DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The field for Sunday's Daytona 500 is all set after the Bluegreen Vacation Duel races on Thursday night.
What You Need To Know
- Logano, Almirola take duels races at Daytona on Thursday night
- The victories put them in the Nos. 3 and 4 starting spots for the Daytona 500
- Former series champ Jimmie Johnson, who is retired, will start in the No. 39 spot
- Racing continues Friday with the truck series event
The money question every year for the Duels is whether it's a novelty or it's necessary. It's a no-brainer, depending upon whom you ask.
"Hell, yeah. I like winning races," said Joey Logano, who won the first 150-mile race of the night. The victory puts him in the No. 3 spot, inside in the second row, for the start of the 65th Great American Race. "That's what we're here for. Tonight is 10 points (toward the NASCAR Cup Series championship). You definitely want to collect the points when you can.
"Overall, had a really good race car tonight, really good team. The strategy worked out really well."
Logano, who won the Daytona 500 in 2015, led 25 of the 60 caution-free laps.
In the second duels race, Aric Almirola was the winner and will be the other car on the second row for the start Sunday.
This could be a favorite first-four start of Almirola, a Tampa native and former UCF Knight racing at his home track.
Almirola had temporarily walked away from the sport but is back this year. To win a race during Speedweeks in any circumstance matters.
He led only 17 laps but took the lead for good with two laps to go.
“Winning at Daytona against the best stock car drivers in the world is very hard," Almirola said. "To do that here tonight in the duels makes me proud, makes me feel accomplished.”
Both winners drive Fords.
Racing action continues Friday night with the 250-mile truck series race.
The following is the Daytona 500 starting position after Thursday's Duels.
- Alex Bowman
- Kyle Larson
- Joey Logano
- Aric Almirola
- Christopher Bell
- Austin Cindric
- Ryan Blaney
- Chase Elliott
- Chris Buescher
- Brad Keselowski
- Michael McDowell
- Corey LaJoie
- Kevin Harvick
- Todd Gilliland
- Bubba Wallace
- Martin Truex Jr.
- Zane Smith
- Denny Hamlin
- Harrison Burton
- Ryan Preece
- William Byron
- Noah Gragson (R)
- Ross Chastain
- Daniel Suarez
- Erik Jones
- Tyler Reddick
- Austin Dillon
- Justin Haley
- A.J. Allmendinger
- Chase Briscoe
- Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
- B.J. McLeod
- Ty Gibbs (R)
- Conor Daly
- Cody Ware
- Kyle Busch
- Ty Dillon
- Riley Herbst
- Jimmie Johnson
- Travis Pastrana
Failed to Qualify: Austin Hill, Chandler Smith