See the starting lineup for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway on the Daytona 500 Starting Lineup Page.(2-21-2013)

Harvick wins Budweiser Duel #1: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Budweiser Duel #1 Qualifying Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Harvick has won both races so far this season, the Sprint Unlimited and a Budweiser Duel race. #16-Biffle finished 2nd (also finished 2nd in the Sprint Unlimited) followed by #42-Montoya, #48-Johnson, #78-Busch, #14-Stewart, #2-Keselowski, #13-Mears, #88-Earnhardt Jr. and #22-Logano. Eleventh was #47-Labonte, #38-Gilliland, #87-Nemechek, #26-Waltrip and #95-Speed finished 15th, gaining the final transfer spot. Finishing out of the transfer spots were #83-Reutimann, #10-Patrick [ill handling car, but will still start on the pole in the Daytona 500], #51-Smith, #56-Truex Jr. [came across the finish line 6th but had been blacked flagged for a missing side window], #11-Hamlin, #52-Keselowski, #99-Edwards and #21-Bayne. Bayne led the first 37 laps. On lap 52, #11-Hamlin got loose and came down on #99-Edwards, sending Edwards into the outside wall, Bayne had no place to go and hit the #99. #21-Bayne will get in the race via speed. Edwards, Hamlin and Truex Jr. should get in the race by either speed or owners points provisional. #52-Keselowski will be one of the two cars that will not make the race.
See race results and more on the Budweiser Duel Race #1 Results (pdf).(2-21-2013)

Harvick wins Budweiser Duel #1: #29-Kevin Harvick won the Budweiser Duel #1 Qualifying Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Harvick has won both races so far this season, the Sprint Unlimited and a Budweiser Duel race. #16-Biffle finished 2nd (also finished 2nd in the Sprint Unlimited) followed by #42-Montoya, #48-Johnson, #78-Busch, #14-Stewart, #2-Keselowski, #13-Mears, #88-Earnhardt Jr. and #22-Logano. Eleventh was #47-Labonte, #38-Gilliland, #87-Nemechek, #26-Waltrip and #95-Speed finished 15th, gaining the final transfer spot. Finishing out of the transfer spots were #83-Reutimann, #10-Patrick [ill handling car, but will still start on the pole in the Daytona 500], #51-Smith, #56-Truex Jr. [came across the finish line 6th but had been blacked flagged for a missing side window], #11-Hamlin, #52-Keselowski, #99-Edwards and #21-Bayne. Bayne led the first 37 laps. On lap 52, #11-Hamlin got loose and came down on #99-Edwards, sending Edwards into the outside wall, Bayne had no place to go and hit the #99. #21-Bayne will get in the race via speed. Edwards, Hamlin and Truex Jr. should get in the race by either speed or owners points provisional. #52-Keselowski will be one of the two cars that will not make the race.(2-21-2013)

Budweiser Duel moves to night in 2014: Daytona International Speedway announced Thursday that the Budweiser Duel 150-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500 will be moved next year to a night-time start and be televised by Fox. "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,'' DIS president Joie Chitwood III said. "Moving the Budweiser Duel under the lights will add another dimension to Budweiser Speedweeks.'' The qualifying races join the Sprint Unlimited and the Camping World Truck Series race as night-time events during Speedweeks.(Daytona Beach News Journal)(2-21-2013)

Coverage of the Qualifying races the Budweiser Duel to make the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 2:00pm/et.
TV: SPEED - 2:00pm/et
Green Flag approx 2:15pm/et [2nd Duel around 3:30pm/et]
Radio: Motor Racing Network [also online] and Sirius XM Satellite NASCAR Radio
Budweiser Duel Re-Air: 8:00pm/et on SPEED
Online coverage: no streaming known, but NASCAR.com, ESPN.com and FoxSports.com have live scoring

Budweiser Duel - To the Back: #42-Montoya (engine); #88-Earnhardt Jr.(engine)

The Daytona 500 qualifying is a different with the Qualifying Races, see the rules below click here.

Track Specs:
Track/Race Length: 2.5 mile oval, 60 laps, 150 miles
Tri-oval with 31-degree banking in the turns
18-degree banking in the tri-oval and 6-degree banking on the straightaways
Date track opened: 1959
Banking in turns 1-4: 31 degrees
Banking in tri-oval: 18 degrees
Banking on backstretch: 3 degrees
Banking on the straightaway: 6 degrees
Length of frontstretch: 3,800 feet
Length of backstretch: 3,400 feet
Pit Road Speed: 55 mph
Pace Car Speed: 70 mph
Pit Road Length: 1,600 feet
Pit Road Width: 50 feet

Race Festivities/Officials:
Duel 1 Grand Marshal: David Larue, Manager ABC Liquors
Duel 1 Command to start engines: David Larue
Duel 2 Grand Marshal: Garrick Carter, 7-11 District Mgr
Duel 2 Command to start engines: Garrick Carter
Honorary Starter/Wave Green Flag: TBA
Invocation: Ronnie Barton. First Baptist Church of South Daytona
National Anthem: Sisaundra Lewis
Military Flyover: none

Pit Stall Selections: The selections of pit stalls for the Budweiser Duel Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway have been made. To see where the drivers/teams pit stall is, see the pit selection chart on the Pit Stall Selection chart.(2-21-2013)

Final Wednesday practice for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, most cars did drafting during this practice, after 90 scheduled minutes, top five and notes:
#5-Kahne 197.737
#16-Biffle 197.702
#24-Gordon 197.628
#10-Patrick 197.555
#99-Edwards 197.507
slowest: #52-Keselowski 183.135 & #39-Newman 189.625 (1 lap)
only 27 of 45 cars have made a run, many teams have decided not to run in this practice.
#88-Earnhardt Jr. got back on track after the team made the engine change and ran the most laps with 34. #39-Newman, involved in a practice 1 wreck, got on the track with about 10 minutes to go to shake down the car.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10-lap averages on the Daytone 500 Practice 4 Speeds page (pdf).(2-20-2013)

First Wednesday practice for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway is over, most cars did drafting during this practice, after 90 scheduled minutes, top five and notes:
#26-Waltrip 198.347
#34-Ragan 198.133
#14-Stewart 198.133
#27-Menard 197.946
#18-Busch 197.511
slowest: #52-Keselowski 170.950 & #36-Yeley 186.027 (each only ran a lap)
31 of 45 cars have made a run.
no speed listed for #24 #35 #98
notes: #2-Keselowski lost power early in the practice and had to be pushed to the garage, Keselowski said there was some fuel system problem.
Fifteen minutes into the practice #39-Newman came down and #99-Edwards came up, making contact, the #39 spun around, the #39 has damage, slight damage on the #99 and some cosmetic damage to the #55. The #55 says they are done practicing for the day.
#88-Earnhardt lost an engine 50 minutes into practice, #88 goes to the rear for Duel only not the 500.
See fastest speeds, laps run, best 10-lap averages on the Daytone 500 Practice 3 Speeds page (pdf).(2-20-2013)

Earnhardt Jr. loses engine in first practice on Wednesday: #88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. comments following engine failure during practice for the Budweiser Duel at Daytona Qualifying Races:
Q) WHAT HAPPENED?
Earnhardt Jr: "We broke a motor, it's as simple as that. They'll figure out what happen. I'm sure there is some logical explanation as to what happened, but, we'll just put a new one in and start at the back of the Qualifier tomorrow, and race up through there."
Q) WILL YOU GO TO BED A LITTLE WORRIED TONIGHT?
Earnhardt Jr: "No, it's just part of racing."
Q) IS THIS ANY SORT OF A SETBACK?
Earnhardt Jr: "Not really. Everything is good. We were just making some single car runs by ourselves. Everything seemed like it was working. Just trying to find a little more speed, and we found a few things that seemed to help the car. We'll try to get out in this next practice, and see what else we can learn, but everything should be fine."
Q) DID YOU HAVE ANY WARNING THAT IT WAS GOING?
Earnhardt Jr: "No."
(Team Chevy)(2-20-2013)

Newman discusses drafting accident in Wednesday's practice: #39-Ryan Newman crashed during first practice run; will repair the car - not going to back-up.
Q) WHAT HAPPENED OUT THERE?
Newman: "I don't know. I want to watch first (after watching the replay). My car came around. I don't know if it was the air off of Carl's (Edwards) car or what. My car just came around. (Referring to the replay) You can see the backend getting light there. I think it's just an aero situation, but that was news to me. Carl (Edwards) came over and said 'hey man'& I said 'I don't even know what to tell you yet'. It was unfortunate for our Quicken Loans Chevrolet, but that is why we had practice. That was my first experience, but I guess my car just got light in the back going into the corner."
Q) HOW BADLY WOUNDED IS YOUR CAR?
Newman: "I think it's totally fixable, it's just a matter of time and getting practice and everything else. Matt (Borland, crew chief) and the guys are assessing the situation."
Q) CARL (EDWARDS) CAME OVER IMMEDIATELY TO TALK TO YOU. WHAT DID YOU GUYS TALK ABOUT?
Newman: "Just what happened. I didn't know what happened and he honestly admitted that he didn't know what happened. Just all of a sudden my car was going across his nose. He did say that he tried to come up and put the air brakes on me. I think in doing so it just made my car that loose. I hadn't been loose the entire time. It was just something new and a different characteristic of this car I guess."
Q) YOU HAVE NOT FELT THAT SIMILAR SITUATION WHY IS THAT DIFFERENT? A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT A WEIRD AERO DEAL THERE?
Newman: "I think some of it has to do with the huge shark fin that we have on that side. When you pack air up on that side it's not going to the spoiler it's getting blocked off from the spoiler. There are a lot of things to think about and talk about."
Q) YOU GUYS ARE PLANNING TO FIX THE DAMAGE RIGHT?
Newman: "We are going to fix it. It's a Catch-22 we brought this car for a reason. The engine is fine; it never spun backwards all that stuff is good. We don't think we will make it back out for the second practice, but we will be fine."
Q) EVEN IF YOU DID WOULD YOU PRACTICE DRAFTING OR DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DONE?
Newman: "No, we will still practice drafting. That is what it is going to take to win the (Daytona) 500."(Team Chevy)(2-20-2013)

Danica Patrick Becomes First Female Pole Winner In NASCAR Sprint Cup History: #10-Danica Patrick made NASCAR history today during Coors Light Pole qualifying for the Daytona 500, becoming the first female driver to win a pole at NASCAR's top level  the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. During qualifying for the sport's marquee event, Patrick turned a lap of 196.434 mph (45.817 seconds), giving her the first starting position for next Sunday's Daytona 500. It was the fastest Daytona 500 pole-winning speed since 1990. Patrick shattered the previous record for top starting spot by a female NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. Janet Guthrie previously held the mark, twice starting ninth in 1977. She started ninth at Talladega Superspeedway on Aug. 7, 1977 and at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 28, 1977. The previous best starting position for a female in the Daytona 500 was 18th by Janet Guthrie in 1980.
This is Patrick's second NASCAR pole, also winning the Coors Light Pole for the season-opening NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona last season. The only other female to win a NASCAR national series pole was Shawna Robinson in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1994. Already a NASCAR record holder, Patrick set the mark of best finish by a female driver in NASCAR national series history when she finished fourth in a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011. She finished 10th in the final 2012 NASCAR Nationwide points standings, the top finish by a female in NASCAR national series history. Patrick, who is running for the 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, is the first rookie to win the Daytona 500 pole since Jimmie Johnson in 2002.(NASCAR)(2-17-2013)

Patrick wins Daytona 500 pole: #10-Danica Patrick wons the pole for the Daytona 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway with a speed of 196.925mph. Patrick is the first female driver to win a pole in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series history. #24-Gordon won the outside pole and will start 2nd next Sunday. #21-Bayne was 3rd fastest, followed by #38-Newman, #14-Stewart, #5-Kahne, #11-Hamlin, #18-Busch, #22-Logano and #20-Kenseth.
QUALIFYING RESULTS
#10-Patrick (8th out) 196.434mph - pole winner
#24-Gordon (30th out) 196.292 - outside pole winner
#21-Bayne (39th out) 195.976 - locked in Daytona 500 at least by speed
#39-Newman (14th out) 195.946 - locked in Daytona 500 at least by speed
#14-Stewart (1st) 195.925 - locked in Daytona 500 at least by speed
#5-Kahne (37th out) 195.852 - locked in Daytona 500 at least by speed
#11-Hamlin (24th out) 195.771 - locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
#18-Busch (3rd), 195.767
#22-Logano (35th out) 195.767
#20-Kenseth (29th out) 195.725
#88-Earnhardt Jr. (26th out) 195.584
#17-Stenhouse Jr (19th out) 195.537 - locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
#42-Montoya (45th out) 195.508
#27-Menard (16th out) 195.503
#13-Mears (6th) 195.495
#33-Dillon (23rd out) 195.385
#99-Edwards (44th out) 195.240
#15-Bowyer (22nd out) 195.228 - locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
#56-Truex Jr., (4th) 195.207
#31-Burton (36th out) 195.156
#48-Johnson (33rd out) 195.084 - locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
#1-McMurray (18th out) 195.042
#2-Keselowski (31st out) 194.951 - locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
#9-Ambrose (15th out) 194.793
#29-Harvick (40th out) 194.742
#43-Almirola (9th) 194.742
#16-Biffle (21st out) 194.729 - locked in Daytona 500 at least by owners points/provisional
#55-Martin (11th out) 194.683
#38-Gilliland (32nd out) 194.654
#34-Ragan (39th out) 194.616mph
#26-Waltrip (25th out) 194.313
#35-Wise (43rd out) 194.254
#78-Busch (42nd out) 193.657 - locked in Daytona 500 at least by past champions provisional
#98-McDowell (7th) 193.544
#95-Speed (34th out) 193.540
#32-Labonte (5th) 193.515
#51-Smith (27th out) 193.096
#7-Blaney (13th out) 192.996
#47-Labonte (17th out) 192.563
#36-Yeley (12th out) 192.094
#83-Reutimann (20th out) 190.339
#93-Kvapil (10th) 190.142
#87-Nemechek (28th out) 190.046
#19-Bliss (2nd), 189.438
#52-Keselowski (41st out) 183.876
(2-17-2013)

Qualifying Fast Facts - Daytona International Speedway:
#10-Danica Patrick won the Coors Light Pole Award for the Daytona 500 with a lap of 45.817 seconds, 196.434 mph.
Patrick is the first female driver to win a pole in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
Janet Guthrie previously held the record for top starting position by a female NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver, twice starting ninth in 1977. She started ninth at Talladega Superspeedway on Aug. 7, 1977 and at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug. 28, 1977.
The previous best starting position for a female in the Daytona 500 was 18th by Janet Guthrie in 1980.
This is Patrick?s second NASCAR pole, also winning the Coors Light Pole for the season-opening NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona last season.
Patrick, who is running for the 2013 Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, is the first rookie to win the Daytona 500 pole since Jimmie Johnson in 2002.
Patrick is the 11th different pole winner in the last 11 Daytona 500s.
It was the fastest Daytona 500 pole-winning speed since 1990.
#24-Jeff Gordon (second) posted his 26th top-10 start in 41 races at Daytona International Speedway.
This is the fourth time Gordon has started on the front row for the Daytona 500. He won the pole in 1999 and started second in 2006 and 2011.(NASCAR)(2-17-2013)

Duel wins doesn't equal 500 win: Only nine times has the winner of a 125 / 150-mile race gone on to win the Daytona 500:
Fireball Roberts was the first to do so, in 1962
Cale Yarborough did it twice, in 1977 and 1984
others:
Bill Elliott (1985)
Bobby Allison (1988)
Sterling Marlin (1995)
Dale Earnhardt (1998)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2004)
Matt Kenseth (2012)

Race info at: Daytona 500 Race Info Page

Event Entry List

Qualifying sets only Daytona 500 front row: Sunday's Daytona 500 Coors Light Pole qualifying is unique in that only the top two positions will be guaranteed. Remaining qualifiers are seeded by qualifying speed into Thursday's Budweiser Duel, two 150-mile races from which the majority of the final starting grid for the Daytona 500 is set. The front-row qualifiers and the highest 15 finishers in each Duel  excluding the front row from qualifying  will earn a spot in the Daytona 500. The next four fastest Coors Light Pole qualifiers will make up positions 33-36. Six provisional starting positions (37 through 42) will be awarded to the highest eligible car owners in final 2012 standings not otherwise qualified for the race. The 43rd position will be filled by the most recent past champion participating in a 2012 event. Should no past champion be eligible, the final position goes to the next highest owner in 2012 points. The most recent Daytona 500 pole winner to win the race was Dale Jarrett in 2000, one of two drivers (Bill Elliott is the other) to sweep The Sprint Unlimited, pole and race in the same season.(NASCAR)(2-17-2013)

How To Qualify For The Daytona 500 - 2013: Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is unlike any other auto racing qualifying procedure. Drivers have multiple opportunities to qualify for the season-opening race, as opposed to the usual format of one qualifying session per event. The first chance comes via Daytona 500 Coors Light Pole Qualifying, which will be held Sunday, Feb. 17 on FOX. The other chance is the Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races held on Thursday, Feb. 21 on SPEED. Below is a breakdown of the Daytona 500 qualifying procedure:
Daytona 500 Coors Light Pole Qualifying
" Each team may run two consecutive laps with the fast lap setting the qualifying time. The two fastest qualifiers earn starting positions one and two and are the only guaranteed positions, filling the front row for the Daytona 500 and pole positions for the two qualifying races.
" The Duel at Daytona, two 150-mile qualifying races, will determine starting positions for the Daytona 500 beyond the front row. In the event of cancellation, the field will be set according to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.
Duel at Daytona
" Those cars earning odd-numbered positions from qualifying will be assigned to the first Duel race. Those cars earning even-numbered positions from qualifying will compete in the second race.
" The starting positions for each Duel race will also be based on qualifying times.
Daytona 500 Lineup
" The two fastest qualifiers set starting positions one and two.
" The highest 15 finishers in each Duel race  excluding the already locked-in front row  will earn a spot in the Daytona 500, and fill positions 3-32.
" Based on their finishing position in the first Duel race, the top 15 will line up on the inside row (odd-number starting positions).
" Based on their finishing position in the second Duel race, the top 15 will line up on the outside row (even-number starting positions).
" Positions 33-36 will go to the four fastest cars from qualifying that have not already earned a spot.
" Position 37-42 will be provisional positions, and go to the highest six cars in 2012 owner points that have not already qualified via the Duel or Coors Light Pole qualifying.
" The 43rd starting position will be assigned to any car owner who has the most recent eligible past NASCAR Sprint Cup champion who did not make the field by any other method, providing the driver had competed in the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. If the 43rd position remains unused it will be assigned to the next highest car in 2012 owner points not already locked into the field.(NASCAR)(2-17-2013)