NASCAR Duels 2019: TV Schedule, Live-Stream Info and Predictions
Before Sunday's Daytona 500, NASCAR fans will have another opportunity to watch some exciting competitive action featuring Monster Energy Cup Series drivers. The Gander RV Duels at Daytona take place on Thursday night, as the qualifying races will decide the starting order for the Great American Race.
William Byron won his first career Busch Pole Award during qualifying this past Sunday, and Alex Bowman, last year's pole winner for the Daytona 500, posted the second-fastest lap time.
That pair of Hendrick Motorsports teammates has locked in their starting spots for the Great American Race and will just be looking to earn extra championship points during Thursday night's duel races.
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For the rest of the field, the duel races are vital, and drivers will need a strong showing to secure a starting spot near the front of the pack for the Daytona 500.
Each race will be 150 miles (60 laps), and championship points will be awarded to the top 10 finishers of both, with the winner receiving 10 points, the second-place finisher earning nine, etc.
2019 Gander RV Duels at Daytona Information
Date: Thursday, Feb. 14
Duel 1 Start Time: 7 p.m. ET
Duel 2 Start Time: 8:45 p.m. ET
TV Info: Fox Sports 1
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go or fuboTV
Preview
Byron will lead the first field of 21 cars to the green flag in the opening duel race on Thursday night, and he'll be on the front row beside one of his Hendrick Motorsports teammates—seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.
The first duel race will feature the odd-numbered qualifiers and determine the starting order for the inside row for the Daytona 500.
Johnson isn't the only former Cup Series champion competing in the first duel race. Martin Truex Jr. (starting fourth, 2017 champion), Brad Keselowski (fifth, 2012), Kyle Busch (seventh, 2015) and Kevin Harvick (eighth, 2014) will also be in the field.
Former Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman is also racing in the first duel, starting 13th.
Johnson is already off to a strong start during Daytona Speedweeks. After posting the third-fastest lap time in the final round of qualifying, he went on to win the rain-shortened Advance Auto Parts Clash later in the day on Sunday.
The second duel race, which will feature the even-numbered qualifiers and determine the outside row starting order, will also have an all-Hendrick Motorsports front row, as Bowman and Chase Elliott will lead the field to the green flag. Close behind that duo will be reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano (starting third) and last year's Daytona 500 winner, Austin Dillon (fifth).
Former Cup Series champion Kurt Busch (starting 10th, 2004 champion) and former Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray (14th) will also be in the second duel race.
Predictions
In the first duel race, Johnson will continue his strong start to the 2019 season with a victory, earning the No. 3 starting spot for Sunday's Great American Race. The driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet has had past success at Daytona, winning the Daytona 500 in 2006 and 2013.
Johnson should use this performance to have another strong showing in the Great American Race, as he'll start at the front of the field behind Hendrick teammates Byron and Bowman.
In the second duel race, it will be the reigning Cup Series champion, Logano, who carries over momentum from last season to earn the No. 4 starting spot for the Daytona 500.
Logano, who won the Great American Race in 2015, will stay near the front of the field throughout the second duel race to secure the victory.
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