2017 Daytona 500 Starting Order

Can-Am Duel Results and Daytona 500 Starting Order

By Richard Tix

With the big race around the corner, here is a look at how the Can-Am Duels played out and what the starting lineup for the 2017 Daytona 500 will look like. 

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• 2017 NASCAR Paint Schemes

2017 Daytona 500 Starting Order

1. Chase Elliott- Hendrick Motorsports

2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.- Hendrick Motorsports

3. Jamie McMurray- Chip Ganassi Racing

4. Denny Hamlin- Joe Gibbs Racing

5. Kevin Harvick- Stewart-Haas Racing

6. Clint Bowyer- Stewart-Haas Racing

7. Brad Keselowski- Team Penske

8. Kurt Busch- Stewart-Haas Racing

9. Matt Kenseth- Joe Gibbs Racing

10. Austin Dillon- Richard Childress Racing

11. Trevor Bayne- Roush Fenway Racing

12. Danica Patrick- Stewart-Haas Racing

13. Aric Almirola- Richard Petty Motorsports

14. Ryan Newman- Richard Childress Racing

15. Joey Logano- Team Penske

16. Kyle Larson- Chip Ganassi Racing

17. Cole Whitt- TriStar Motorsports

18. Ty Dillon- Germain Racing

19. Daniel Suarez- Joe Gibbs Racing

20. David Ragan- Front Row Motorsports

21. Kyle Busch- Joe Gibbs Racing

22. Michael McDowell- Leavine Family Racing

23. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.- Roush Fenway Racing

24. Jimmie Johnson- Hendrick Motorsports

25. Matt DiBenedetto- Go Fas Racing

26. Kasey Kahne- Hendrick Motorsports

27. Landon Cassill- Front Row Motorsports

28. DJ Kennington (Open Team)- Gaunt Brothers Racing

29. Joey Gase- BK Racing

30. Michael Waltrip- Premium Motorsports

31. Corey LaJoie (Open Team)- BK Racing

32. Jeffrey Earnhardt- Circle Sport - The Motorsports Group

33. Paul Menard- Richard Childress Racing

34. Erik Jones- Furniture Row Racing

35. Martin Truex Jr.- Furniture Row Racing

36. Ryan Blaney- Wood Brothers Racing

37. Chris Buescher- JTG Daugherty Racing

38. AJ Allmendinger- JTG Daugherty Racing

39. Brendan Gaughan (Open Team)- Beard Motorsports

40. Elliott Sadler (Open Team)- Tommy Baldwin Racing

Duel One Results

1. Chase Elliott

2. Jamie McMurray

3. Kevin Harvick

4. Brad Keselowski

5. Matt Kenseth

6. Trevor Bayne

7. Martin Truex Jr.

8. Aric Almirola

9. Joey Logano

10. Cole Whitt

11. Daniel Suarez

12. Kyle Busch

13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

14. Matt DiBenedetto

15. Landon Cassill

16. Chris Buescher

17. Joey Gase

18. Corey LaJoie

19. Brendan Gaughan

20. Paul Menard

21. Reed Sorenson

Quick Notes: The first duel was wild and crazy. Within it we got to see a bunch of really strong cars that will play a factor on Sunday. Chase Elliott was really the only guy to make a move on Brad Keselowski and have it stick, showing a ton of strength. Speaking of BK, Team Penske (including the No. 21 before an indecent with Ragan in Duel two) are all very strong. McMurray showed a ton of speed and also that he isn't afraid to be aggressive. Lastly, LaJoie got into Sorenson in a move where he really didn't have room and it ended in Sorenson missing the 500.

Duel Two Results

1. Denny Hamlin

2. Clint Bowyer

3. Kurt Busch

4. AJ Allmendinger

5. Austin Dillon

6. Dale Earnhardt Jr.

7. Danica Patrick

8. Ryan Newman

9. Kyle Larson

10. Ty Dillon

11. David Ragan

12. Michael McDowell

13. Jimmie Johnson

14. Kasey Kahne

15. D.J. Kennington

16. Elliott Sadler

17. Michael Waltrip

18. Jeffrey Earnhardt

19. Erik Jones

20. Ryan Blaney

21. Timmy Hill

Quick Notes: This Duel was a bit more tame then round one, but still interesting. Junior showed he still has a strong car especially when out front. Hamlin also showed he is one of the best at Daytona by charging up front and getting the right help at the right time -- JGR will be a factor on Sunday. Blaney was showing a strong car until Ragan got into the 48 and then into him (Ragan's second indecent) -- JJ will take a backup car to the back to start Sunday. Bowyer and AD also showed they can find a way to the front and make it stick.

2016 NASCAR Daytona 500 Starting Order

Can-Am Duel Results and Daytona 500 Starting Order

By Richard Tix

The Daytona 500 is almost here. Thursday we got two different Duel races (one with a bit of action and one with a lot of single file running until the end of the race). Both Duel's helped set the 2016 Daytona 500 starting lineup. Below we have the starting lineup plus Thursday Night's Duel results.

2016 Daytona 500 Starting Order
POS	Driver	Team
1	Chase Elliott	Hendrick Motorsports
2	Matt Kenseth	Joe Gibbs Racing
3	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Hendrick Motorsports
4	Kyle Busch	Joe Gibbs Racing
5	Joey Logano	Team Penske
6	Jamie McMurray	Chip Ganassi Racing
7	Ryan Blaney	Wood Brothers Racing
8	Kurt Busch	Stewart-Haas Racing
9	Kevin Harvick	Stewart-Haas Racing
10	Carl Edwards	Joe Gibbs Racing
11	Denny Hamlin	Joe Gibbs Racing
12	Ty Dillon	Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing
13	Kasey Kahne	Hendrick Motorsports
14	Kyle Larson	Chip Ganassi Racing
15	Greg Biffle	Roush Fenway Racing
16	Danica Patrick	Stewart-Haas Racing
17	Chris Buescher	Front Row Motorsports
18	Brian Vickers	Stewart-Haas Racing
19	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Roush Fenway Racing
20	Matt DiBenedetto	BK Racing
21	Austin Dillon	Richard Childress Racing
22	Michael Annett	HScott Motorsports
23	Trevor Bayne	Roush Fenway Racing
24	Landon Cassill	Front Row Motorsports
25	Brad Keselowski	Team Penske
26	Jimmie Johnson	Hendrick Motorsports
27	Regan Smith	Tommy Baldwin Racing
28	Martin Truex Jr.	Furniture Row Racing
29	David Ragan	BK Racing
30	AJ Allmendinger	JTG Daugherty Racing
31	Clint Bowyer	HScott Motorsports
32	Casey Mears	Germain Racing
33	Bobby Labonte	Go Green Racing
34	Aric Almirola	Richard Petty Motorsports
35	Brian Scott	Richard Petty Motorsports
36	Michael Waltrip	BK Racing
37	Paul Menard	Richard Childress Racing
38	Ryan Newman	Richard Childress Racing
39	Michael McDowell	Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing
40	Robert Richardson Jr.	BK Racing

**Matt Kenseth to the back (backup car). Jimmie Johnson to the back (backup car). Martin Truex Jr to the back (backup car). AJ Allmendinger to the back (backup car). Brian Scott to the back (backup car).

Duel One Results

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hendrick Motorsports

2. Joey Logano Team Penske

3. Ryan Blaney Wood Brothers Racing

4. Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing

5. Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing

6. Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports

7. Kasey Kahne Hendrick Motorsports

8. Greg Biffle Roush Fenway Racing

9. Chris Buescher Front Row Motorsports

10. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Roush Fenway Racing

11. Austin Dillon Richard Childress Racing

12. Trevor Bayne Roush Fenway Racing

13. Brad Keselowski Team Penske

14. Michael McDowell Circle Sport – Leavine Family Racing

15. Regan Smith Tommy Baldwin Racing

16. David Ragan BK Racing

17. Josh Wise The Motorsports Group

18. Clint Bowyer Michael Waltrip Racing

19. Bobby Labonte Go FAS Racing

20. Brian Scott Team Xtreme Racing

21. Paul Menard Richard Childress Racing

22. Cole Whitt Phil Parsons Racing

Duel Two Results

1. Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing

2. Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing

3. Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing

4. Carl Edwards Joe Gibbs Racing

5. Ty Dillon Leavine Family Racing

6. Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing

7. Danica Patrick Stewart-Haas Racing

8. Brian Vickers Stewart-Haas Racing 

9. Matt DiBenedetto BK Racing

10. Michael Annett HScott Motorsports

11. Landon Cassill Front Row Motorsports

12. David Gilliland Front Row Motorsports

13. Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports

14. Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing

15. AJ Allmendinger JTG Daugherty Racing

16. Matt Kenseth Joe Gibbs Racing

17. Casey Mears Germain Racing

18. Robert Richardson Jr. BK Racing

19. Aric Almirola Richard Petty Motorsports

20. Michael Waltrip BK Racing

21. Reed Sorenson Hillman Smith Motorsports

22. Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing

2015 NASCAR Daytona 500 Starting Lineup

By Richard Tix

The Sprint Unlimited has passed. Coors Light Pole Qualifying is done. The Budweiser Duel 150's have been run. Now, we finally have the starting grid for the 2015 Daytona 500. Is it an easy to follow process to get to the starting lineup? No. But, it has been a fun ride with up's and downs. I don't want to speak for everyone, but in my mind the week was entertaining.

Qualifying had it's controversies, but in the end the wrecked cars in the first group don't seem like anything after the crashes in practice/duels. I'm still on the fence of not liking group qualifying for superspeedways. I just think that with so many other times in a weekend something could go wrong, that we shouldn't add more opportunities to risk safety and gamble that something bad could happen. The group qualifying does add a mix of entertainment compared to single car runs, but when do we draw the line? Everyone has a different opinion on that and I would continue to expect that.

America's attention span is getting shorter and shorter by the year, so I can see what NASCAR was thinking when adding group qualifying to superspeedways (it was also a money move to get more fans at qualifying). In my opinion I feel like single car would still work for the Daytona 500. Fans are waiting during the offseason to see cars back on the track, so the longer qualifying would still hold them over. True, not as many fans would probably go to the track for it, but that's on the fans (if you complain, then support the way you want by going, if you can).

NASCAR can cut down on some of its (million) practices and still use the single car runs. By the last few practices teams aren't going out anyways because they don't want to wreck there car. This still wont solve the issue of mid season stops at Talladega and Daytona, but single car runs may still work to start the season.

I am not against change in NASCAR, so I am open to opinions. I just don't like adding the opportunity while drivers are gambling out of almost necessity for more safety issues. Everyone has there own agenda in this type of qualifying. Some drivers are almost a lock to get in (points) while others have to scramble just to make it. Plus, after group qualifying you also have another scramble to get into the 500 during the Duel's. With so many small teams getting pressure left and right to make the 500 qualifying puts them in a tough spot.

After saying all of that (my opinion) I also think the format for the 500 will work better in year two (if they keep it this way). I think teams will realize that qualifying isn't going to be as big of an issue as teams made it. Really, for a small team, whats the difference in starting 12th in a Duel or 24th? The field changes so much during Duels that teams shouldn't be as concerned about qualifying (when they have a very small chance of winning the pole) and focus more on keeping it clean for the duel.

I think that in hindsight teams might realize this, which may help keep cars clean during qualifying runs. But the issue will still remain for the other three superspeedway races since they do not have a duel format after qualifying. Should a duel style format or heat races be used? That is up for debate and I would love you hear your ideas.

Lets get onto the 2015 NASCAR Daytona 500 Starting Lineup.

2015 Daytona 500 Starting Grid
Row	Inside	Outside	How They Got In
1	Jeff Gordon	Jimmie Johnson	Top two qualifiers (Pole Qualifying)
2	Dale Earnhardt Jr.	Kyle Busch	Race winners (Inside: First race; Outside: Second race)
3	Joey Logano	Carl Edwards	Top 15 from Duel races
4	Tony Stewart	Greg Biffle	Top 15 from Duel races
5	Clint Bowyer	Martin Truex Jr.	Top 15 from Duel races
6	Kevin Harvick	Ryan Blaney	Top 15 from Duel races
7	Kasey Kahne	Reed Sorenson	Top 15 from Duel races
8	Jamie McMurray	Mike Wallace	Top 15 from Duel races
9	Landon Cassill	Justin Allgaier	Top 15 from Duel races
10	Cole Whitt	Danica Patrick	Top 15 from Duel races
11	Paul Menard	Ryan Newman	Top 15 from Duel races
12	Michael McDowell	Kurt Busch	Top 15 from Duel races
13	JJ Yeley	David Gilliland	Top 15 from Duel races
14	Michael Annett	David Ragan	Top 15 from Duel races
15	Kyle Larson	Austin Dillon	Top 15 from Duel races
16	Ty Dillon	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Top 15 from Duel races (Last transfer spots)
17	Aric Almirola	Michael Waltrip	Four fastest qualifiers from any round
18	Matt Kenseth	Johnny Sauter	Four fastest qualifiers from any round
19	Trevor Bayne	Sam Hornish Jr.	Owner points
20	Brad Keselowski	AJ Allmendinger	Owner points
21	Casey Mears	Denny Hamlin	Owner points
22	Bobby Labonte		Past champion

*Note a few drivers will be moving to the back of the field because of going to back up cars

So, who do you got winning the 2015 Daytona 500? Let me know in the comments, on Google + (Richard Tix), or on Twitter (@NASCARBTW) and you can make this years all new Fan Vote Leaderboard. I will be keeping a running list of who predicts the weekly race winner the most all season! 

Pre-Daytona Articles

• 2015 Daytona 500 Preview
• 2015 Preseason Power Rankings