Gatorade Duel
Feb 23, 2012
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, FL
First race: 1959
Laps 60
Distance: 150 miles (241.401 km)
Defending Champions: Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton
The Gatorade Duel is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. |
2012 Gatorade Duels Mobile Betting Odds |
The Gatorade Duel races also were the final chance for many drivers to qualify for The Daytona 500. Known officially as the Gatorade Duel Qualifying Races, these 150-mile events will determine the starting grid for the Great American Race - the 52nd running of the Daytona 500 Sunday.
Once qualifying is over, the field is set by merging the highest ranked 35 teams in the owner standings with the
fastest seven cars not in those 35 positions, in the order of their qualifying speeds. The 43rd position is reserved
for a former champion, provided he is not already qualified and satisfies the rulebook's criteria. If unused by a
former champion, it goes to the next fastest car in qualifying. The lone exception is the Daytona 500, which uses
qualifying and two 150-mile races to determine the field.
Odds to win 2012 Gatorade Duels
2011 Gatorade Duel Winner
Kurt Busch collected his second victory of Speedweeks in the first of two Gatorade Duels, while Jeff Burton brought the Caterpillar car to Victory Lane in the second Duel, setting the field for Sunday's Daytona 500. Burton's win marked the second time a Burton had brought the Cat machine to Victory Lane at Daytona.
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