Alex Bowman and Denny Hamlin knew entering Thursday’s Can-Am Duel races knowing they were going to be on the front row for Sunday’s upcoming Daytona 500.
The rest of the field entered the duels knowing their finish in these 150 mile races would affect their starting spot in Sunday’s running of the 60th Daytona 500.
Just 40 cars were entered into the Daytona 500 meaning that all those who arrived in Daytona Beach this weekend were assured of starting The Great American Race at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.
Winners: Blaney wins Duel 1, Elliott wins Duel 2
In past years the duels had determined which drivers would even make the Daytona 500 but as NASCAR has introduced charters and the financial situation around sponsorship continues to take shape, there rarely is more cars entered into a race than spots in the field.
Ryan Blaney claimed the first Can-Am Duel of Thursday while it was Chase Elliott winning the second.
Daytona 500 Starting Lineup
- Alex Bowman
- Denny Hamlin
- Ryan Blaney
- Chase Elliott
- Joey Logano
- Kevin Harvick
- Bubba Wallace
- Erik Jones
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- Clint Bowyer
- Kurt Busch
- Kyle Busch
- Ryan Newman
- Austin Dillon
- David Ragan
- Paul Menard
- Daniel Suarez
- Trevor Bayne
- Jamie McMurray
- AJ Allmendinger
- Chris Buescher
- Michael McDowell
- Ty Dillon
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Brendan Gaughan
- Kasey Kahne
- Jeffrey Earnhardt
- Danica Patrick
- Justin Marks
- DJ Kennington
- Brad Keselowski
- Corie Lajoie
- David Gilliland
- Gray Gaulding
- William Byron
- Mark Thompson
- Jimmie Johnson
- Matt DiBenedetto
- Aric Almirola
- Kyle Larson
*unofficial