Seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson, motocross legend Travis Pastrana attempt to qualify

Seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson, motocross legend Travis Pastrana attempt to qualify

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NASCAR is set to begin its 75th season this weekend with the 65th edition of its richest and most prestigious race, the Daytona 500. After a wild preseason Clash at the Coliseum, the Cup Series regulars — and some notable one-off drivers — converge on Daytona Beach, Florida, for the first points-paying run of the series’ 36-race regular-season and playoff schedule.

Here’s everything you need to know about what you’ll hear referred to — repeatedly — as “The Great American Race.”

Qualifying format for the Daytona 500

The biggest race of the year also features a unique qualifying format not used anywhere else on the NASCAR calendar. On Wednesday night all 42 entered cars will turn one lap at top speed, the order of which is determined by a Tuesday night draw of numbers. The top two times from that qualifying session sets the front row for Sunday’s race.

The remaining 40 cars are dropped — 20 apiece, along with the top two qualifiers — into two 60-lap qualifying “duels” to be run Thursday night that set the field from spots three through 40. The finishing order for the first duel determines the inside row slots and the finishing order from the second duel sets the outside.

Daytona 500 week broadcast schedule

All times ET

Wednesday
5-7 p.m.: Daytona 500 pole qualifying (FS1, MRN)

Thursday
4-7 p.m.: Bluegreen Vacations Duels (FS1, Fox Sports app, MRN)

Friday
5:30-6:30 p.m.: Cup Series practice (FS1, Fox Sports app, MRN)

Saturday
10:30-11 a.m.: Cup Series final practice (FS1, Fox Sports app, MRN)

Sunday
2:30-6:30 p.m.: Daytona 500 (Fox, Fox Sports app, MRN)

Top drivers and best bets for the Daytona 500

This year’s field boasts seven former Daytona 500 winners, led by three-time champion Denny Hamlin. Hamlin, 2020 series champion Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney boast the best pre-qualifying odds to win the race, according to BetMGM at +1200.

Best odds to win

  • Denny Hamlin +1200

  • Chase Elliott +1200

  • Ryan Blaney +1200

  • Joey Logano +1400

  • Kyle Larson +1400

  • Kyle Busch +1400

Kyle Busch, left, driving the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota in 2022, and Denny Hamlin are among the favorites in the 2023 Daytona 500. (Photo by Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports)

Non-Cup regular drivers in the Daytona 500

Due to the prestige of the event, the Daytona 500, much like its open-wheel counterpart in the Indianapolis 500, attracts drivers from other series to take a crack at the high banks. This year’s most notable non-regular is the legendary retired seven-time Cup Series champion and former IndyCar competitor Jimmie Johnson. Johnson — who has won the event twice, in 2006 and 2013 — will attempt to qualify the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club (formerly Richard Petty Enterprises) Chevy. IndyCar regular Conor Daly will attempt to qualify Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s No. 50 TMT Racing Chevy.

Travis Pastrana, the Supercross, Motocross and X-Games legend who has also proven quite handy on four wheels, will try to qualify the Michael Jordan/Denny Hamlin-owned No. 67 23XI Motorsports Toyota.

Weather forecast for the Daytona 500

As of Wednesday evening the only session that threatens to be interrupted by weather is Friday’s practice session during which most teams will be trying to lock in their late-race setups. If that’s washed out, teams going into the final stint of the race with a dearth of data should make for a wild finish that this race intrinsically tends to produce even in the best of conditions.

Daytona 500 qualifying results

  1. Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet- 181.686 mph

  2. Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – 181.057 mph

  3. William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – 180.727

  4. Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford – 180.723 mph

  5. Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford – 180.712 mph

  6. Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford – 180.661 mph

  7. Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford – 180.054 mph

  8. Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford -180.014 mph

  9. Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford – 180.014 mph

  10. Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet – 180.040 mph

  11. Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota – 180.011 mph

  12. Daniel Suarez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

  13. Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford – 179.888 mph

  14. Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet – 179.881 mph

  15. Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

  16. Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford – 179.849 mph

  17. Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford – 179.684 mph

  18. Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford – 179.673 mph

  19. Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

  20. Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

  21. Jimmie Johnson (84), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet – 179.276 mph

  22. Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota

  23. Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

  24. Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford – 179.265 mph

  25. Travis Pastrana (67), 23XI Racing Toyota – 179.254 mph

  26. Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

  27. Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet

  28. Noah Gragson (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet – 178.941 mph

  29. Zane Smith (36), Front Row Motorsports Ford – 178.862 mph

  30. A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet 178.813 mph

  31. Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet – 178.763 mph

  32. Austin Hill (62), Beard Motorsports Chevrolet – 1778.660 mph

  33. Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

  34. Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford – 178.204 mph

  35. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet – 177.925 mph

  36. B.J. McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford – 177.834 mph

  37. Cody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford

  38. Riley Herbst (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford – 176.849 mph

  39. Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet 176.315 mph

  40. Corey Lajoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet – 176.287 mph

  41. Chandler Smith (13), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet – 175.022 mph

  42. Conor Daly (50), TMT Racing Chevrolet – no lap

Daytona 500 entry list

Ross Chastain (1), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Austin Cindric (2), Team Penske Ford
Austin Dillon (3), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Kevin Harvick (4), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Kyle Larson (5), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Brad Keselowski (6), RFK Racing Ford
Corey Lajoie (7), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Busch (8), Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chase Elliott (9), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Aric Almirola (10), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Denny Hamlin (11), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ryan Blaney (12), Team Penske Ford
Chandler Smith (13), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Chase Briscoe (14), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Riley Herbst (15), Rick Ware Racing Ford
A.J. Allmendinger (16), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Chris Buescher (17), RFK Racing Ford
Martin Truex Jr. (19), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell (20), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Harrison Burton (21), Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Joey Logano (22), Team Penske Ford
Bubba Wallace (23), 23XI Racing Toyota
William Byron (24), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Haley (31), Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Michael McDowell (34), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Zane Smith (36), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Todd Gilliland (38), Front Row Motorsports Ford
Tyler Reddick (45), 23XI Racing Toyota
Ryan Preece (41), Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
Noah Gragson (42), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Erik Jones (43), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47), JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
Alex Bowman (48), Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Conor Daly (50), TMT Racing Chevrolet
Cody Ware (51), Rick Ware Racing Ford
Ty Gibbs (54), Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Austin Hill (62), Beard Motorsports Chevrolet
Travis Pastrana (67), 23XI Racing Toyota
Ty Dillon (77), Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
B.J. McLeod (78), Live Fast Motorsports Ford
Jimmie Johnson (84), Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez (99), Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

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