2009 Daytona 500 entry list

The second-fastest car earns the outside pole for the Daytona 500 AND the pole for the second Gatorade Duel race.

The Gatorade Duels at Daytona: These two 150-mile qualifying races set positions 3-39 for the Daytona 500.

A combined total of 66 cars will be allowed into the two Gatorade Duel races.

Cars must compete in one of the Gatorade Duel races, in order to race in the Daytona 500.

Odd-number finishers in the final car owner point standings from last season (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) are in the first Gatorade Duel race.

Even-number finishers in the final car owner point standings from last season (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) are in the second Gatorade Duel race.

Additional qualified cars that weren�t in the final top 35 in last season owners points are alternated between the two Gatorade Duel fields using an odd-even format.

Setting the Daytona 500 field:
Cars that finished in the top 35 in last season’s6 car owner point standings automatically make the Daytona 500 field.
The top two starting positions are determined by Pole Day qualifying speeds.
Positions 3-39 are determined by finishing orders in the Gatorade Duel races.
The final four spots in the 43-car field will be based on Pole Day qualifying speeds of cars that have not already earned a starting position. However, if there is an eligible Nextel Cup Series past champion entered who has not already qualified, that past champion will receive the 43rd and final position. If there is more than one past champion eligible for this berth, it goes to the most recent champion.

another way to look at it:

The following cars will be assigned to the first of the two qualifying races:

The odd-number positions (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) of the highest-ranked 35 finishers in the final previous Cup Series car owner points standings.

The pole winner from Pole Qualifying scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 8 [1:00pm/et Fox] . Should the pole winner be among the highest-ranked 35 in the the previous season owner points, the pole winner will start in the first race regardless of his odd or even position in those standings. The following cars will be assigned to the second of the two qualifying races:

The even-number positions (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) of the highest-ranked 35 finishers in the final previous season Cup Series car owner points standings.

The second-fastest qualifier from Pole Qualifying. Should this car be among the highest-ranked 35 in the previous season owner points, it will start in the second race regardless of its odd or even position in those standings. Additional cars that were not among the highest-ranked 35 in the final previous season car owner points will be alternated between the first and second 150-mile qualifying events using an odd-even format. The odd-number positions will be assigned to the first qualifier while the even-number positions will be assigned to the second qualifier.

The odd-even positions are not determined by where the car qualified in the overall field, but their specific qualifying order among those cars not part of the highest-ranked 35 group. For example, a car qualifies eighth overall in Pole qualifying, but ranks third-fastest among those cars not part of the highest-ranked 35. That car would be an odd-number position and start in the first race as a result of its qualifying standing of those cars not in the highest-ranked 35.

The lineup for each qualifying race will be set based upon the qualifying speeds in the time trials for all cars, including those who are among the highest-ranked 35 in the finalprevious season car owner point standings. The highest-ranked 35 designation does not determine the car�s starting position, only the assignment of its 150-mile qualifying event.

A maximum of 66 cars will be permitted to compete between the two qualifying races, and all cars must compete in one of these events to be eligible for the Daytona 500.

Starting positions for the Daytona 500 will be designated for the highest-ranked 35 positions from the final previous season car owner point standings from each qualifier, the two-highest finishing cars in each qualifier not among that highest-ranked 35 group and the two front-row qualifiers.

The balance of the 43-car field will be filled by the fastest remaining qualifiers who have not earned a starting position, with the exception of the 43rd position which will be assigned to an eligible former or current Cup Series champion. Should there not be an eligible champion, the position will be assigned to the next fastest qualifier not in the field.

Pos 43: past champion provisional, otherwise the spot goes to the next fastest qualifier.

After the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
#1) – First 35 by current Owner Points [team does not have to attempt all the races]
#2) – Last Years Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
#3) – Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#4) – Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#5) – Past Nextel Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4
#6) – Qualifying Attempts with Owners points as the tie breaker
#7) – Qualifying Order Position
(all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline – usually 7-13 days before the race)