This Week: The 2024 Daytona 500 will take place on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET (FOX) at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. Leading up to the race will be Daytona Speedweeks with pole qualifying on Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 8:15 p.m. ET (FS1) and the twin Daytona Duel races on Thursday, Feb. 16, beginning at 7 p.m. ET (FS1).
FS1 will also carry Saturday’s 300-mile Xfinity Series race at 5 p.m. ET.
How the Daytona 500 Works:
36 teams are guaranteed starting spots for the 40-car Daytona 500, but the remaining four spots are determined by a comprehensive system that includes time trials and a qualifying race.
First, each driver takes to the track for two timed laps in single car qualifying Wednesday night. Only the front row for The Great American Race is decided after time trials.
For the rest of the field, their starting spots will be determined through Thursday night’s Duels at Daytona—a pair of 60-lap races with odd numbered starting positions being determined by Duel 1 and even numbered spots set in Duel 2.
The highest finishing open driver in each duel race will automatically make the field. For the final two spots, NASCAR will go back to time trials and award those final two spots based on the fastest qualifying speed amongst those not already locked in.
Race Notes
Busch Light ‘Iconic’: Ross Chastain will pilot the ‘Iconic’ Busch Light paint scheme for the 66th running of the Daytona 500. The No. 1 Chevrolet will carry the Busch Light ‘Iconic’ paint scheme in various races during the 2024 NASCAR Cup season. Additional details can be found in a press release HERE and visual assets of the paint scheme are available HERE.
Busch Light Fan Sweepstakes: Busch Light is giving you a chance to win one of 500 prizes throughout the Daytona 500 including beer money, coolies made from Chastain’s race week tires and even a NASCAR Racing experience at Daytona with Chastain. Follow @BuschBeer on X and enter for a chance to win during every lap that ends in a 1 using #Buschtona500 #Sweepstakes.
Familiar Faces: Even though its the start of a new season, some things remain the same. Chastain is going into his third year with the same exact road and pit crew. The Busch Light driver has had the same support since the 2022 season when they finished second in the championship standings.
Daytona 500 Stats: In 11 Cup Series starts in the season-opening race at Daytona, Chastain has led 39 laps and finished ninth in last year’s 500-mile event. He has a total of three top-10 Cup Series finishes at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
Meet Chastain: On Thursday at 2 p.m. ET, the Busch Light driver will sign autographs for the public at Walmart, 1590 Dunlawton Rd., Port Orange, FL 32127 and at Winn-Dixie located at 4025 S. Nova Rd., Port Orange, FL 32127 beginning at 3:15 p.m. ET. Wristbands required – distribution at 9 a.m. at each location on day of event. Chastain will also appear for a Q&A at the Daytona infield Hard Rock Fan Zone stage on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET. On Sunday at 10:25 a.m. ET he’ll appear at the Busch Light stage in the Daytona fan midway, followed by a Chevy stage appearance at 10:45 a.m.
NASCAR: Full Speed: Catch Chastain in the five episode docuseries NASCAR: Full Speed on Netflix. The series documented portions of Chastain’s 2023 season on and away from the track. All five episodes are currently available on Netflix.
Last Race: Chastain finished 15th in the Busch Light Clash at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Saturday, February 3.
2023 Season Recap: Chastain won at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway in June and at the Phoenix Raceway season finale in November. He posted 10 top-5 and 14 top-10 finishes in his third fulltime Cup season. The Alva, Florida native finished ninth in points.
Ross Chastain Career Statistics
Chastain Quotes:
How does the Daytona 500 make you feel?
“Daytona has all of this buildup but as soon as you hit the track, it all goes away. Once I’m on the track, its just another race to me that I’m trying to win. The introductions for the Daytona 500 are unique because you have that long runway that goes out in between the fans and you walk out with another driver past the Daytona 500 trophy. I remember walking out for my first Daytona 500 introduction and every one since. The fact that I’m one of the 40 drivers who has a shot to win the Daytona 500 is an incredible feeling. I was a kid sitting in the grandstands not that long ago. Now, I have a shot to win it. There’s only 39 others. I haven’t won it yet but if I do, it will be incredible.”
What is your 2024 season outlook?
“Sustaining what we’ve accomplished but we also want more. We’ve been able to sustain in 2022 and 2023. So for 2024, we’ll need to evolve. We’ve added more employees, more engineers, Daniel has a new crew chief and we continue to evolve in the Cup Series.”
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