The qualifying format for NASCAR’s Super Bowl is just a little bit different than their regular group qualifying format. The drivers split the field into two qualifying races to determine the starting line-up for the Great American Race. These took place on Thursday Night.
Budweiser Duel #1
The fan favorite in Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the W in the Duel, but the real story was the amount of young drivers that needed to, and did, race their way into the 500.
Most notably was Landon Cassill, the Hillman Smith Motorsports driver drove his way to a ninth place finish. He was the highest placed of the lower profiled drivers.
So proud to represent the state of Iowa in the #Daytona500. I got my start @HawkeyeDowns. @jeremiahdavis10 from CR is here covering the week
— landon cassill (@landoncassill) February 20, 2015
Cole Whitt snuck into the top ten as well, followed by McDowell, Yeley, and Annett. The last transfer spot went to Ty Dillon.
Budweiser Duel #2
Hendrick Motorsports completed the Budweiser Duels sweep as Jimmie Johnson was the first to cross the finish line on Thursday Night. Johnson has a #48 Chevy that worked on both the inside and out, especially out front.
The second duel also featured a third Danica Patrick crash of the 2015 Speedweeks. Not mentioning, it was the second caused by Denny Hamlin. Patrick and Hamlin had an altercation following the duels.
Patrick praised her team for standing up for her,
Glad tonight is over.Couldn’t of done it without @KurtBusch help!@TonyStewart came over after & stuck up for me! Also, got help from my bae!
— Danica Patrick (@DanicaPatrick) February 20, 2015
while Hamlin defends himself
Folks I watched it back and was in the drivers seat so I know.. I did NOT hit her. BUT I was close, too close obviously.
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) February 20, 2015
We’ve certainly seen a lot of action leading up to this year’s Daytona 500, and it looks as though it will be another entertaining show.
| Daytona 500 Starting Lineup | |||
| Pos | Car No. | Driver | |
| 1 | 24 | Jeff Gordon | |
| 2 | 48 | Jimmie Johnson | |
| 3 | 88 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | |
| 4 | 18 | Kyle Busch | |
| 5 | 22 | Joey Logano | |
| 6 | 19 | Carl Edwards | |
| 7 | 14 | Tony Stewart | |
| 8 | 16 | Greg Biffle | |
| 9 | 15 | Clint Bowyer | |
| 10 | 78 | Martin Truex | |
| 11 | 4 | Kevin Harvick | |
| 12 | 44 | Reed Sorenson | |
| 13 | 5 | Kasey Kahne | |
| 14 | 21 | Ryan Blaney | |
| 15 | 1 | Jamie McMurray | |
| 16 | 51 | Justin Allgaier | |
| 17 | 40 | Landon Cassill | |
| 18 | 66 | Mike Wallace | |
| 19 | 35 | Cole Whitt | |
| 20 | 10 | Danica Patrick | |
| 21 | 27 | Paul Menard | |
| 22 | 31 | Ryan Newman | |
| 23 | 95 | Michael McDowell | |
| 24 | 41 | Kurt Busch | |
| 25 | 23 | JJ Yeley | |
| 26 | 38 | David Gilliland | |
| 27 | 46 | Michael Annett | |
| 28 | 34 | David Ragan | |
| 29 | 42 | Kyle Larson | |
| 30 | 3 | Austin Dillon | |
| 31 | 33 | Ty Dillon | |
| 32 | 17 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | |
| 33 | 43 | Aric Almirola | |
| 34 | 55 | Michael Waltrip | |
| 35 | 20 | Matt Kenseth | |
| 36 | 83 | Johnny Sauter | |
| 37 | 6 | Trevor Bayne | |
| 38 | 9 | Sam Hornish Jr. | |
| 39 | 2 | Brad Keselowski | |
| 40 | 47 | AJ Allmendinger | |
| 41 | 13 | Casey Mears | |
| 42 | 11 | Denny Hamlin | |
| 43 | 32 | Bobby Labonte | |
| Failed to Qualify | |||
| 44 | 7 | Alex Bowman | |
| 45 | 62 | Brian Scott | |
| 46 | 26 | Jeb Burton | |
| 47 | 29 | Justin Marks | |
| 48 | 98 | Josh Wise | |
| 49 | 30 | Ron Hornaday Jr. | |
| Note: Ryan Newman (Engine) and Trevor Bayne (Backup Car) will drop to the back of the field to start the race | |||
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