Greg Biffle leads the field during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Gatorade Duel 2 at Daytona International Speedway on February 23, 2012.
Photo – Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The Budweiser Duel is a tradition for NASCAR as teams race for their starting sports in the Daytona 500. The Duel event has always been run on Thursday afternoon prior to the Daytona 500, which included two 60 lap races. Things will be different in 2014, with the Budweiser Duel event moving to primetime under the lights.

Daytona International Speedway President, Joie Chitwood III, announced today that the Budweiser Duel will race under the lights next season.

Chitwood said, “To earn a coveted starting spot in the Daytona 500, the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will have to perform under the lights and in front of a primetime audience in the Budweiser Duel,” Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. “Moving the Budweiser Duel under the lights will add another dimension to Budweiser Speedweeks.”

Fans won’t have to take off the afternoon to see the qualifying races for at least one year. The goal of moving the race to primetime is for NASCAR to gain more exposure leading up to its biggest race of the year, the Daytona 500.