Daytona 500 Qualifying – What You Need to Know

2014 Daytona 500 Front Row L-Martin Truex Jr R-Austin Dillon, pole sitter Photo - Tom Pennington/Getty Images
2014 Daytona 500 Front Row L-Martin Truex Jr R-Austin Dillon, pole sitter Photo – Tom Pennington/Getty Images

NASCAR has a new format to qualifying for the Daytona 500. For the first time, qualifying which traditionally features single-car runs, will switch to a group qualifying format to set the front row positions. The results from qualifying will also set the field for the Budweiser Duel at Daytona 150-mile qualifying races on Thursday, February 19 on Fox Sports 1 at 7 pm ET. The results from the Budweiser Duel will complete the starting lineup for the Daytona 500 on February 22 on FOX at 1 pm ET.

FOX will air live Daytona 500 qualifying at 1:30 pm ET on Sunday, February 15 from Daytona International Speedway.

Here’s how it will work:

Round 1

  • There are two groups based on a random draw. Group 1, those with odd numbers go first with a seven-minute break before Group 2, those with even numbers start their session, with each group session at five minutes.

10 minute break before Round 2 begins

Round 2

  • Top-24 fastest cars from Group 1 and 2, in Round 1 advance for the Round 2 five-minute session.

7 minute break before Round 3 begins

Round 3

  • Top 12 fastest cars from Round 2 advance for the Round 3 five-minute session.

The random draw was held Saturday, February 14 to decide Round 1 odd/even groups as follows:

Daytona500Q

 

Kenseth Edges Truex for the Win in Spirited Sprint Unlimited

Matt Kenseth did what he couldn’t do all of last year — win a race.

And Martin Truex Jr., runner-up in Saturday night’s 75-lap Sprint Unlimited exhibition race at Daytona International Speedway, did what he could do only once in 2014 — lead a lap.

Coming to the finish line on the last lap, Kenseth blocked Truex’s move off Turn 4 and crossed the finish line in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota .219 seconds ahead of Truex, who led four times for 28 laps after leading just one lap in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series all of last season.

The victory was Kenseth’s first in the non-points race, but it was the second straight win for Joe Gibbs Racing. Continue reading →

Today’s Big Story: NASCAR Officiating Takes Center Stage

NASCAR Officials
Photo – Getty Images

Two big events headline Valentine’s Day for race fans. At Daytona International Speedway the ARCA Racing Series’ Lucas Oil 200 will air on Fox Sports 1 at 4 pm ET; followed by NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series’ Sprint Unlimited at 8 pm ET on FOX.

A big part of today’s stories include veteran Frank Kimmel – the winningest driver in ARCA history – going for his first Daytona win ever; and veteran Jeff Gordon racing his last Sprint Unlimited – after racing 21 consecutive – as he begins his farewell tour throughout the 2015 season and retires his racing career.

While fans are happy to see drivers and their cars back on the track, what will take center stage for NASCAR is what happens behind the scenes after making several changes on how they will officiate their events.   Continue reading →

Jeff Gordon Poised for One Last Season: What Does it Mean for NASCAR and Fans?

Photo - Todd Warshaw/Getty Images
Photo – Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

With the 2015 NASCAR season less than two weeks away, there is intrigue for what the last season has in store for the man known as the “The Kid” Jeff Gordon. Since announcing 2015 is his last season, to his successor being named in Chase Elliot, now is the time for all NASCAR fans to witness what greatness could come out of this situation.

With four wins last season Gordon is still a championship contender which is unlike the norm for somebody who is on their way out of any sport. Like Gordon or not, you can admire what his competitiveness and fire has brought to this sport. From his rivalry with the late Dale Earnhardt Sr., to him shoving Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton, and his four NASCAR Sprint Cup titles, you really do have to appreciate a guy who shows so much passion for the sport and his results. Continue reading →