History happens at Daytona Qualifying

(via autoweek.com)

On Sunday afternoon, Danica Patrick made NASCAR history, not only for being the first woman to claim the pole position in NASCAR's top circuit, but claim the pole position at NASCAR's version of the Super Bowl, the Daytona 500.

(via wikipedia.org/budweiser_duel)

She and Jeff Gordon will be on the front row when the Daytona 500 begins. But, what's interesting is that Daytona's version of qualifying is totally different compared to qualifying at any other race. Daytona is different in that when they "qualify" the drivers are really just trying to grab the top 2 positions. The rest of the positions are figured out by the finish a driver has at the  two smaller races that Daytona has called the Budweiser Duels.

These duels are held on Thursday and the order of the drivers starting positions of the Duels are determined by how the drivers qualified on Sunday. In the first race, all of the drivers who qualified in an odd number will be in Duel 1. For example, Dale Earnhardt Jr qualified 11th on Sunday and will start 6th in Duel 1. All while, those who qualified with an even number will be in Duel 2. Such as Kasey Kahne who qualified 6th on Sunday will start 3rd in Duel 2.

It will be interesting Thursday to see who will race their way into a better starting spot or not, and who will just be driving to see what their equipment can do with other cars actually on the track with them.

Although on Sunday, when it all counts, who will it be? Will Earnhardt Jr continue to show that he's a contender at Daytona? Will Gordon be able to use his front row position to win his fourth Daytona 500? Will Jimmie Johnson be able to bring home a second 500 trophy?  Or will Kahne show in his second year under the Hendrick stable that he can win the big one?

Or yet, could it be someone not on Hendrick's team. Either way, it going to be a good one, all the way to the last lap.

(via tireball.com)