. 3 Chevrolet; Johnny Rutherford, No. 13 Chevrolet
- 1964: Junior Johnson, No. 3 Dodge; Bobby Isaac, No. 26 Dodge
- 1965: Darel Dieringer, No. 16 Mercury; Junior Johnson, No. 27 Ford
- 1966: Paul Goldsmith, No. 99 Plymouth; Earl Balmer, No. 3 Dodge
- 1967: LeeRoy Yarborugh, No. 12 Dodge; Fred Lorenzen, No. 28 Ford
- 1968: Duels canceled due to rain
- 1969: David Pearson, No. 17 Ford; Bobby Isaac, No. 71 Dodge
- 1970: Cale Yarborough, No. 21 Mercury; Charlie Glotzbach, No. 99 Dodge
- 1971: Pete Hamilton, No. 6 Plymouth; David Pearson, No. 17 Mercury
- 1972: Bobby Isaac, No. 71 Dodge; Bobby Allison, No. 12 Chevrolet
- 1973: Buddy Baker, No. 71 Dodge; Coo Coo Marlin, No. 14 Chevrolet
- 1974: Bobby Isaac, No. 27 Chevrolet; Cale Yarborough, No. 11 Chevrolet
- 1975: Bobby Allison, No. 16 Matador; David Pearson, No. 21 Mercury
- 1976: Dave Marcis, No. 71 Dodge; Darrell Waltrip, No. 88 Chevrolet
- 1977: Richard Petty, No. 43 Dodge; Cale Yarborough, No. 11 Chevrolet
- 1978: A.J. Foyt, No. 51 Buick; Darrell Waltrip, No. 88 Chevrolet
- 1979: Buddy Baker, No. 28 Oldsmobile; Darrell Waltrip, No. 88 Oldsmobile
- 1980: Neil Bonnett, No. 21 Mercury; Donnie Allison, No. 1 Oldsmobile
- 1981: Bobby Allison, No. 28 Pontiac; Darrell Waltrip, No. 11 Buick
- 1982: Cale Yarborough, No. 27 Buick; Buddy Baker, No. 1 Buick
- 1983: Dale Earnhardt, No. 15 Ford; Neil Bonnett, No. 75 Chevrolet
- 1984: Cale Yarborough, No. 28 Chevrolet; Bobby Allison, No. 22 Buick
- 1985: Bill Elliott, No. 9 Ford; Cale Yarborough, No. 28 Ford
- 1986: Bill Elliott, No. 9 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 1987: Ken Schrader, No. 90 Ford; Benny Parsons, No. 35 Chevrolet
- 1988: Bobby Allison, No. 12 Buick; Darrell Waltrip, No. 17 Chevrolet
- 1989: Ken Schrader, No. 25 Chevrolet; Terry Labonte, No. 11 Ford
- 1990: Geoffrey Bodine, No. 11 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 1991: Davey Allison, No. 28 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 1992: Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet; Bill Elliott, No. 11 Ford
- 1993: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 1994: Ernie Irvan, No. 28 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 1995: Sterling Marlin, No. 4 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 1996: Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet; Ernie Irvan, No. 28 Ford
- 1997: Dale Jarrett, No. 88 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 1998: Sterling Marlin, No. 40 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 1999: Bobby Labonte, No. 18 Pontiac; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 2000: Bill Elliott, No. 94 Ford; Ricky Rudd, No. 28 Ford
- 2001: Sterling Marlin, No. 40 Dodge; Mike Skinner, No. 31 Chevrolet
- 2002: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet; Michael Waltrip, No. 15 Chevrolet
- 2003: Robby Gordon, No. 31 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 8 Chevrolet
- 2004: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 8 Chevrolet; Elliott Sadler, No. 38 Ford
- 2005: Michael Waltrip, No. 15 Chevrolet; Tony Stewart, No. 20 Chevrolet
- 2006: Elliott Sadler, No. 38 Ford; Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet
- 2007: Tony Stewart, No. 20 Chevrolet; Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet
- 2008: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet; Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
- 2009: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet; Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota
- 2010: Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet; Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Ford
- 2011: Kurt Busch, No. 22 Dodge; Jeff Burton, No. 31 Chevrolet
- 2012: Tony Stewart, No. 14 Chevrolet; Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Ford
- 2013: Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Chevrolet; Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota
- 2014: Matt Kenseth, No. 20 Toyota; Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
- 2015: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet; Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet
- 2016: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet; Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota
- 2017: Chase Elliott, No. 24 Chevrolet; Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
- 2018: Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford; Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
- 2019: Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Ford; Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
- 2020: Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford; William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
- 2021: Aric Almirola, No. 10 Ford; Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
- 2022: Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford; Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
- 2023: Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford; Aric Almirola, No. 10 Ford
Who has won the most Duels at Daytona?
- 12: Dale Earnhardt
- 6: Cale Yarborough
- 5: Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- 4: Junior Johnson, Bobby Isaac, Bill Elliott
- 3: Fireball Roberts, David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Sterling Marlin, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano
Which organization has won the most Daytona Duels?
- 16: Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing
- 10: Joe Gibbs Racing
- 7: Robert Yates Racing, Team Penske
- 6: Junior Johnson & Associates
- 4: Holman-Moody, Bud Moore Engineering, Nord Krauskopf, DiGard Motorsports, Rainier-Lundy, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Stewart-Haas Racing
Which manufacturer has won the most Daytona Duels?
- 53: Chevrolet
- 32: Ford
- 11: Dodge
- 8: Pontiac
- 7: Toyota
- 6: Buick
- 5: Mercury
- 3: Oldsmobile
- 2: Plymouth
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