Daytona 500 2016 Qualifying Format, Group Rules, Schedule and More

As NASCAR and its fans prepare for the sport's biggest race on Feb. 21—the Daytona 500—"Speedweeks at Daytona" provides entertainment leading up to the week, including Sunday's qualifying event.

"The Great American Race" is like no other, and the qualifying format is no exception. Instead of determining the entire field, Sunday will only decide the front row. That will set the stage for the top two drivers and the rest of the field. The final positions will be known following Thursday's Can-Am duel.

Let's take a look at the rules, schedule and info for the race's qualifying events. 

Daytona 500 Qualifying Information

Where: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida

When: Feb. 14, 1:15 p.m. ET

TV: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go 

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Before drivers get to the Can-Am duel, they must go through qualifying to determine the front row. Each driver will complete two laps alone on the course, and the top two times will decide who starts the race on the front row.

Here's a promo from Fox Sports: NASCAR:

On Saturday night, many drivers must have been anxious yet confident about their chances, including Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Matthew DiBenedetto:

Once the front row is set, Thursday's Can-Am races determine the next 34 spots, as explained on the Daytona 500's official website:

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While Speedweeks culminates with the DAYTONA 500, these two 150-mile races highlight some of the most important racing at DAYTONA. With the front row of the DAYTONA 500 locked in, drivers compete in a sprint to the finish that determines the rest of the DAYTONA 500 starting grid.

Setting the stage for The Great American Race, the Can-Am Duel gives fans a first look at drivers ready to capture glory three days later. In fact, nine times a driver who won a race in the Can-Am Duel went on to win the Harley J. Earl DAYTONA 500 trophy.  

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The starting spots for the two Can-Am races will be based on Sunday's qualifying results. The final four positions in the 40-car Daytona 500 race will be "open" and filled as follows, per NASCAR.com: "The highest-finishing Open team in each Can-Am race will earn a starting spot in the 500. The two remaining Open positions will be determined based on Coors Light Pole qualifying, if a team is not already a top finisher in one of the Duels."

It's not a cut-and-dried process like other races, but it certainly provides entertainment for fans leading up to the race, per former NASCAR champion and 2015 Daytona pole winner Jeff Gordon:

It will be an odd year with Gordon not on the track for the first time since 1992, but there are still plenty of top drivers to keep your eyes on as the season begins, including 2015 Sprint Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch and Daytona 500 defending champion Joey Logano.

No matter who finishes in the front row, NASCAR has done a good job of providing entertainment for the fans leading up to one of the most exciting events the sport has to offer.