Daytona 500 Qualifying 2015: Budweiser Duels Starting Grid After Group Results
A series of short races leading up to the biggest event of the season. That's exactly what Speedweeks is for NASCAR fans. After Sunday's befuddling qualifying round, the next round of mini races is finally coming into focus.
Jeff Gordon took the pole for the Daytona 500 and is joined by Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson. The entire order behind them for the race is still up in the air.
The other 47 drivers who wrapped up qualifying behind the Hendrick duo will now compete in the Budweiser Duels. Starting points for every other driver will be decided based on the twin races, which are set to start on Thursday night.
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Leading up to the next Speedweeks event, below is a look at the full starting grid and breakdown of the Duels.
| 1 | Jeff Gordon | Jimmie Johnson |
| 2 | Kyle Busch | Matt Kenseth |
| 3 | Carl Edwards | Kasey Kahne |
| 4 | Austin Dillon | Ty Dillon |
| 5 | Jamie McMurray | Martin Truex Jr. |
| 6 | Johnny Sauter | Greg Biffle |
| 7 | Trevor Bayne | Sam Hornish Jr. |
| 8 | Aric Almirola | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. |
| 9 | Brad Keselowski | Ryan Blaney |
| 10 | Joey Logano | Michael Waltrip |
| 11 | J.J. Yeley | Bobby Labonte |
| 12 | Paul Menard | Alex Bowman |
| 13 | A.J. Allmendinger | Ryan Newman |
| 14 | Kevin Harvick | Kurt Busch |
| 15 | Tony Stewart | Danica Patrick |
| 16 | Casey Mears | Brian Scott |
| 17 | Michael Annett | Justin Allgaier |
| 18 | Kyle Larson | David Gilliland |
| 19 | Michael McDowell | Jeb Burton |
| 20 | Clint Bowyer | Reed Sorenson |
| 21 | Justin Marks | David Ragan |
| 22 | Cole Whitt | Josh Wise |
| 23 | Landon Cassill | Mike Wallace |
| 24 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | Dale Earnhardt Jr.* |
| 25 | Denny Hamlin* |
2015 Budweiser Duels Information
Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida
When: Thursday, Feb. 19
Start Time: The first Duel begins at 7 p.m. ET, the second at approximately 8:30 p.m. ET.
TV: Fox Sports 1
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go
Radio: Motor Racing Network
Duels Breakdown
Coming off a controversial qualifying round, several drivers have something to prove during the Duels. One wreck occurred, essentially ending any chances for Reed Sorenson to make the field. The 29-year-old driver doesn't have a backup car, which might keep him out of the Duels.
Also involved in that wreck was Clint Bowyer, who will now have to go to a second backup car after wrecking during the Sprint Unlimited and qualifying. Bowyer and Sorenson also collected Denny Hamlin and Bobby Labonte, with Labonte missing the second round of qualifying.
One driver who wasn't involved in the carnage was probably the most ticked off about the event. Despite not having a microphone in his face after qualifying, Tony Stewart voiced his frustrations on Twitter:
Gordon taking the pole with Johnson second helped take some of the tension off, as Jeff Owens of Sporting News notes:
Now, the NASCAR circuit gets to go back to something slightly more familiar.
The Budweiser Duels have been run since 1959, with the miles run now set at 150 per race since 2005. With Gordon and Johnson having their placement set in the Daytona 500, there's no reason to go all-out for the win on Thursday night.
That leaves an intriguing event with at least 24 cars on the track in each race. However, a post-race penalty for Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. puts them at the back of the pack. Junior shared his thoughts on Twitter:
Earnhardt has won three Duels while Hamlin has taken two himself—winning one last season. If any drivers know how to get to the front of the pack in a pressure-filled situation, it's this duo.
The always-entertaining pair of races will finally set the field for this Sunday's race. With the week starting off so controversially, expect the Duels to finally put NASCAR fans at ease. It's back to actual racing, folks, and that's all anyone has wanted all winter.
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