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What You Need To Know Today (02/13): Info for Tonight’s Duel Races

February 12, 2020
Summer Bedgood
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Daytona 500 qualifying races to take place Thursday night

  • While the front row of the starting lineup for this Sunday’s Daytona 500 has already been set (with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the pole and Alex Bowman alongside), the remaining positions will be determined in the Duel races on Thursday (02/13) night at Daytona International Speedway
  • The Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 will take place at 7PM ET
  • The Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 will take place at approximately 8:45PM ET
  • Both races will be broadcast on FS1 and MRN
  • Each duel is 150 miles and 60 laps
  • The starting lineups for each Duel were determined during single-car qualifying last week; drivers who qualified in odd-numbered positions will participate in Duel 1 and even-numbered spots will race in Duel 2
  • The finishing positions of Duel 1 will determine the starting positions of the inside row for the Daytona 500, while Duel 2 will determine the outside row
  • The Duel races are treated like stages for the Daytona 500, so the top 10 finishers will accrue points before the green flag ever flies in the main event
  • All chartered teams were guaranteed a spot in the race, leaving four “open” slots
  • The seven “open” drivers competing for a spot in the race were Daniel Suarez, Reed Sorenson, Justin Haley, Chad Finchum, JJ Yeley, Brendan Gaughan, and Timmy Hill; however, Gaughan and Haley were able to lock themselves in during single-car qualifying
  • The two best open teams (one from each race) will be locked into the race, with the remaining two spots being determined by single-car qualifying results

 

Additional Info: Starting lineups for each Duel … More info on the format … Coverage from Tennessean.com 

 

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Info for Sunday’s Daytona 500

  • The NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 will take place on Sunday, February 16 at 2:30PM ET
  • Coverage can be found on FOX and MRN
  • The race is 200 laps
  • Stage 1 ends on lap 65; Stage 2 ends on lap 130
  • Teams will be using the same rules package that was in place for the July Daytona race and both Talladega races last season
  • Teams will be allowed a total of eight sets of tires for the race, including one that has been transferred from practice or qualifying
  • Denny Hamlin is the defending Daytona 500 champion, earning his second career victory in the prestigious race last February

Additional Info: NASCAR.com race info page … Daytona International Speedway At-Track Schedule … Daytona 500 Wikipedia

 

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President Donald Trump expected to attend Daytona 500

 

  • Though not officially confirmed by the White House, US President Donald Trump is expected to attend the Daytona 500 this Sunday
  • The Federal Aviation Administration has issued an airspace restriction around Daytona International Speedway and the U.S. Secret Service sent out a tweet indicating there would be a 30-mile “no drone zone” around the track, which all points to the president being in the area
  • Additionally, a spokesperson with Daytona Beach International Airport confirmed to Kickin’ The Tires that Air Force One will land at the airport Sunday
  • The president is scheduled to stay at his home in Palm Beach, Florida over the President’s Day weekend
  • There is also the possibility that first lady Melania Trump and Vice President Mike Pence may accompany Trump
  • President Trump has hosted Martin Truex Jr. and Joey Logano at the White House in recent years to honor them for their respective championships, as well as team owner Roger Penske for what he has accomplished in motorsports and business

 

Additional Info: Full story from kickinthetires.net/'s Matt Courson … Coverage from FoxNews.com … Coverage from news-journalonline.com … 

 

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Additional motorsports news:

 

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