Fords Start Up Front As Duals Are Set
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As we have now Clashed in California, it’s time to rub some paint in the ‘Great American Race’ from Daytona International Speedway. In the 66th running of the race, we started the week, on Wednesday, with single-car qualifying split into two rounds. As the standards of this style, round two comprises the top 10 fastest cars as they run a second lap to determine the starting row for the Daytona 500 field. We will analyze what the Duels are, look at a night of firsts, and who is where in the Bluegreen Vacations Duals to be run on Thursday night.
What Are The ‘Duals’?
The Duals as it is named in NASCAR, assist in determining the starting field for the race. After qualifying, we will have two 60-lap races between the drivers entered in the race. The lineup for race number one is determined by the odd-numbered fishers from the above-mentioned qualifying.
The second race lineup was determined by the even-numbered finishers. The top two qualifiers will still run in these races as a way to test their cars with other competitors for drafting, friendship, and more. Let us take a look at who will lead the field to the starting line on Sunday.
A Night Of Firsts
Joey Logano has run 543 races in his 16-year career. In all of these races, Logano has never achieved the pole position. Joey, and his Ford Mustang, would run a 181.947 for the top spot. Logano, who has spent his entire Team Penske, has won 32 races in his career and sits in elite company as one of four drivers with 25 or more wins before the age of 30. In addition, Logano, Richard Petty, Jeff Goron, and Kyle Busch have all accomplished this win mark. Logano would have this to say after winning the pole. “This is all about the team. I’d like to take credit, but I can’t. Superspeedway qualifying is 100 percent the car,” said Logano, who won the first Daytona 500 pole for Team Penske. “Finally, someone else wins the pole.”
Micheal McDowell was the story of the qualifying rounds! McDowell has run 465 races in his career and he accomplished a first tonight as his 181.686 put his Ford Mustang on the front row which is ironic as he also drives for Front Row Motorsports. McDowell had a car that caught the eye of all at the track tonight. With this, McDowell and Logano would accomplish career firsts with Logano’s first pole win and McDowell’s first front row.
These two would stall a run of pole winners from Hendrick Motorsports whose cars had won the last eight pole positions. Furthermore, these two have both won the race as Logano would take the checkered flag in 2015. McDowell would win a more recent race he would capture the win in 2021.
Who Are In Duals?
Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 1 lineup
* denotes Open, non-Charter team
STARTING POSITION CAR NO. DRIVER
1 22 Joey Logano
2 5 Kyle Larson
3 9 Chase Elliott
4 3 Austin Dillon
5 1 Ross Chastain
6 38 Todd Gilliland
7 41 Ryan Preece
8 17 Chris Buescher
9 48 Alex Bowman
10 99 Daniel Suárez
11 62 Anthony Alfredo*
12 43 Erik Jones
13 31 Daniel Hemric
14 19 Martin Truex Jr.
15 54 Ty Gibbs
16 47 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
17 7 Corey LaJoie
18 84 Jimmie Johnson*
19 45 Tyler Reddick
20 77 Carson Hocevar
21 44 JJ Yeley*
Bluegreen Vacations Duel No. 2 lineup
* denotes Open, non-Charter team
STARTING POSITION CAR NO. DRIVER
1 34 Michael McDowell
2 2 Austin Cindric
3 24 William Byron
4 8 Kyle Busch
5 21 Harrison Burton
6 15 Riley Herbst
7 14 Chase Briscoe
8 10 Noah Gragson
9 12 Ryan Blaney
10 16 AJ Allmendinger
11 4 Josh Berry
12 6 Brad Keselowski
13 60 David Ragan*
14 23 Bubba Wallace
15 51 Justin Haley
16 20 Christopher Bell
17 11 Denny Hamlin
18 71 Zane Smith
19 42 John H. Nemechek
20 78 BJ McLeod*
21 36 Kaz Grala*
The Duals are always an event to get the fans ready for racing and based on these lineups this year will be no exception. Who will win? Who will race their way into the Daytona 500 field? We will find out soon!
