[DoctorTDent]

and how they can get in.

Drivers who are not yet assured of a spot in the 500 and how they can get in:
Who Could Get In Via Duels/
Qualifying Time
#60-Boris Said: Fastest of non-qualifiers, but could make the 500 one of two ways -- if he finishes first or second among the go-or-go-home drivers, or if #55-Michael Waltrip, #78-Joe Nemechek or #00-David Reutimann finish top-2 among the drivers not in on owners' points.
#10-Patrick Carpentier: Second-fastet of non-qualifiers, but could make the 500 one of two ways -- if he finishes first or second among the go-or-go-home drivers or if Waltrip, Nemechek, Reutimann or Said finish top-2 among the drivers not in on owenrs points.
#83-Brian Vickers: Third-fastert non-qualifier, but could make the 500 one of two ways -- if he finishes among the top-2 among the go-or-go-home drivers, or if Waltrip, Nemechek, Reutimann, Said or Carpentier finish top-2 among the drivers not in on owners points.
#27-Jacques Villeneuve: Fourth-fastest non-qualifiers, but could make the 500 one of two ways -- if he finishes among the top-2 among the go-or-go-home drivers, or if Nemechek, Reutimann, Said and Carpentier finish top-2 among the drivers not in on owners points.
Past Champions
#21-Bill Elliott: The 1988 champion must place top-2 among the go or go-homers in his duel or hope both #2-Kurt Busch and #44-Dale Jarrett finish top-2 in their Duels.
#44-Dale Jarrett: must finish top-2 among the go or go-homers, unless Busch manages to do that. Then Jarrett would earn the past champion's provisional because his 1999 championship is more recent than Elliott's 1988 title.
Who Must Race Their Way In: #50-Stanton Barrett; #49-Ken Schrader; #08-Carl Long; #37-Eric McClure; #09-Sterling Marlin; #84-AJ Allmendinger; #87-Kenny Wallace; #34-John Andretti.(Daytona Neach News Journal),

[rozettasmolanov]

Why would Boris Said's ability to make the 500 be partially contingent upon Michael Waltrip? Isn't the front row already set and those drivers not have to compete in the Twin 125s?

[nerrttrw]

nope everyone races in the 125's no matter what

[reaciciomarep]

Why would Boris Said's ability to make the 500 be partially contingent upon Michael Waltrip? Isn't the front row already set and those drivers not have to compete in the Twin 125s?

It's set but they still compete in the qualifying races.

Can you imagine how pissed their sponsors would be if they ran a few laps and then pulled into the garage?

[Scfdglkn]

The only things I need are

For DJ to finish far enough up front so that he makes the race
or
For Kurt Bush to finish far enough up front so that he makes the race and DJ then gets the champions provisional.
It would be a damn shame for a 3 time winner and former champion to miss the Daytona 500 in his last try.

[exiceJetLip]

The only things I need are

For DJ to finish far enough up front so that he makes the race
or
For Kurt Bush to finish far enough up front so that he makes the race and DJ then gets the champions provisional.
It would be a damn shame for a 3 time winner and former champion to miss the Daytona 500 in his last try.

Busch runs in the first duel race. DJ runs in the 2nd race but has to go to the back because of an engine change.

Others dropping to the back because of engine changes:
TO THE BACK: SPEED reports eleven teams have changed engines so their drivers will have to start to the ear of the field before the start of their Gatorade Duel 150 race, the 11 reported:
Duel #1: #48-Johnson [was to start 1st]; #5-Mears [3rd]; #88-Earnhardt Jr. [5th]; #84-Allmendinger [7th]; #66-Riggs [8th]; #07-Bowyer [21st]; #96-Yeley [26th]
Duel #2: #11-Hamlin [was to start 5th]; #24-Gordon [6th]; #20-Stewart [8th]; #44-Jarrett [14th]
Team are allowed to change engines between the Duels and the Daytona 500 and not have to fall to the rear of the field. These engine changes only effect the starting lineup for the Duels. And the drivers in line move up, so in the 1st Duel, all drivers with odd starting spots [1, 3, 5, etc] move up to the next sport. so #12-Newman will move up from 9th to the pole with #78-Nemechek on the outside pole.
http://www.jayski.com/cupnews.htm#race

[StizePypemype]

Kurt Busch blew up on lap 10, wtg ears. He'll get the champions provisional.

Now DJ has to do it on the track.

[Automobill]

Hows Jr doing?

[Brewpralgar]

Hows Jr doing?

5th right now, been leading.

[LeaderBiz]

5th right now, been leading.

Back in first, passed the high line pretty much by himself.

[DrunkMans]

Back in first, passed the high line pretty much by himself.

Cool.

[regfortruegoo]

Jr. wins.
Herman gets in the 500 along with Vickers.
Nemechek will get in on time.

[Fegasderty]

Almendinger when asked what he thought of just missing the 500.

"It pretty much sucks"

[HaseBeceDeemy]

Damnit!!! I missed the first one. Been working on preparing for a big interview on Monday for a job that will get me in great place professionally and financially, so I think I've got a pretty good excuse for missing the first one. Won't miss the second one.

Jr. was that strong again? Boy unless he blows up or something, he's gonna be very, very hard to beat on Sunday.

[jinnamys]

Race 2 underway. Reuttimann jumped the start so he had to go through the pits. I hope he catches back up so he can give DJ a push.

[fujitsusi]

DJ riding around the back again. Fuck it DJ, I'm sick of watching this shit for the last 5 years. It's never worked. If you can't do better than that just fucking go home.

[MinisuipGaicai]

Villeneuve just wrecked Franchitti and some other cars. McMurray and Barrett for sure.

[SkatrySkith]

Villeneuve just wrecked Franchitti and some other cars. McMurray and Barrett for sure.

Kind of looked like McMurray's spotter did him a very big disservice by failing to tell him there was a car right behind him when he backed off the throttle. Could have saved at least two cars.

Villeneuve, I think got caught in a sticky situation. He was backing out of a risky spot only to have the air taken off his spoiler, which got him all sorts of loose.

Feel bad for Stanton Barret as he looked to have a pretty good car, which might have gotten him into the show.

[gMUVgw71]

DJ riding around the back again. Fuck it DJ, I'm sick of watching this shit for the last 5 years. It's never worked. If you can't do better than that just fucking go home.

Who is Ned going to homer - er - root for if DJ does not get in?

[Frierlovene]

DJ going to the front with Mikie behind him., he's in right now.

I think my head's going to explode.