On Wednesday night, Kyle Busch surged to the forefront of the speed charts while driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, clinching the pole position for the upcoming Daytona 500. He is set to start alongside Chase Briscoe, who pilots the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, positioning these two competitors as the top qualifiers for their respective Duel races.
In the first Duel, Busch will be joined on the front row by Ryan Preece, while the second Duel will feature Briscoe alongside his teammate Denny Hamlin, both representing JGR.
The 45-car field will be evenly divided between the two races, with a potential of ten points on the line for the top-ten finishers, mirroring the stage points awarded in a typical NASCAR event.
As the competition heats up for a spot in the Daytona 500, Corey Heim and Justin Allgaier have secured two of the available four positions based on their qualifying speeds. However, two slots remain open, and the highest-placing open driver who hasn’t yet qualified from each Duel race will earn one of those prized entries.
In the first Duel, Corey LaJoie, an open driver, will go head-to-head against Casey Mears and Chandler Smith in a crucial contest. Meanwhile, Duel #2 will showcase Anthony Alfredo, BJ McLeod, and JJ Yeley battling for their chances.
Starting Lineups for Duel #1 and Duel #2
- Duel #1:Kyle Busch, Ryan Preece
- Duel #2:Chase Briscoe, Denny Hamlin
*Denotes open driver not yet secured a spot
