On Wednesday night under a full snow moon, 45 drivers took to the high banks of Daytona International Speedway to qualify for the front row of the Daytona 500 on Sunday.  Chase Briscoe made history when he put his Joe Gibbs Racing number 19 car on the pole to give Toyota its first 500 pole in NASCAR history.  Austin Cindric will start alongside Briscoe on the front row.

Martin Truex Jr and Jimmie Johnson secured a spot in the 500 by topping the list of open drivers trying to make the race.  The final two spots will be filled after the two Duel races – one from each race.

IndyCar driver Helio Castroneves will also be a part of the Great American Race; whether it be racing his way into the field or as the Provisional Special invitee 41st spot.

Thursday night brings the two Duel races to determine the lineup for the Daytona 500.  Earlier in the evening Craftsman Truck Series practice was cancelled after a big storm moved through the area.  The track should be dried and ready for action in time for the Duel races.

The lineup for Duel number one:
Chase Briscoe
Ryan Preece
Josh Berry
Austin Dillon
Ty Dillon
Zane Smith
Kyle Busch
Chase Elliott
Michael McDowell
AJ Allmendinger
William Byron
Martin Truex Jr
Ty Gibbs
Tyler Reddick
Bubba Wallace
Justin Haley
Justin Allgaier
Carson Hocevar
Ross Chastain
Helio Castroneves
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Chandler Smith
JJ Yeley

Chase Elliott is on pit road after his brake pedal went to the floor after the engine start.  The crew is working quickly to get Elliott’s car back on the track.

Ross Chastain is on pit road with a possible throttle issue as the drivers continue making pace laps.

Chase Briscoe brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with Ryan Preece alongside.  Briscoe and Preece are side by side going into turn one with the field two by two. 

Lap two, Ryan Preece edges out for the lead.

Lap three, The caution flag comes out when Zane Smith gets into the wall with a flat tire.

Several of the drivers made a pit stop to top off the fuel cell.  Justin Allgaier made a four tire change.

Josh Berry brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap eight with Chase Briscoe alongside.  Berry gets out in front on the outside lane after a little push from behind.

Lap nine, the top five are Josh Berry, Chase Elliott, Michael McDowell, Austin Dillon, and AJ Allmendinger.

Lap eleven, Chase Elliott is the new leader with Michael McDowell in second.

Josh Berry passes Michael McDowell for second.

With his original plan to follow teammate Ross Chastain, Helio Castroneves has entered the top 10; Chastain is in 15th place.

The drivers who made a pit stop for fuel will still need to make a fuel stop in order to finish the race.

Dropping to the back of the field, Ryan Preece has a loose hood pin.

The caution flag comes out on lap 14 when Chandler Smith gets into the wall hard and ends up in the grass with a crushed front end.  The window net came down quickly on Chandler Smith’s car to signal that he was ok.

Several drivers have some damage to their cars.

Helio Castroneves also got into the wall and made an off road excursion into the grass.  He will take advantage of the Special Provisional and start the race in 41st place.  However, the use of that provisional also means that he will not earn any prize money.

Justin Haley, JJ Yeley, Ty Gibbs, Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, and Bubba Walace also have damage to their cars.

Drivers come down pit road for service – fuel, tires, and adjustments.

Michael McDowell, Martin Truex Jr, Chase Briscoe, and Carson Hocevar stayed out on the track.

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart with Josh Berry alongside on lap 20. 

Josh Berry gets out in front from the outside lane.

Michael McDowell is assessed a pass through penalty for lining up improperly.

Ty Dillon was caught speeding on pit road.

Lap 21, the top five are Josh Berry, Ross Chastain, Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Austin Dillon.

Chase Briscoe has dropped to the back of the field.

Zane Smith is out of the race.  Chandler Smith and Helio Castroneves are also out of the race.

Justin Haley is off the track.

Lap 23, Chase Elliott is the leader of the race with Austin Dillon in second.

Lap 24, the top five are Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, William Byron, and AJ Allmendinger.

Lap 25, Chase Elliott retakes the lead.

The caution flag comes out on lap 25 for debris on the track – a side window from Ty Gibbs car.

Out of the infield care center, Helio Castroneves said that he had a lot of fun and learned a lot.

Chase Briscoe takes his car to the garage.  He will start the race from the pole on Sunday afternoon.

There are 18 cars remaining in the field.

Chase Elliott brings the field down for the green flag restart on lap 28 with Ross Chastain alongside.  Chastain gets out in front for the lead and pulls away after a push from William Byron.

Lap 30, the top five are Ross Chastain, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, and Tyler Reddick.

William Byron takes the lead on lap 31.

Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain battle for the lead on lap 31.

Wiliam Byron takes the lead as the battle upfront continues.

Lap 32, Bubba Wallace takes the lead with Ryan Preece in second.

Lap 33, Bubba Wallace and William Byron battle for the lead with Byron getting out in front.

Lap 34, William Byron leads the race with Bubba Wallace in second; Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.

Lap 37, Bubba Wallace takes the lead with Ryan Preece in second.  Preece and Wallace swap the lead back and forth.

Lap 39, Bubba Wallace and Ryan Preece continue to swap the lead back and forth.

Lap 40, William Byron takes the lead.

Lap 41, William Byron and Bubba Wallace battle for the lead.

Lap 42, Bubba Wallace takes the lead with teammate Tyler Reddick in second.

The fourth caution flag of the race comes out on lap 42 for debris on the track.  Some of the drivers come down pit road for fuel and tires.

Out of the infield care center, Chandler Smith said that he is fine and thanked the safety crew.

Bubba Wallace brings the field down for the green flag restart with teammate Tyler Reddick alongside with 14 laps remaining in the race.  William Byron gets out in front but gets into a battle for the lead with Bubba Wallace.

The top 10 drivers are separated by less than half a second.

With 12 laps to go, drivers are beginning to get three wide in a battle for position.  The top 10 drivers to finish the race will earn points.

Ten to go! Bubba Wallace leads the race.  Ty Dillon comes up on the inside to take the lead.

Bubba Wallace retakes the lead with nine laps remaining in the race.

Seven to go, Ty Dillon and Bubba Wallace continue to battle for the lead.

Five to go, Ty Dillon leads the race.

Four to go, Bubba Wallace takes the lead briefly before Ty Dillon retakes the lead.

William Byron reports that he may be “blowing up”.

Bubba Wallace takes the white flag.

Drivers are three wide  in a battle for position.

New Pappa Bubba Wallace wins Duel number one for his first Duel win!

Justin Allgaier finishes in the top 10 to earn a spot in the Daytona 500!

The results of Duel 1:
Bubba Wallace
William Byron
Ty Dillon
Ross Chastain
Tyler Reddick
AJ Allmendinger
Austin Dillon
Chase Elliott
Justin Allgaier
Kyle Busch
Ty Gibbs
Michael McDowell
Ryan Preece
Josh Berry
Martin Truex Jr
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
JJ Yeley
Carson Hocevar
Chase Briscoe
Chandler Smith
Justin Haley
Helio Castroneves
Zane Smith

The lineup for Duel number two:
Austin Cindric
Joey Logano
Denny Hamlin
Christopher Bell
Kyle Larson
Alex Bowman
Todd Gilliland
Brad Keselowski
Chris Buescher
Ryan Blaney
Noah Gragson
Daniel Suarez
Riley Herbst
Jimmie Johnson
Shane van Gisbergen
Cole Custer
Corey LaJoie
Erik Jones
John Hunter Nemechek
Anthony Alfredo
BJ McLeod
Cody Ware

Christopher Bell as to move to the back of the field after the crew made some unapproved adjustments to the car.  The crew had to change the power steering pumping.

Austin Cindric brings the field down for the green flag start of Duel Two with Joey Logano alongside.  Cindrc crosses over to the inside lane to take the lead before he and teammate Joey Logano move to the outside lane.  Denny Hamlin comes up on the inside to battle for the lead.

Lap three, Denny Hamlin leads the race with Austin Cindric in second; Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Alex Bowman round out the top five.

Lap four, Austin Cindric and Denny Hamlin continue to battle for the lead.

Tradition says that if the first race is wild and crazy, then the second race is quiet; but a full moon also means things can get crazy.

Lap eight, Denny Hamlin holds on to the lead with Austin Cindric in second; Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Chris Buescher round out the top five.

Lap 13, Denny Hamlin continues to lead the race.  He has led all but one lap so far.

Leaders are running just 50 to 75 percent as they run in fuel conservation mode.

Lap 16, drivers are beginning to form a third lane.

  Lap 16, Erik Jones comes up one the outside lane to take the lead.  Jones gets a push from the boss Jimmie Johnson.

Lap 18, Ryan Blaney passes Erik Jones for the lead.

Lap 19, Erik Jones retakes the lead.  Drivers are three wide near the front of the field.

Lap 23, Erik Jones continues to lead the race with Jimmie Johnson in second; Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney, and Denny Hamlin round out the top five.

Lap 26, after starting from the back of the field, Christopher Bell is in the top 10 in seventh place.

Lap 29, Daniel Suarez takes the lead briefly on the inside lane.  Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez battle for the lead.

Lap 30, halfway, the race has been fairly quiet – relatively speaking – with all green flag laps.  Drivers are double wide through the field.

Back in the field drivers are getting three wide as they battle for position before making a pit stop.

Lap 34, lap times are picking up with Daniel Suarez in the lead.

Lap 35, Ryan Blaney and Daniel Suarez battle for the lead.

Lap 38, in last place, Jimmie Johnson is off the pace after making a pit stop on his own after a mystery reason for the car “stumbling”.

Lap 38, Daniel Suarez has retaken the lead.

Lap 39, Jimmie Johnson is now one lap down.

Lap 40, Daneil Suarez leads the race with Denny Hamlin in second.  Drivers will have to make a pit stop very soon.

Lap 43, the top five cars are single file on the inside lane with Daniel Suarez in front of the field.

Lap 44, the first group of drivers come down pit road for service.  The whole inside lane.  Ryan Blaney takes the lead.  Drivers are taking fuel only.

Denny Hamlin slid through his pit stall and had to back up to get in his pit stall.

Kyle Larson, John Hunter Nemechek, and Denny Hamlin were all caught speeding on pit road and will have to serve a pass through penalty.

More drivers come down pit road for service.

Lap 47, the final group of drivers come down pit road for fuel.

Chris Buescher is the new leader.

Brad Keselowski was charged with an equipment interference penalty.

Lap 48, the first caution flag of the race comes out for a big crash involving Alex Bowman, Brad Keselowski, and Daniel Suarez were all involved.  The crash was the result of a blocking battle at the front of the field.

Daniel Suarez has a lot of damage to his car.  Brad Keselowski also has a good deal of damage to his car.  Alex Bowman was stopped on the track with four flat tires.

A new rule this year is drivers with multiple flat tires will get towed to the garage but may return to the race.

After the violent wreck for Ryan Preece last year, the grass area has now been paved to keep the drivers from getting airborne.

Daniel Suarez is out of the race.  Alex Bowman and Brad Keselowski are also in the garage.

Some of the drivers come down pit road for fresh tires.

BJ McLeod was charged with a crew member coming over the wall too soon.

Chris Buescher brings the field down for the green flag restart with just seven laps remaining in the race with Austin Cindric alongside.  Austin Cindric gets out in front on the inside lane after a big push from Joey Logano.

Five to gi and drivers are getting three wide with Austin Cindric out in front.

Chris Buescher comes up on the outside to battle for the lead.

Four to go, getting a push from Corey LaJoie, Chris Buescher battles with Austin Cindric for the lead; but Joey Logano is doing some pushing of his own to keep Cindric out front.

Three to go, Chris Buescher edges out in front briefly.

Austin Cindric takes the white flag.

The caution flag came out for a big crash before the leaders crossed the finish line.

Erik Jones comes up on the outside for a photo finish to win the race by four thousandths of a second over Austin Cindric.

The last time the 43 car crossed the finish line first was when Richard Petty was at the wheel in 1977.

NASCAR is reviewing the finish…NASCAR has ruled and the win goes to Austin Cindric for his first Duel win.

Corey LaJoie is the final open driver to make the race.

The results of Duel 2:
Austin Cindric
Erik Jones
Chris Buescher
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Corey LaJoie
Todd Gilliland
Ryan Blaney
John Hunter Nemechek
Christopher Bell
Riley Herbst
Anthony Alfredo
Shane van Gisbergen
Cody Ware
Cole Custer
BJ McLeod
Noah Gragson
Jimmie Johnson
Kyle Larson
Brad Keselowski
Alex Bowman
Daniel Suarez