Daytona 500 2012: Bud Shootout or Gatorade Duel, What Is Preferable?

Although the Daytona 500 is typically considered the first event of the NASCAR season, it is actually the third event on the schedule. It is the first race that actually counts for points, but its precursors provide unique excitement to get the race juices flowing.

Of these two spectacles prior to the Great American Race, it is difficult to determine which is the better race.

At first glance, it seems that the Gatorade Duel would have the edge due to its nature as a qualifying event for the Daytona 500. But, with the state super speedway racing as it stands today, a qualification spot means almost nothing at a track like Daytona. Thus, the Gatorade Duel is not really as important, in real terms, as it may have been in the past.

The Bud Shootout will feature a maximum of 33 cars, including all of the Chase participants from 2011. It has the feel of the All-Star race held in Charlotte during the middle of the season.

At a mere 75 laps, the Shootout can feature some very exciting racing and force drivers to take risks at a point where, in a regular Sprint Cup event, they would never dare. It should also be mentioned that winning the Shootout carries a hefty purse. Financial incentive can make some drivers do insane things at break-neck speeds.

On the other hand, the Gatorade Duel is, for the most part, the de facto qualifying event for the Daytona 500. Drivers still attempt to qualify by running laps by themselves, but only the top two finishes actually mean anything. The rest is determined by the Duel, sponsored by Gatorade.

It is actually composed of two races: Every driver enters one or the other for a single 150-mile sprint. Depending on which race the driver participates in, he or she will eventually fill an even or an odd spot in the eventual lineup of the Daytona 500.

The first race formulates the odd positions, whereas the second race fills the even spots. Pretty cool, right? In other words, the winner of the first race starts in third position, the winner of the second race starts in fourth and so on...

Both races are truly unique and provide a fun look at popular drivers placed in unfamiliar situations.

It is hard to say which is truly better. Both races have positive qualities that make for great, live entertainment.

Do you prefer watching less cars driving less laps for a big cash incentive, or do you prefer seeing the field of the Daytona 500 formulate before your eyes? Please comment and/or participate in the pole provided. The author is quite curious as to the results from B/R nation.