The Duel at Daytona facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Duel at Daytona

NASCAR Cup Series
Venue	Daytona International Speedway
Location	Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
First race	1959
Distance	150 miles (241.401 km)
Laps	60
Previous names	100 Mile Qualifying Races (1959–1967) 125 Mile Qualifying Races (1969–1980) UNO Twin 125 Qualifiers (1981–1984) 7-Eleven Twin 125's (1985–1987) Twin 125 Qualifiers (1988–1990) Gatorade Twin 125 Qualifiers (1991–1993) Gatorade Twin 125's (1994–1996) Gatorade 125's (1997–2004) Gatorade Duel (2005–2012) Budweiser Duel (2013–2015) Can-Am Duel (2016–2018) Gander RV Duel (2019) Bluegreen Vacations Duel (2020–2024)
Most wins (driver)	Dale Earnhardt (12)
Most wins (team)	Hendrick Motorsports Richard Childress Racing (16)
Most wins (manufacturer)	Chevrolet (53)
Circuit information
Surface	Asphalt
Length	2.5 mi (4.0 km)
Turns	4

The Duel at Daytona, once known as the Twin 125s, is an important NASCAR Cup Series event. It happens every February at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. This event is made up of two races, each about 150 miles (241 km) long. These races are super important because they help decide where drivers will start in the famous Daytona 500 race. The order in which drivers finish in these two races sets most of the starting spots for the Daytona 500.

Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is a bit special in NASCAR. Only the very first two starting spots (called the pole and "outside pole") are decided by a regular timed qualifying session. For all other drivers, their qualifying time only decides which of the two Duel races they will be in. Cars that qualify in odd-numbered spots go into the first Duel, and even-numbered spots go into the second. After the Duels, the top 15 finishers from each race (not including the first two qualifiers) get the next 30 spots in the Daytona 500. Then, a few more spots are given to the fastest drivers who didn't qualify through the Duels, and to teams based on their performance from the previous season.

History of the Race

The Duel at Daytona started way back in 1959. Back then, they were two shorter races, each 100 miles (160 km) long. From 1959 to 1971, these races even counted for championship points!

In 1968, the races were supposed to be 125 miles (201 km) long, but they were canceled because of rain. So, the starting order for the Daytona 500 that year was just based on timed laps. In 1969, the races officially became 125 miles long. Making them longer meant drivers usually had to make a pit stop, which added more excitement.

In 1972, NASCAR changed its rules, and races needed to be at least 250 miles (402 km) to count for points. So, the Daytona qualifying races became non-points events. Over the years, different TV channels like ABC and CBS showed highlights or tape-delayed versions of the races.

Around 1988, new rules about "restrictor plates" were introduced. These plates made cars go slower and use less fuel. This meant drivers could sometimes finish the race without needing a pit stop. But in 2003, rules changed again, requiring smaller fuel tanks, which forced pit stops once more.

Starting in 2001, the races were shown live on TV, which was a big deal! In 2005, the races were made even longer, to 150 miles (241 km), and got a new name: the Gatorade Duel. In 2006, one of the races even finished at night because of a rain delay.

In 2013, the races got a new sponsor, Budweiser. A big change happened in 2014 when the qualifying races were moved to Thursday night and held under bright stadium lights. From 2016 to 2018, they were called the Can-Am Duel.

A major update came in 2017: the Duels started awarding championship points again! The top ten drivers in each Duel now earn points, with the winner getting 10 points.

How Drivers Qualify

The qualifying process for the Daytona 500 is very important. Here's how it works:

• Busch Pole Qualifying: This is held the week of the Daytona 500, usually on Wednesday. Drivers try to set the fastest lap times. The fastest driver gets the "pole position" for the Daytona 500, and the second fastest gets the "outside pole." These two drivers are guaranteed their starting spots in the big race.
• Duel Race Starting Spots: The pole winner starts first in the first Duel race, and the outside pole winner starts first in the second Duel race.
• Splitting the Field: Drivers who qualified in odd-numbered spots (after the top two) race in the first Duel. Drivers who qualified in even-numbered spots race in the second Duel. This helps fill up the starting grid for each Duel race.
• After the Duels: The finishing order in the two Duel races helps set most of the remaining starting spots for the Daytona 500. Drivers from the first Duel fill the inside lane of the starting grid, and drivers from the second Duel fill the outside lane.

Old Qualifying Rules (Before 2016)

In the past, the rules for qualifying were a bit different. The top 15 finishers in each Duel race (not counting the two fastest qualifiers) would get spots in the Daytona 500. After that, the four fastest drivers who hadn't qualified yet, based on their original qualifying speeds, would get spots. The very last spots were given to teams based on their points from the previous season. There was even a special spot for a former NASCAR Cup champion if they needed it.

Current Qualifying Rules (Since 2016)

Today, NASCAR uses a "charter system." This means some teams (called "chartered teams") are guaranteed a spot in every race.

• All drivers from chartered teams who finish the Duels (except the two front-row qualifiers) get a spot in the Daytona 500. The first Duel sets the inside row, and the second Duel sets the outside row.
• For "open" entries (teams without a charter), the highest-placed driver in each Duel race gets a spot. This means two "open" cars qualify this way.
• The two fastest "open" drivers from the original qualifying session who haven't already made it in also get spots. This ensures four "open" cars make it into the 40-car Daytona 500 field.

For the 2025 Daytona 500, there's a new rule for a special "Open Exemption Provisional" (OEP) entry. If an OEP driver doesn't qualify through speed or the Duels, they can still get a spot as the 41st car. However, if they do qualify normally, no extra car is added. Starting in 2026, if an OEP driver qualifies normally, the second and third fastest "open" cars from their Duel will also qualify, making sure there are 41 cars in the race.

Past Winners

Important Race Notes

• 1961: The first race was cut short because of a crash.
• 1974: Both races were shortened due to an energy crisis.
• 2006: Both races went longer than planned due to a "green-white-checker finish" rule.
• 2007, 2011 and 2018: The first race was extended because of "NASCAR overtime."
• 2008, 2015 and 2021: The second race was extended because of "NASCAR overtime."
• 2017: This was the first time since 1972 that the Duels awarded championship points.
• 2021: The second race was delayed for three hours due to rain and finished very early in the morning.
• 2025: Erik Jones crossed the finish line first in the second Duel, but a very late caution flag meant Austin Cindric was declared the winner because he was leading when the caution happened.

Drivers with Many Wins

Teams with Many Wins

Car Brands with Many Wins