Huh? Whatttt? What are you guys talking about missing a race?
Aren't Jr and Danica locked in by points? Arent you good for the first 6 races of the year on points via last year's standings?
So, by that same logic, Gordon, Jimmie, Brad etc could have missed the 500?
Confused.
TL;DR: It's not happening.
* The two fastest qualifiers during Coors Light Pole Qualifying earn starting positions one and two.
* The highest 15 finishers in each Duel race -- excluding the already locked-in front row -- will earn a spot in the Daytona 500, and fill positions 3-32.
* Based on their finishing position in the first Duel race, the top 15 will line up on the inside row (odd-number starting positions).
* Based on their finishing position in the second Duel race, the top 15 will line up on the outside row (even-number starting positions).
* Positions 33-36 will go to the four fastest cars from any round of Coors Light Pole Qualifying that have not already earned a spot.
* Positions 37-42 will be provisional positions, and go to the highest six cars in 2014 owner points that are present, have entered by the entry deadline and have not already qualified via the Duel or Coors Light Pole Qualifying.
* The 43rd starting position will be assigned to any car owner who has the most recent eligible past NASCAR Sprint Cup champion who did not make the field by any other method, providing the driver had competed in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. If the 43rd position remains unused, it will be assigned to the next highest car in 2014 owner points not already locked into the field.
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Thirteen drivers are locked into the Daytona 500: #24-Gordon (pole), #48-Johnson (outside pole), #43-Almirola (speed, any round 202.340), #17-Stenhouse Jr. (speed), #19-Edwards (speed), #1-McMurray (speed), #4-Harvick (2014 owners points, 1st), #31-Newman (points, 2nd), #11-Hamlin (points, 3rd), #22-Logano (points, 4th), #2-Keselowski (points, 5th), #20-Kenseth (points 7th) and #14-Stewart (champions provisional).
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For Earnhardt Jr. to miss the race:
First, he needs to finish outside the transfer spots (top 15) of his qualifying race.
Then, all six of Harvick, Newman, Hamlin, Logano, Keselowski and Kenseth need to finish outside the transfer spots in their qualifying race, as well as four of the seven remaining drivers that put up a faster speed in qualifying. Finally, one of the former series champions not yet locked in would have to also not finish in a transfer spot.
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For Danica to miss the race:
Obviously, it would start with her finishing outside the transfer spots in her Duel race.
Patrick was 32nd-fastest in last Sunday’s qualifying; only four of the drivers in front of her would need to fall back on their speed for Danica to not have one of those spots available.
At least six drivers among the 27 ahead of her in owner points would then also need to have to revert to their points, not including the four who would qualify on speed.
Of course this means back of the pack....
