Trevor Bayne Earns $1.46 Million With Daytona 500 Win; Revives Wood Brothers Racing

Trevor Bayne made a lot of people happy on Sunday as he took home the $1.46 million prize for winning the Daytona 500, all at 20 years old. Bayne, who's about as green as they come in the world of NASCAR, is seeing green for a different reason after the big payday as he suddenly was thrust into the spotlight with a win in the biggest race of them all in only his second career start.

Though he won't be taking home the full-share of that $1.46 million, Bayne is still in line to see a significant financial windfall. According to SB Nation's Jeff Gluck, Bayne likely pocketed around $480,000, with his team divvying up the rest as is customary in NASCAR. For a Wood Brothers Racing Team that wasn't even full-time, Bayne's win should go a long way toward boosting the team back into full-time racing.

Gluck also had the story of Wood Brothers Racing, who have a story just as great as Bayne. The team is one of NASCAR's oldest, but had to cut back to a partial schedule in 2009 after its finances declined. The win was Wood Brothers' fifth in the Daytona 500, and first since 1976, a long draught, to be sure. Now, with the bulk of Bayne's purse in their pockets, it's possible Wood Brothers, and Bayne himself, can afford to take-on a few more races, perhaps resurrecting the team.

In one day, with a greenhorn behind the wheel, Wood Brothers hit the jackpot. For Bayne, his short-term financial future is secure, even before endorsements come rolling in. It's amazing how everything can change in the matter of hours as a relative unknown shoots into the spotlight on NASCAR's biggest stage.

For more on the race, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

VIDEO: Trevor Bayne Drives Like A Veteran To Win Daytona 500

Trevor Bayne drove like a seasoned veteran at the Daytona 500 on Sunday, hooking up in a two-car drive and leading from wire-to-wire over the final two laps in the green-white-checkered finish. Bayne and his draft-mate, Terry Labonte, nailed the restart, shooting out to the lead as they entered the back-stretch. As Bayne entered the tri-oval, he had to hold-off a hard-charging Carl Edwards, who came out of nowhere with the race winding down.

Check out Bayne taking home the checkered flag with a masterful display of driving.

All day, the announcers were discussing just how hard it was to be in the lead at Daytona. Drivers felt as if they were a sitting duck, even with a good draft. Yet there was Bayne, a 20-year-old driver, holding off the field and keeping Edwards at bay down the home-stretch. After avoiding trouble all day -- and there was plenty of trouble at Daytona -- Bayne put himself in the best possible position to take home the checkered flag.

And boy did he deliver with a thrilling finish in the Daytona 500. Bayne became the youngest driver to win the 500 by over five years. Not a bad belated birthday present for Bayne, who turned 20 on Saturday.

For more on the race, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Daytona 500 Results: Trevor Bayne Wins In His Second Career Start

For a moment, it looked like the Daytona 500 was destined to be remembered for the crashes and cautions. When Dale Earnhardt Jr. smacked the wall on the restart, during the first attempt at a green-and-white-checkered finish, the star-power in the field faded away, fallen by the wayside after numerous crashes at Daytona International Speedway zapped many of the familiar names. But Trevor Bayne came out of nowhere down to the wire, driving like a pro in just his second career race to give us an incredible storyline.

Bayne was a rookie in every sense of the world, never before racing in a Daytona 500 and being about as green as they come. At 20 years old, Bayne became the youngest driver to win a 500, leading the way into the tri-oval and holding off a hard-charging pack that included Carl Edwards and Bobby Labonte. It was almost too unbelievable to see a fresh-faced 20-year-old out-maneuver some of NASCAR's finest over 500 miles.

The whole story surrounding his win makes it a feel-good tale for fans that watched from afar. Bayne's birthday was on Saturday -- just one day before he took the track for the Daytona 500. At 20 years and one day old, Bayne easily eclipsed the youngest-driver mark set by Jeff Gordon, breaking that by over five and a half years. Gordon started on the outside of the first row on Sunday, but was caught up in a massive wreck early on.

SB Nation's Jeff Gluck has Bayne's back story, and it's one that makes him even more likable. From his nickname -- T-Bayne -- to his brash prediction that he'd win a race this year -- only in the Nationwide Series, though -- Bayne is a guy NASCAR could use. Whether it was luck or the beginning of something special, Bayne's performance at Sunday's Daytona 500 was an impressive display, capping a race that alternated between wild and slow-going under caution.

When it was all said and done, Bayne found himself doing donuts on the track and cruising into the winner's circle at Daytona. Not a bad day for a driver that just exited his teenage years.

For more on the race, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Daytona 500 Results: Trevor Bayne Wins After Green-White-Checkered Finish

In a race filled with cautions, Trevor Bayne came out on top, edging Carl Edwards at the finish to bring home the Daytona 500 victory after a green-white-checkered finish. Bayne won the 500 in just his second career start, making it the ultimate Cinderella story for NASCAR. In a fantastic finish, Bayne blocked the rest of the field as they entered the tri-oval, securing himself a Daytona 500 victory.

Caution came out with just about 15 laps to go, bunching the field together once again and setting up another inevitable crash. Ryan Newman held the lead with just a few laps left, but eight cars were within a second of a lead as the Daytona 500 bordered on out of control and wild, with drivers jockeying for position and looking for an opening to make a move.

The big one came with just five laps to go, spoiling what appeared to be a fantastic finish. Regan Smith, Ryan Newman and a long list of drivers were all caught up in the mess, with many unable to avoid the carnage. Because of the late caution, the field was all set up for a green-white-checkered finish, a quick shootout for all the marbles.

On the restart, it was David Ragan, Trevor Bayne, Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. listed as the top-five. Kyle Busch sat in sixth as the field grouped up one more time for the race to the finish. Martin Truex Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr. hit the wall on the backstretch just after the restart, taking both out of the race as they each tried to link up for the two car draft. Robbie Gordon got loose just ahead of the wreck.

Finally, on the second try at the green-white-checkered finish, six cars broke away in pairs, with Bayne holding the lead for both laps with a push from Bobby Labonte. Carl Edwards finished second after an impressive run down the backstretch to close the gap and nearly pull-off the win.

Kasey Kahne was running well for much of the day, but fell out of contention in heartbreaking fashion, after taking damage just before the stretch run with less than 20 laps to go. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and others were caught up in a big crash early in the race, ending their days as well. By the time it was all said and done, more than half the field had fallen off the lead lap.

The 16 cautions were a Daytona 500 and track record as drivers spent an inordinate amount of time behind the pace car on Sunday. From the start, small mistakes — including spinouts and wall taps — forced the yellow flag to come out, turning the race into more of a grind than anything else. When the drivers were actually racing, the action was fast and furious, though, as it always is at Daytona.

For more on the race, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Daytona 500 Results: Kasey Kahne Heads To The Garage With 17 Laps To Go

Kasey Kahne’s day at the Daytona 500 took a hit after a piece of a rotor on his car broke off with less than 20 laps to go. Kahne had been running well all day, staying on the lead lap and in the thick of things at Daytona International Speedway. Kahne headed to the garage to fix the problem before returning to the track to finish the race.

The caution was the 14th of the race, easily eclipsing both the Daytona 500 and Daytona International Speedway record. It’s been a day filled with yellow flags and laps behind the pace car, an unfortunate side-effect of spin-outs and engine troubles plaguing the field.

As for the race itself, Ryan Newman has the lead, followed by Denny Hamlin, David Ragan, Clint Bowyer and Trevor Bayne. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still running strong, sitting in 10th place and in prime position to make a late run. Tony Stewart sits in ninth, just ahead of Earnhardt Jr.

The Busch brothers, Kurt and Kyle, are running neck-and-neck, sitting at sixth and seventh with the race winding down. Now is the time we’ll see cars pairing off in the two-car draft in an effort to get the biggest run-up to the finish line on the tri-oval. Earnhard Jr. and Regan Smith have formed a formidable tandem all day, and are a pair to keep an eye on.

With time winding down, it’s crunch time as the field jockeys for position. For more on the race, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Note: An earlier error about Kahne's trouble was corrected. Kahne was able to finish the race in 25th.

Daytona 500 Results: Caution Record Tied, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Lurking

The 2011 Daytona 500 tied a race record with its 11th caution of the day as the yellow flag waved with just about 60 laps to go. Cautions have been coming out left and right at Daytona International Speedway as drivers have spun-out, hit the wall or blown engines throughout the race. 27 drivers remain on the lead lap, but it’s been slow going for much of the race. With 55 laps to go in the Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has come full-circle, jumping into the lead to the delight of the crowd.

The leaders are bunched together again with Regan Smith behind Earnhardt Jr., followed by Kyle Busch and Joey Logano. Kasey Kahne sits in fifth, lurking right behind the leaders and lying in wait. Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer are all within a second, as well. With cautions all over the place, it’s been impossible for anyone to break away for an extended period of time as restarts have come early and often.

The 11 cautions tie a race-record set in 1968 and tied in 2005 and 2006. The track record, set in 1989, is 12 a record surely in reach with plenty of race left. In the first 145 laps, drivers have been under caution for 31 laps. To say it’s been a slog would be an understatement.

When the drivers are under green flag conditions, the racing has been entertaining. Two-, three- and four-wide racing has been the norm as drivers are all jockeying for position. With everyone bunched together, it’s setting up for a fast and furious finish at Daytona as drivers utilize their pit strategies to set up for the final run. One more caution should give the drivers a last-chance to pit for the stretch run, allowing them all to top-off and, perhaps, get a change of tires in.

For more on the race, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Daytona 500 Results: Kurt Busch Leads As Race Falls Under Ninth Caution

The Daytona 500 has been plagued with a ridiculous amount of cautions, with nine yellow flags coming out as the race passes the halfway point. Because of engine trouble, spin-outs and wrecks, the field continues to be pared down, with just 25 cars on the lead lap now. Kyle Busch has the lead on lap 106 as he continues to avoid trouble.

Paul Menard is right on Busch’s tail, followed by Clint Bowyer, Joey Logano and Trevor Bayne. Enumclaw’s Kasey Kahne is sitting in 13 as he continues to run strong at Daytona International Speedway. After starting from the back of the pack, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is still hanging around, sitting in 18th, but still within striking distance in the middle of the pack. Juan Pablo Montoya, once near the front, is the last car on the lead lap, 24 seconds off the pace.

Whether it’s the speed, the new racing surface or just the hazards of driving in the large pack, it’s been a caution-fest at Daytona all day, with no signs of slowing down. With great speed comes the hazard of overheating, and we’ve seen plenty of engines blow already today at Daytona. Speeds continue to push 195 miles per hour, with the top lap at 200 miles per hour on the day. With all the cautions, however, the average speed at Daytona has been right around 140 miles per hour for the day.

Drivers are continuing to try and avoid trouble and stay alive down to the wire, mostly jockeying for position until the final few laps. With the way things have gone at Daytona this week, expect a tight finish on the tri-oval.

For more on the race, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Daytona 500 Results: Crash Takes Out Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon

With just 32 laps in the books at the Daytona 500, cautions have been coming out at an astounding rate. Already, the field has been placed under caution four times, the latest of which resulted from a big crash that took out a few of the favorites. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin, Greg Biffle and others were all caught up in the wreck, which may end up being considered this year’s big one.

Gordon was a favorite to win the Daytona 500 after qualifying second last Sunday, just behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jimmy Johnson, a star on the NASCAR circuit, was certainly in the mix as well, but saw his hopes end with the crash. Kevin Harvick and JJ Yeley are also out, though each dropped earlier in the race with problems.

With the crash involving a fair amount of cars, the field is quickly being pared down, with just 30 cars on the lead lap. At the start, 43 drivers were entered, but many have already fallen off the pace for various reasons as cautions come out left and right. With speeds hitting the 200 mile per hour mark and cars racing three- and even four-wide, the margin for error is slim.

In non-crash related news, Earnhardt Jr. continues to climb, sitting in eighth as it stands now. Enumclaw’s Kasey Kahne is in 18th, sliding in-and-out of the top-10 throughout the first quarter of the race. Jamie McMurray currently leads, followed closely by Juan Pablo Montoya.

For more on the race, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Daytona 500 Results: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Flying, Kasey Kahne In Top-10

It’s early in the Daytona 500, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. is flying through the pack already after starting all the way in the back after wrecking the car he qualified in on Wednesday. Earnhardt Jr. is all the way up to 12th already with just a few laps in the books, navigating through the treacherous field at Daytona International Speedway with ease. With 11 laps in the books, we’ve already had our first caution, as Kyle Busch was forced to head into the pits to get some work done early after getting a little loose.

Enumclaw’s Kasey Kahne is holding steady, as well, hanging onto a top-10 spot as he floats right around 10th place. Kahne started on the fifth row after finishing strong in his Gatorade Duels race earlier in the week.

AJ Allmendinger currently sits at first, leading the long drafting line early at Daytona. Mark Martin is in second, Kevin Harvick is third, Matt Kenseth sits fourth and Jeff Gordon rounds out the top-5. Gordon qualified second in the fastest-lap qualifier last Sunday, just behind Earnhardt Jr.

Keep an eye on Earnhardt Jr. as he continues to move up. Though it’s early, he appears to have one of the best, if not the best, cars in the field, as evidenced by his quick move through the draft early. If he can stay out of trouble — the goal of every driver at Daytona — it’s looking like he’ll be around at the end.

For more on the race, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Daytona 500 Start Time Set For 10 A.M.; Kasey Kahne Starts 11th

After a short offseason, NASCAR is back, with drivers hitting the track at Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500 on Sunday morning. The race is an event itself, with Daytona SpeedWeeks filling the time and serving as an appetizer ahead of Sunday’s big race. From the Bud Shootout to the Nationwide Series event and the unique qualifying at Daytona, drivers are tested early and often during SpeedWeeks. On Sunday, though, they’ll face the biggest test of them all: 500 laps at 200 miles per hour in close-quarters.

The Daytona 500 starts at around 10 a.m. Pacific on Sunday morning with those famous words — “Gentlemen, start your engines” — getting the festivities underway. FOX has the broadcast covered, with coverage beginning at 9 a.m. Pacific.

Enumclaw’s Kasey Kahne qualified 11th by way of the Gatorade Duels on Thursday and will start on the inside of the fifth row. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon qualified first and second, respectively, in the fastest-lap qualifier, but Earnhardt Jr. was forced to the back of the pack after crashing in practice on Wednesday. The crash was his second at SpeedWeeks after he also fell victim to the big one in last week’s Bud Shootout. More on the lineup and other information about the race can be found here.

Check out all the coverage beginning at 9 a.m. on FOX. For more on the race, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Daytona 500: Start Time, Lineup, TV Information And More

The Great American Race, the Daytona 500, is set to take place on Sunday with NASCAR's best drivers duking it out over 500 miles at Daytona International Speedway. From Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Enumclaw's Kasey Kahne, the field is full of star-power, gathered together to kick the 2011 season off right. Drivers start their engine early on Sunday morning and on the third lap, fans in attendance will participate in a tribute to Dale Earnhardt to mark the 10-year anniversary of his passing at Daytona.

Here's all the information for Sunday's race.

Time: Coverage begins at 9 a.m. local time, live from Daytona International Speedway.

Lineup: The full lineup can be found here. Though Earnhardt Jr. won the pole in qualifying last Sunday, a wreck during Wednesday's practice will force him to the back of Sunday's field. In his place, Kurt Busch will start on the pole, though Earnhardt Jr. is still officially the pole-sitter. Enumclaw's Kasey Kahne was slotted at 11th, but will start on the inside of the fifth row.

TV Information: FOX has the race coverage and will be with you the whole way, beginning at 9 a.m. Pacific. For the local viewers in Seattle, the FOX affiliate can be found on channel 13.

What To Watch For: As with any major speedway race, everyone is on the lookout for the big one. Most of the drivers will spend the race bunched together tightly in a wolfpack on steroids, with side-by-side and three-wide racing the norm at Daytona. One minor slip and it all goes downhill fast.

Dale Earnhardt Tribute: To mark the 10th anniversary of Earnhardt's passing, NASCAR officials are asking fans to stand in silence during the third lap of the Daytona 500. Fans will hold up three fingers are cars fly by during the third lap, with the broadcast crew sitting silent during the tribute. It should be a touching tribute for a racing legend.

It's About The Draft: After last weekend's Bud Shootout, it became clear changes were afoot in NASCAR. Drivers paired-off, two-by-two, to draft, forgoing the typical drafting lines prevalent at restrictor-plate races. The two-car draft allowed drivers to easily break the 200 mile per hour barrier, but wasn't as pleasant on the eyes for many. In response, NASCAR made some changes this week to force cars to stay away from the two-car drafts for most of Sunday's race, making it easier for the cars to overheat. Expect cars to pair-off down the stretch, though, as everyone looks to make their move late in the race.

If there's one NASCAR event to watch a year, it's the Daytona 500. It's still regarded as the biggest and best race on the series; and event race fans look forward to each year. With the rest of the SpeedWeeks events in the books -- including the Bud Shootout, Camping World Truck Series race and Nationwide Series race -- it all comes down to the main event in Daytona Beach. Tune in at 9 a.m. for all the action on FOX.

For more on the race, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

NASCAR Nationwide Series: Tony Stewart Wins At Daytona, Kasey Kahne 11th

In a wild race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Jeff Gordon took home the win in thrilling fashion at the Drive4COPD 300, edging out Clint Bowyer at the wire. Joey Lagano made a hard charge on the white flag lap, but pushed just a bit too much, hitting the wall just before the finish. Using the two-man draft that’s become prevalent this week at Daytona, Tony Stewart and Landon Cassill took advantage of Lagano’s misstep, shooting towards the front as they hauled-in Bowyer from behind.

With room on the track running out, Stewart made his move at the last possible moment, just barely nudging by Bowyer at the wire. Stewart took home the race by fractions of a second in a photo finish as the timing of his move was impeccable. Bowyer finished second, Cassill was third and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who linked up with Bowyer to create some separation from the pack, finished fourth.

Enumclaw’s Kasey Kahne just missed the top-10, finishing in 11th. In her first Nationwide Series start, Danica Patrick, of Indy car fame, finished 14th, one lap off the pace. Logano finished 12th after his last-lap fiasco.

The full results of the Nationwide Series race at Daytona can be found here. The event serves as an appetizer for Sunday’s main course: The Daytona 500.

For more on the races, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

2011 Daytona 500 Starting Grid: Kasey Kahne To Start 11th

The Daytona 500 is set to take place on Sunday morning and the 2011 field is set after qualifying that spanned nearly a week. Dale Earnhardt Jr. took home to pole during last Sunday’s qualifying, registering the fastest lap during the traditional qualifying portion of SpeedWeeks. Jeff Gordon was second-fastest, and was locked-in on the outside of the first row. After those two, though, the Gatorade Duels determined the rest of the field, with one race setting the inside row and the other setting the outside.

Kurt Busch took home the first of the Gatorade Duels, securing the No. 3 spot in the Daytona 500. However, with Earnhardt Jr. crashing during practice on Wednesday, forcing him to switch to a backup car, Busch will start on the pole on Sunday, even though Earnhardt Jr. is still technically the pole-sitting. Because he’s in a backup car, Earnhardt Jr. will start on the last row.

Kasey Kahne was fifth in the first Gatorade Duel, securing a high starting position for Sunday’s race. Kahne is slotted in the 11th spot, but with everyone moving up a notch because of Earnhardt Jr.’s crash will start on the inside of the fifth row. After a disappointing Bud Shootout in which he blew an engine early during the race, Kahne is looking for a little redemption at Daytona International Speedway.

Jeff Burton took home the second Gatorade Duel, and will start on the outside of row two behind Gordon. Clint Bowyer will be on the outside of the third row, with Michael Waltrip behind him in the fourth and Kyle Busch on the outside of row five. The full starting grid can be found here.

For more on SpeedWeeks, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Daytona Nationwide Race: Start Time, Drivers And TV Information For NASCAR Nationwide Series Opener

The NASCAR Nationwide Season kicks off on Saturday morning at Daytona International Speedway with the Drive4COPD 300. Serving as an appetizer to Sunday’s Daytona 500, the Nationwide Series features many of the same drivers we’ll see on Sunday in the Sprint Cup race. In addition to some of the big names of NASCAR, Danica Patrick will hit the track at Daytona, as well.

Time: Coverage begins at 10:15 a.m.

Location: Daytona International Speedway. The Nationwide Series is the second-to-last race of SpeedWeeks, capped by the Daytona 500.

Drivers: The full list of drivers can be found here. Danica Patrick starts fourth, Dale Earnhardt Jr. starts third and Clint Bowyer is on the pole for the Nationwide Series event. Enumclaw’s Kasey Kahne will start 20th, as well.

TV Information: ESPN2 has the broadcast, with the pre-race show currently taking place. Coverage from Daytona International Speedway kicks off at 10:15 a.m. PST.

For more on SpeedWeeks, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Daytona 500 Starting Lineup Set After Gatorade Duels

The Daytona 500 starting lineup is all set, determined by Thursday’s Gatorade Duels. The starting grid was formed in a two-part process, with drivers running through the typical fastest-lap qualifying last Sunday, then racing in the Gatorade Duels on Thursday. Sunday’s qualifying set the first row, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning the pole and Jeff Gordon taking the outside spot on the first row. The rest of the field was determined in the Gatorade Duels, with a few drivers securing spots in the field and the rest racing for placement.

Earnhardt Jr. still has the pole position, but won’t actually start there in the Daytona 500. On Wednesday, he wrecked the car he qualified in, forcing him to use a backup car for Sunday’s race. Because of the switch, Earnhardt Jr. will go to the back of the pack on Sunday, vacating his pole position.

Kurt Busch will start in Earnhardt Jr.’s place after winning one of the two Gatorade Duels heats. Busch was to start on the inside of the second row, but will now start on the pole. Everyone else will move up one spot on the inside as Earnhardt Jr. moves to the back of the field. Jeff Burton, winner of the second Gatorade Duel, will start on the outside of the second row.

For the full starting lineup, go here. Be sure to check out the story on Brian Keselowski, who went from ultimate underdog to starting 12th in the Daytona 500 yesterday during the Gatorade Duels.

For more on the race, check out our 2011 Daytona 500 StoryStream.

2011 Daytona 500 Starting Grid: Jeff Burton Takes Home Gatorade Duels Title, Daytona 500 Field Set

In a wild race, Jeff Burton won the second Gatorade Duel on Thursday afternoon, edging out Clint Bowyer amidst absolute mayhem on the track at Daytona International Speedway. The victory was Burton’s first, putting him near the front of the line on the outside row for Sunday’s Daytona 500. The win was Burton’s first-ever durind Daytona’s SpeedWeeks, as well.

With drivers battling for both position and those vital transfer spots, spin-outs and wrecks we prevalent throughout the race, capped by another huge wreck as the leaders were crossing the finish line. Joey Logano, Casey Mears and others were caught up in the carnage, unable to finish the race due to car damage.

Michael Waltrip took home one of the transfer spots by virtue of his third-place finish in the second Gatorade Duel. Brian Keselowski is also in after his brother Brad recovered from a crash to push him to the front. Dave Blaney took one of the transfer spots home after waiting for the results of the second of the Gatorade Duels. Blaney got the nod after Waltrip finished in the top-5.

The full results for the Gatorade Duels can be found at SB Nation’s Daytona 500 StoryStream.

For more on the race, check out our 2011 Daytona 500 StoryStream.

2011 Daytona 500 Starting Grid: Gatorade Duels First Race Sets Bottom Row

Thursday’s Gatorade Duels are NASCAR’s unique way of determining the starting grid at the Daytona 500, with all but two spots determined by two 60-lap races. Last Sunday, the pole position and outside of row one were determined in the traditional way, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon securing their spots with the typical fastest lap. With one of the two Gatorade Duels in the books, the bottom row of the Daytona 500 starting grid is set, with the top lane to be determined by the second Gatorade Duel, currently in progress.

Kurt Busch took home his second checkered flag in less than a week, edging Regan Smith in the 60-lap duel. Because of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s crash in practice on Tuesday, Busch will start on the inside of the front row, in the pole position. Earnhardt Jr. will start at the back of the field after wrecking the car he qualified in.

J.J. Yeley and Michael Waltrip also made the field by way of transfer spots, though the way they did so is beyond my pay grade. For more on the transfer spots, and the full results of the first Gatorade Duel, check out SB Nation’s Daytona 500 StoryStream.

For the rest of our coverage, check out our own 2011 Daytona 500 StoryStream. We’ll keep you updated on the second duel, while also keeping track of the goings-on during practice this week.

Gatorade Duels: Time, Drivers, TV Information And More For 2011 Daytona 500 Qualifying Races

The second part of qualifying for the Daytona 500 gets underway on Thursday morning as drivers take part in the Gatorade Duels. The twin 60-lap races will determine all but one spot in the field, with Jeff Gordon the only driver to hold a locked-in position. Dale Earnhardt Jr., the pole winner, will instead start at the back of the pack in Sunday’s 2011 Daytona 500 after wrecking his car in practice on Wednesday.

Time:

Location: Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Drivers. A full list of drivers can be found here. Of note, there are still a few open spots in the race, which will be given to those that finish in transfer spots in the Gatorade Duels.

TV Information: Speed Network has the coverage locally, beginning at 11 a.m. PST.

How It Works: Well, it was already complicated, but the Dale Earnhardt Jr. crash on Wednesday made it even worse. SB Nation’s Jeff Gluck explains what Earnhardt Jr.’s crash means for the field and how the front row will be determined. At any rate, drivers in the top-35 are in, while the rest are vying for a pivotal transfer spot. More information can be found here.

It all gets underway at 11 a.m. on SPEED, with drivers all jockeying for position in the Daytona 500. By the end of the day, we’ll know the full starting grid, determined by the order of finish in the Gatorade Duels. For more on the races, follow along with the Daytona 500 StoryStream at SB Nation.

Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wins Pole, Jeff Gordon Second In Qualifying

The first round of Daytona qualifying is over and just like the Bud Shootout, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be on the pole. Earnhardt Jr. turned in the fastest lap in Sunday’s qualifying at 186.089 miles per hour. Jeff Gordon was right on Earnhardt Jr.‘s heels, turning in a lap of 185.966 miles per hour. Those two will be on the front row, with the rest of the drivers’ starting spots determined through the Gatorade Duels, set to take place later this week. Trevor Bayne, Paul Menard and Clint Bowyer rounded out the top-five.

Enumclaw’s Kasey Kahne, fresh-off blowing an engine in the Bud Shootout on Saturday night, had a disappointing qualifying session, turning in the 29th-fastest time. Three other drivers made it through based on speed, as well — Bill Elliot, Travis Kvapli and Joe Nemechek. Terry Labonte also guaranteed himself a spot in the field by using a past champion’s provisional.

With speed qualifying out of the way, Daytona International Speedway will sit idle on Monday and Tuesday. Drivers will hit the track again on Wednesday for practices, with Sprint Cup drivers getting set for the Gatorade Duels and the trucks and Nationwide Series drivers also going through preparations. On Thursday, the Daytona 500 field will be set in stone with the running of the Gatorade Duels.

The full qualifying order from Sunday can be found here. For more on Speedweeks, check out our Daytona 500 StoryStream.

Daytona 500 Schedule: Qualifying, Gatorade Duels And Race Times

It's Speedweeks in Daytona, with the Bud Shootout in the rear-view mirror and drivers focused on qualifying for next Sunday's Daytona 500, beginning with Sunday's qualifying session. With Speedweeks comes a packed schedule, culminating in the Great American Race, the Daytona 500, next Sunday. Ahead of the race itself, however, is plenty of NASCAR action to keep race fans satisfied throughout the week.

Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is a unique experience, explained by SB Nation's Jeff Gluck. In short, the top-35 in owner points from 2010 are locked-in and only jockeying for position in the race. Those not in the top-35 have to make it in either through one of four transfer spots in the Gatorade Duels or by qualifying on the front row. Both the pole and outside of the front row will be determined by speed, with qualifying taking place all day Sunday.

Here's the schedule of events for the week.

Daytona 500 Qualifying: Sunday at 10:05 p.m., with 49 drivers running to secure a spot on the front row. Here's the full list of drivers in the running.

Gatorade Duels: 11 a.m. on Thursday. The Gatorade Duels are a series of 150-mile qualifying races to determine the starting order of the rest of the field. As explained earlier, the only two spots exempt are those on the front row, determined with the traditional fastest-lap qualifier.

Camping World Truck Series: 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The first of the actual races gets going with the truck series. The race is 250 miles, or 100 laps, at the oval.

Nationwide Series: 10:15 a.m. on Saturday. Serving as the warmup for the main event, the Nationwide series is just a step below the Sprint Cup on the circuit. The Nationwide race is 300 miles, or 120 laps.

Daytona 500: The 53rd running of the Daytona 500 takes place on Sunday at 10 a.m. It is, of course, 500 miles, or 200 laps at Daytona International. The 500 serves as the culmination of Speedweeks, and is the granddaddy of NASCAR.

For more on the races, check out SB Nation's Daytona 500 StoryStream.