CONCORD, N.C. - The DAYTONA 500 is certainly a unique event on the NASCAR schedule and not just in terms of prestige and history.
Qualifying for the Great American Race is a bit different than other events, adding to the appeal of Speedweek which kicks off the stock car racing season each year in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Despite some slight tweaks in the qualifying process, this year will be no different and though single-lap qualifying times will be recorded on Wednesday night, the field won't be set until after a pair of races on Thursday.
Allow us to explain:
How does DAYTONA 500 qualifying work?
On Wednesday night of each Speedweek, entrants in the DAYTONA 500 participate in a single lap qualifying session. The fastest 10 cars will advance to a second round and will run another lap. But of the entire field being set by lap times, only the front row - the top two starters - will be determined by qualifying speed for the DAYTONA 500.
While the pole winner and other front row car are locked, the rest of the field will compete in Thursday's Daytona Duel races, a pair of 150-mile sprints. All cars that qualified in an odd-numbered starting spot based on lap time will fill out one race with all the even-numbered starters participating in the other. The finish of those two races will determine both rows in Sunday's main event, solidifying starting positions from third on back.
Also, with 44 cars set to compete for 40, or possibly 41 spots, qualifying and the Daytona Duels will leave a few drivers and teams to go home without ever starting on Sunday. A total of 36 teams are guaranteed spots in the main event, leaving eight "open" entries to battle for the rest. Two spots will be given to the best single-lap qualifying efforts from those cars. The rest of the field will be settled in Thursday's Duel races.
New this year is NASCAR's Open Exemption Provisional, which guarantees a spot “for world-class drivers who enter a NASCAR Cup Series race.” Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves qualifies as he attempts his first DAYTONA 500 at age 49 this year. If Castroneves gets in via qualifying time or Duel races, the field will be locked at 40. If not, he will still make the field as the 41st car.
When is qualifying for the DAYTONA 500?
Qualifying for the 2025 DAYTONA 500 is set to begin at 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday and will air of FS1.