Daytona Duels: Your Official Starting Lineup Is Set For 7:00 P.M.

There’s a familiar buzz that settles over Daytona International Speedway every February, the kind that comes when teams, drivers, and fans all know the season is finally about to begin. We aren’t just looking at a qualifying list today. We are looking at the chessboard for Thursday night’s Duels, where the final pieces of the Great American Race will fall into place.

Wednesday night under the lights gave us our first taste of speed, and for Richard Childress Racing, it was sweet indeed. Kyle Busch, piloting that No. 8 Chevrolet, didn’t just post a fast time; he made a statement. He rocketed to the top of the charts, locking in the pole position for the Daytona 500. Beside him on the front row for the big show will be Chase Briscoe in the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

But before we get to Sunday, we have business to handle on Thursday. The Duels are unique beasts. They are part sprint, part strategy, and entirely nerve‑wracking for the teams on the bubble. The field of 45 drivers has been split evenly, and their finishes in these twin 150‑mile showdowns will determine their starting positions on Sunday.

Duel 1: Busch Leads the Charge

The first Duel will see Kyle Busch lead the field to the green flag. This isn’t just a ceremonial lap for him; even though his Daytona 500 pole is secured, he needs to keep that car clean and fast. Starting alongside him on the front row will be Ryan Preece, a driver who knows how to wrestle a car to the front when it counts.

But the real drama in Duel 1 isn’t at the front. It’s further back in the pack. We are watching the open cars, the teams without a charter who have to fight tooth and nail just to make the show. Corey LaJoie faces a massive challenge here. He’s going wheel‑to‑wheel against veterans like Casey Mears and young guns like Chandler Smith.

For these guys, Thursday night is their Daytona 500. The pressure is immense. One mistake, one bad pit stop, or getting caught up in someone else’s mess could mean packing up and going home before the real racing even starts.

Duel 1: Starting Lineup

Kyle Busch – Richard Childress Racing
Ryan Preece – RFK Racing
Corey Heim – 23XI Racing
Alex Bowman – Hendrick Motorsports
Chris Buescher – RFK Racing
Joey Logano – Team Penske
Austin Dillon – Richard Childress Racing
Corey LaJoie – RFK Racing
John‑Hunter Nemechek – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB
Brad Keselowski – RFK Racing
Ryan Blaney – Team Penske
William Byron – Hendrick Motorsports
Cole Custer – Haas Factory Team
Cody Ware – Rick Ware Racing
Jimmie Johnson – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB
Bubba Wallace – 23XI Racing
AJ Allmendinger – Kaulig Racing
Ross Chastain – Trackhouse Racing
Shane van Gisbergen – Trackhouse Racing
Daniel Suárez – Spire Motorsports
Chandler Smith – Front Row Motorsports
Casey Mears – Garage 66

Duel 2: The JGR & Hamlin Factor

In the second Duel, we see a Toyota stronghold at the front. Chase Briscoe holds the pole for this race, with his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin starting second. If you know anything about superspeedway racing, you know you never count out Denny Hamlin. He understands the air at Daytona better than almost anyone, and watching him navigate the draft is always a masterclass.

The fight for the open spots in this second race is equally compelling. Anthony Alfredo, BJ McLeod, and JJ Yeley are the gladiators entering the arena here. Only the top finisher among the non‑locked drivers in each Duel advances. It’s a cruel game of musical chairs where the music stops at 200 miles per hour.

Duel 2: Starting Lineup

Chase Briscoe – Joe Gibbs Racing
Denny Hamlin – Joe Gibbs Racing
Kyle Larson – Hendrick Motorsports
Chase Elliott – Hendrick Motorsports
Ty Gibbs – Joe Gibbs Racing
Christopher Bell – Joe Gibbs Racing
Justin Allgaier – JR Motorsports
Austin Cindric – Team Penske
Zane Smith – Front Row Motorsports
Michael McDowell – Spire Motorsports
Connor Zilisch – Trackhouse Racing
Erik Jones – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB
Josh Berry – Wood Brothers Racing
Carson Hocevar – Spire Motorsports
Riley Herbst – 23XI Racing
Todd Gilliland – Front Row Motorsports
Anthony Alfredo – Beard Motorsports
Ty Dillon – Kaulig Racing
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – HYAK Motorsports
Tyler Reddick – 23XI Racing
BJ McLeod – Live Fast Motorsports
JJ Yeley – NY Racing Team

What’s Next

The Duels will give teams their first real chance to understand how their cars behave in traffic and how well their drafting plans hold up under pressure. For some, it’s an opportunity to fine‑tune strategy and gather information for Sunday. For others, especially the open teams, it’s a final, high‑stakes battle to secure a place in the Daytona 500.

Once the checkered flags fall, the grid will be set, the field will be trimmed, and the focus will shift fully to the Great American Race. The Duels remain one of the most important pieces of Speedweeks, and this year’s lineup ensures we’ll learn plenty about who’s ready to contend when the Daytona 500 goes green.