NASCAR

A new era of NASCAR is set to begin Sunday afternoon. That's when the Daytona 500 will kick off the 2022 Cup Series season in its typical thrilling fashion. However, things will be a bit different from the final race of the 2021 campaign.

This year's Daytona 500 will be the first Cup Series points race for NASCAR's Next Gen car. And because the cars will drive a bit differently, it could take an adjustment period for the drivers to get used to them.

But there won't be much time for that, as 40 drivers will be battling it out for a Daytona 500 victory Sunday. One driver will emerge victorious at The Great American Race, adding his name to the illustrious list of the event's champions, which dates back to 1959.

Here's everything else you need to know heading into the 2022 Daytona 500.

    

Top Odds to Win

Kyle Larson: +900 (bet $100 to win $900)

Denny Hamlin: +900

Ryan Blaney: +1000

Chase Elliott: +1100

Joey Logano: +1200

Brad Keselowski: +1400

William Byron: +1500

Kyle Busch: +1500

Alex Bowman: +1800

Austin Dillon: +1800

Bubba Wallace: +2000

Kurt Busch: +2000

Kevin Harvick: +2000

Martin Truex Jr.: +2000

Complete list of odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook

     

Preview, Predictions

NASCAR's superspeedway races can lead to surprise winners ending up in Victory Lane. That's because there's always the potential for big crashes that can knock the top contenders out of the race. So the victor may be one of the drivers who can make it safely to the finish, even if it's not a frequent winner.

The 2021 Daytona 500 fit that mold, because Michael McDowell ended up winning the race. It was his 358th career Cup Series start, and he was 36 at the time, so it was quite the underdog story.

Could something similar happen in 2022? It's quite possible, especially because we don't know how certain drivers will handle the Next Gen car and who may unexpectedly struggle a bit early in the season because of it.

Despite that, it wouldn't be surprising to see some of the typical top drivers battling for the win late. Although some things may be different, it's still Daytona International Speedway, and there are plenty of drivers who know what it takes to win there.

The four Hendrick Motorsports drivers could all have strong showings. Kyle Larson, the defending Cup Series champion, will be starting on the pole, and he'll be joined on the front row by Alex Bowman. Chase Elliott (starting 11th) and William Byron (23rd) may also drive their way to the front of the pack.

Denny Hamlin is another driver to watch, considering his success at Daytona in recent years. He won the Daytona 500 for the first time in 2016, then recorded another pair of victories in The Great American Race in 2019 and 2020. But he's starting 30th this year and will need to work his way through the field.

The other former Daytona 500 winners in the field are McDowell (2021), Austin Dillon (2018), Kurt Busch (2017), Joey Logano (2015) and Kevin Harvick (2007).

However, there are plenty of strong drivers who have never won the Daytona 500 and could potentially end up in Victory Lane on Sunday. And the prediction here is that's what will happen, as Ryan Blaney will emerge from the competitive field victorious.

Although Blaney hasn't won this race, he's been victorious at Daytona. In fact, he won the most recent points race at the track, as he finished first in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 last August. The 28-year-old also finished second in the Daytona 500 in both 2016 and 2020.

It's only a matter of time before Blaney becomes a Daytona 500 champion, considering his success at the track and other superspeedway races. He's also starting seventh this year, so he has the potential to stay near the front of the field for much of the race.

Drivers such as Larson, Elliott, Hamlin and Brad Keselowski are likely to be near the front late, but expect Blaney to get out front and hold off the other top contenders, notching a huge win to open his seventh full-time Cup Series season.

Prediction: Blaney wins his first career Daytona 500

      

---

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

Sunday marks the 64th running of the Daytona 500 and the official start of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Rain washed out last year's Daytona 500, causing it to be finished on a Monday, but with only a 10 percent chance of rain for this year's race, all signs point to it running to completion Sunday.

The field for this year's Great American Race will be a stacked one with six former winners and many more hungry drivers looking for their first career Daytona 500 win.

Here is all the information you need to watch Sunday's highly anticipated race, as well as a closer look at some of the drivers who figure to be in contention.

Where: Dayton International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida

When: Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2:30 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports App

Top Drivers to Watch

Kyle Larson

While Kyle Larson has never won a Daytona 500 in his career, he is viewed as one of the top candidates to win Sunday after what he accomplished last season.

After being suspended for most of the 2020 season for using a racial slur during an iRacing event, Larson was reinstated and signed with Hendrick Motorsports.

That decision paid big dividends, as the 29-year-old won 10 races last season and his first career NASCAR Cup Series title after previously never finishing better than sixth in the standings.

Larson's dominance has already carried over to this season, as he is sitting on the pole for the 2022 Daytona 500 with Hendrick teammate Alex Bowman to his outside.

Winning the Daytona 500 would put Larson well on his way to becoming a back-to-back Cup Series champion, and given that he is coming off one of the greatest seasons in Cup Series history, there is no reason why he can't pull it off.

Denny Hamlin

Of all the talented drivers running in Sunday's race, Denny Hamlin is the only one with multiple Daytona 500 victories.

Hamlin has won the event three times, making him one of only six drivers in NASCAR history to accomplish that feat.

The veteran is tied with Jeff Gordon, Bobby Allison and Dale Jarrett for the third-most Daytona 500 wins, and if he can win again Sunday, he will move into a tie for second with Cale Yarborough.

Hamlin has finished fifth or better in the Daytona 500 in each of the past four years, including wins in 2019 and 2020. He is also coming off a third-place finish in the Cup Series standings, marking the third straight year he finished fourth or better.

No driver in the field has the history of success at Daytona that Hamlin does, and even though he is starting 30th, he promises to be a major threat.

Michael McDowell

Last year's Daytona 500 was a shocker to race fans, as journeyman Michael McDowell scored his first career Cup Series win.

McDowell took advantage of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano crashing out of the race on the last lap and became the most surprising Daytona 500 winner since Trevor Bayne in 2011.

While McDowell didn't win another race last season, he had four more top-10 finishes and ended up 16th in the Cup Series standings, showing that he may not necessarily be a one-hit wonder.

Even though last season marked his first time breaking through with a Daytona 500 win, he has traditionally run very well at the track.

McDowell has finished 15th or better in each of his past six Daytona 500 runs, and he has finished inside the top 10 four times overall.

McDowell is starting from the No. 6 spot Sunday, and a second consecutive win isn't out of the question.

The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season is almost here, and like always, the new campaign will begin in exciting fashion. The Daytona 500 is set to take place at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, and as recent history has shown, any driver could win the Great American Race.

Remember what happened in 2021? That's when Michael McDowell, who was 36 at the time, raced to victory in the Daytona 500 for his first Cup Series win in his 358th career start.

McDowell ended a run of Daytona 500 success for Denny Hamlin, who had won the race three times in a span of five years (2016, 2019 and 2020). But since 2010, Hamlin is the only driver who has won the Daytona 500 more than once, with nine other drivers in Victory Lane at the event over that time.

Here's a look at the drivers who have the best odds to win the 2022 Daytona 500, followed by a preview of the race and predictions for who will contend for the victory.

     

Top Odds to Win

Kyle Larson: +900 (bet $100 to win $900)

Denny Hamlin: +900

Ryan Blaney: +1000

Chase Elliott: +1100

Joey Logano: +1200

Brad Keselowski: +1400

William Byron: +1500

Kyle Busch: +1500

Alex Bowman: +1800

Austin Dillon: +1800

Bubba Wallace: +2000

Kurt Busch: +2000

Kevin Harvick: +2000

Martin Truex Jr.: +2000

Complete list of odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook

     

Preview, Predictions

Hendrick Motorsports drivers dominated the 2022 Cup Series season, as Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman combined to win 17 of the 36 races. Ten of those victories belonged to Larson, who captured his first career Cup Series title.

Although Hendrick drivers won nearly half the races, one they didn't win was the Daytona 500. In fact, a Hendrick Motorsports driver hasn't made it to Victory Lane at the Great American Race since Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. won in back-to-back years in 2013 and 2014.

Could that drought end for the team in 2022? It's quite possible, as any of Larson, Elliott, Byron or Bowman could end up finishing in first place on Sunday. Larson and Bowman are on the front row after they secured their starting spots during Wednesday's qualifying, while Elliott will start 11th and Byron will start 23rd.

Larson may have fared well in 2021, but the 2022 Cup Series season could be different for him and every driver in the field. That's because NASCAR has introduced the Next Gen car, which nobody has much experience driving. The Daytona 500 will be the first points race to feature the new car.

If Michael McDowell can race his way to Victory Lane on Sunday, he'll join an exclusive group of drivers who have won in consecutive years. The only previous drivers to win back-to-back Daytona 500s are Richard Petty (1973 and 1974), Cale Yarborough (1983 and 1984), Sterling Marlin (1994 and 1995) and Denny Hamlin (2019 and 2020).

McDowell may still have only one Cup Series win after his surprise Daytona 500 victory last year, but he's been strong in practice this week. He had the fastest lap time of 46.71 seconds during Friday's third practice session.

So far this week, Fords have been the top cars in practice, as it has had at least the five fastest drivers in each of the first three practice sessions. A Ford has also been to Victory Lane at three of the past seven Daytona 500s, including McDowell last year.

But one of the things that makes the Daytona 500 exciting is its unpredictability. It doesn't matter who the top drivers in the Cup Series are, or who had the fastest cars in practices. A big crash can break out at any moment during the race, and that will shuffle the field and could lead to a surprise winner.

In order to race to victory at Daytona, a driver has to position himself well, avoid any potential mistakes or huge crashes and be near the front with enough time to make a move for the lead. So, who's going to do that in 2022?

Several Hendrick Motorsports should have solid performances, and at least one will likely be contending for the win. Hamlin has a good chance of being in the mix, while other favorites such as Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano could be battling for the lead late.

However, the prediction here is that Ryan Blaney will best all of those drivers and win his first career Daytona 500. The 28-year-old has had success at superspeedways in his Cup Series career, finishing in the top 10 at six of the past nine races at either Daytona or Talladega. He also won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 last August for his first career win at Daytona.

Blaney continues to get better at superspeedways, and even though the Next Gen car presents a wild card, the driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford is a strong pick to win this year's Daytona 500.

Prediction: Blaney wins his first career Daytona 500

     

---

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.

The NASCAR Cup Series opens its 2022 season in its traditional spot at the Daytona 500 on Sunday. 

The season-opening race produced an unexpected winner in Michael McDowell during a weather-affected and crash-filled event last February. 

Reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, who sits on Sunday's pole, is one of the top names in the field who will try to keep another surprise champion out of Victory Lane. 

Larson and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates produced some of the strongest runs in qualifying and Thursday's Duel races, but they need to back it up over 500 miles on Sunday. 

Hendrick Motorsports has not won the "Great American Race" since Dale Earnhardt Jr. made it to Victory Lane in 2014. 

Since then, Denny Hamlin has been the dominant driver at Daytona. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver won three Daytona 500s in 2016, 2019 and 2020.

Hamlin, Larson and the other drivers in the field will be forced to deal with the chaotic nature of racing at Daytona while adjusting to the new NextGen Car, which makes its debut in a Cup Series points race on Sunday.

    

Daytona 500 Info

Date: Sunday, February 20

Start Time: 2:30 p.m. ET 

TV: Fox

Live Stream: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports app

   

Preview

Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin must headline the list of names to watch throughout the 500-mile jaunt around Daytona International Speedway.

Larson dominated the Cup Series circuit during the 2021 season, and he started off the 2022 campaign with a pole victory from Wednesday's qualifying session.

The No. 5 car driver has never won the Daytona 500, and he is trying to end a seven-race drought for Hendrick Motorsports. 

Larson should reside near the front of the race for the early stages since he will have teammate Alex Bowman next to him from the start. The top two qualifiers should join up in the same line to draft right away.

Chase Elliott and William Byron could join the front row pair to give the Hendrick cars a strong hold on parts of the race. 

The goal at Daytona is to link up with teammates, or drivers from the same manufacturer, to draft until the final stage of the race, which is typically a free-for-all.

As long as the Hendrick cars avoid any of the major wrecks, they should all be in the mix for the victory. That is a big if given Daytona's history for producing unpredictable multi-car wrecks because of the style of racing at the track. 

Hamlin begins the race in 30th place, but he should make his way up the field in a prompt manner. All three of his teammates start in the Top 15, so once he joins them, the Toyota drafting lines should be tough to stop. 

Hamlin's three Daytona 500 victories give him an edge over drivers in how to approach the race in terms of strategy and race positioning. He does not need to be in the lead from the start, but he will be lurking around the top positions.

Ryan Blaney and Brad Keselowski headline the group of Ford racers to watch. The former Team Penske teammates were in front of the first Duel qualifying race on Thursday.

Blaney topped Wednesday's second practice session, and he was in front of Keselowski for most of Duel 1 before his former teammate took the win.

Look for Keselowski, Blaney and Harrison Burton to form some sort of alliance early in the race to keep the Fords in the mix.

Joey Logano, who won in 2015, is worth watching later in the race. He is starting at the back of the field after a crash at the end of Duel 2 took out his primary car. 

There is always a chance that an unexpected winner, like McDowell, appears, but there are many strong drivers in the field who will try to make sure that does not happen. 

The Daytona Duels gave us a small glimpse into which teams will be successful during Sunday's Daytona 500. 

The Hendrick Motorsports pair of Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman earned spots on the front row by topping Wednesday's qualifying session.

Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher landed on the second row through two very different types of victories from Thursday's Duels. 

Keselowski used a pass with a few laps to go to overtake Ryan Blaney and win Duel 1. Buescher benefited from Joey Logano's spin on the final lap to win Duel 2. 

Logano's final-lap crash on Thursday forced him to go to a backup car, which means he will start at the rear of the field. 

A handful of teammates are stacked up together in the starting order, and there is a good chance the Hendrick and Team Penske drivers spend most of the first stage in front of the field. 

       

Daytona 500 Info

Date: Sunday, February 20

Start Time: 2:30 p.m. ET 

TV: Fox

Live Stream: FoxSports.com and Fox Sports app

    

Starting Lineup

Daytona 500 starting lineup. Logano to the rear for a backup car: ⁦@NASCARONFOX⁩ pic.twitter.com/2rfDDANpHr

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 18, 2022

     

Preview

The Hendrick Motorsports cars were the fastest during Wednesday's qualifying, and there is a good chance that team controls the first stage of the race. 

Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman will start on the front row, Chase Elliott begins the race in 11th place, and William Byron will be back in 23rd. 

Three or four of the Hendrick Chevrolet machines could band together and hold on to the lead in what is typically the more conservative of the stages at Daytona International Speedway.

No one wants to lose the Daytona 500 in the first 150 miles, and that could lead to drivers not being too aggressive and feeling out which drivers are willing to draft with them outside of their teams. 

The larger teams will have their drivers band together, and then smaller teams with associations to them will add to the alliance. 

For example, Harrison Burton of Wood Brothers Racing will team up with the Team Penske cars, which means he, Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney can form a strong trio from the start while Logano works his way through the field. 

The Daytona 500 will become more chaotic and individualistic as the race goes on, but the first 150-200 miles will be about positioning and avoiding the big wrecks that are regular occurrences at Daytona. 

The second half of the race will be more about strategy, and you will see drivers and teams take more risks to get out in front. 

The chaotic nature of last year's race led to Michael McDowell winning his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series race. 

A long-shot winner, like McDowell, may not be possible again, but with so many variables involved at Daytona, it is hard to imagine Larson and Bowman will dictate the race for all 500 miles. 

Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing swept the NASCAR Duels at Daytona on Thursday, the first time an organization has swept the duels since 2015. 

Brad Keselowski took the checkered flag in the first race, his first with RFK Racing, while Chris Buescher, also of RFK Racing, won the second race after Joey Logano wrecked on the last lap.

The two 60-lap races unsurprisingly brought the energy to Daytona International Speedway as the days to Sunday's Daytona 500 inch closer. 

Here's how thing went during Thursday's races. 

---

Race 1 Unofficial Results

1. Brad Keselowski
2. Austin Cindric
3. Ryan Blaney
4. Chase Briscoe
5. Chase Elliott
6. Erik Jones
7. Kyle Larson
8. Tyler Reddick
9. Kurt Busch
10. Ross Chastain
11. Daniel Suarez
12. William Byron Jr. 
13. Justin Haley
14. Landon Cassill
15. Todd Gilliland
16. Cole Custer
17. Daniel Hemric
18. Kaz Grala
19. JJ Yeley
20. BJ McLeod
21. Noah Gragson

---

Keselowski held off pushes from Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney and Chase Briscoe to capture his first career duel race. He passed Blaney for the lead in Duel 1 with just four laps remaining, and now the driver of the No. 6 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing will start the Daytona 500 in the third slot.

CHECKERED FLAG: What a start for @RFKracing!@keselowski takes the 🏁 in #BluegreenDuel No. 1! pic.twitter.com/1CYpfzGswh

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2022

Retweet to congratulate Brad Keselowski on his win in Duel No. 1 at Daytona! pic.twitter.com/sFtHpyMuc8

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 18, 2022

“I felt pretty good about our car. I give credit to the other Fords – Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Austin Cindric – we had great strategy," Keselowski said after Thursday's race. "We stuck together and drove away and put ourselves in position to control this race.”

He added: "It was great to see all those Fords up front. Good job to all those guys. This is special."

"This is special." - @keselowski pic.twitter.com/BRKYUM5fBO

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2022

Bet on myself and came out a winner. #6NeverQuits pic.twitter.com/HhP4n9Sf6H

— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) February 18, 2022

Thursday's win marked Keselowski's first with RFK Racing. He left Team Penske after the 2021 season to join RFK Racing, with whom he now has a minority stake in. 

The 38-year-old has never won the Daytona 500 in 12 tries. It is the only race among NASCAR's most prestigious that he has yet to win. 

A nice surprise from Thursday's first race came from Kaz Grala, who races for Floyd Mayweather's new NASCAR team. The 23-year-old passed JJ Yeley on the final lap to clinch a spot in the Daytona 500 starting lineup. 

.@KazGrala had drafting help. @jjyeley1 did not.

The No. 55 will not make Sunday's field. pic.twitter.com/tJ0uPOqJJz

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2022

There will be A LOT more hugs tonight! @KazGrala | @tmtracing50 pic.twitter.com/PqQw0jRGSc

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2022

Sunday's Daytona 500 will mark Grala's second and the first for Mayweather's "The Money Team Racing."

Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman had already locked up the first and second positions, respectively, for the Daytona 500 entering Thursday's race. Larson locked up the first spot with the fastest time in qualifying and Bowman captured the second slot with the second-fastest time in qualifying. 

---

Race 2 Unofficial Results

1. Chris Buescher
2. Michael McDowell
3. Harrison Burton
4. Kyle Busch 
5. Christopher Bell
6. Martin Truex Jr. 
7. Bubba Wallace
8. Rickey Stenhouse Jr. 
9. Joey Logano
10. Kevin Harvick
11. Corey LaJoie
12. Ty Dillon
13. Greg Biffle
14. Alex Bowman
15. Denny Hamlin
16. Cody Ware
17. David Ragan
18. Austin Dillon
19. Aric Almirola
20. Timmy Hill
21. Jacques Villenueve

---

Buescher was in a tight race for the top spot in the second race with Logano, McDowell and Burton. Logano was leading, and it appeared he was going to be the winner, but Buescher went down low trying to make a move around the No. 22 Ford driver. Logano then made a late block, and that's when he got hit by Harrison Burton and wrecked.

When the caution came out, Buescher was slightly ahead of McDowell, giving him the win to help RFK Racing sweep Thursday's NASCAR Duels. 

THE NO. 22 IS IN THE WALL! #BluegreenDuel pic.twitter.com/hAerzkJWDO

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2022

This changes everything for @joeylogano and the 2️⃣2️⃣ team. pic.twitter.com/JayhUjTPat

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 18, 2022

Logano told FS1 after the race that his late block was "just a dumb move" and that he shouldn't have done it. 

Joey Logano tells FS1 of his block that resulted in a wreck: "Just a dumb move. ... Just blew it."

— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) February 18, 2022

Buescher will start the Daytona 500 in the fourth spot thanks to his win on Thursday. 

Are we really here two times in one night??? @Chris_Buescher | @FastenalCompany pic.twitter.com/tq1Q5enaQM

— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) February 18, 2022

Greg Biffle was also impressive Thursday, finishing 13th to earn a spot in Sunday's race. The 19-time Cup Series race winner will make his first start at NASCAR's Cup Series level since 2016. 

Hendrick Motorsports dominated the Daytona 500 qualifying session on Wednesday night. 

Kyle Larson took the pole position for Sunday's race, and Alex Bowman ended up on the front row alongside the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion.

Larson and Bowman have nothing to race for in Thursday's Duels, which takes out half of the Hendrick cars for victory contention in the two qualifying races. 

Most of the recent Duel winners have come from NASCAR's big teams. Team Penske has a Duel win in three of the last four seasons, and Stewart-Haas Racing picked up wins in 2019 and 2021. 

Ryan Blaney is the top non-Hendrick driver scheduled to take part in Duel 1 on Thursday. Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch will attempt to get results for their new teams. 

Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch headline the Duel 2 lineup. Hamlin is a three-time Daytona 500 champion. 

       

Updated Daytona 500 Odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Denny Hamlin (+850; bet $100 to win $850)

Chase Elliott (+1000)

Kyle Larson (+1100)

Joey Logano (+1200)

Ryan Blaney (+1200)

William Byron (+1500)

Kyle Busch (+1500)

Brad Keselowski (+1600)

Kurt Busch (+1700)

Kevin Harvick (+1800)

Alex Bowman (+1800)

Austin Dillon (+1800)

    

Duels Predictions

Ryan Blaney Captures Duel 1

Ryan Blaney has the potential to grab a second-row starting spot on the Daytona 500 grid through a win in Duel 1. 

Blaney put down the fastest time in the second practice session on Tuesday, and he is just a few years removed from winning a Duel race in 2018.

Blaney has one teammate to work with in Austin Cindric. The two Team Penske drivers should work together to reach the front. 

The No. 12 car driver faces a major threat from the three Hendrick cars in Duel 1, but one of those drivers is not racing for anything. Larson likely will not be as competitive as he preserves his car for Sunday's race. 

The two Penske drivers could control the race alongside Chase Elliott and William Byron since a bunch of drivers from smaller teams are entered into Duel 1. 

Team Penske proved it has the horsepower on Tuesday, and its best opportunity to extend its Duel-winning run to four times in five years comes via Blaney in a weaker Duel 1 field. 

   

Joe Gibbs Racing Cars Control Duel 2

One of the best things to have at Daytona International Speedway is a teammate or two to draft with throughout the race. 

Joe Gibbs Racing has its full complement of cars in Duel 2. Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell all start between the second and fifth rows. 

The four drivers can team up to remain near, or at, the front of the competition for the duration of the race. 

Even though Hamlin is a three-time Daytona 500 champion, the Joe Gibbs cars have not won a Duel since 2017, when Hamlin captured the second qualifying race. 

The quartet of drivers should try to stick together in an attempt to win Duel 2 and to be lined up behind each other for the Daytona 500.

The second Duel race will determine the even-numbered starting positions, which means all of the Gibbs cars will start on the same lane on Sunday. 

Hamlin, Busch, Truex and Bell could use Thursday's race as practice for how they can control the main event on Sunday, and that should result in all of them running at the front. 

       

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).

21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details

The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Duels will take place as part of a condensed schedule to open the season at Daytona International Speedway.

The series typically spends two weeks at Daytona, but this year's Clash exhibition race took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 6.

NASCAR's best drivers did not get on the track in Florida until Tuesday for practice. The qualifying session for the front row will take place on Wednesday.

The starting lineups for Duel 1 and Duel 2 will be determined based off the order from Wednesday's qualifying runs. 

One of the duels will set the odd-numbered starting positions for Sunday's Daytona 500, and the other will determine the even-numbered spots on the grid. 

      

NASCAR Duels Information

Date: Thursday, February 17

Start Times: 7 and 8:45 p.m. ET 

TV: FS1 

Live Stream: FoxSports.com and FoxSports app

   

Predictions

Team Penske Sits At Top Of Field

Team Penske's Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano laid down the two best times in the second practice run on Tuesday afternoon.

Austin Cindric, who took over for Brad Keselowski in the No. 2 car, was eighth in the second practice session. 

The three strong runs by the Team Penske cars put them in a good position for the qualifying session and to have success in the duels. 

Of course, plenty of alterations will be made over the next 48 hours, but it is a promising sign for Team Penske to open up the NextGen car era with a strong outing on the track.

The team is used to having success in the Duel races. It has won one of the two races in three of the last four years. Blaney claimed victory in 2018 and Logano triumphed in 2019 and 2020. 

The recent success in navigating the event could help Team Penske settle into the races. It would help any of the three drivers if they ended up in the same race for drafting purposes. 

If Blaney or Logano do not earn the pole through qualifying, look for them to be at the front of their races. Cindric, the 2020 Xfinity Series champion, could be in the mix as well because of the horsepower in his car. 

    

Ford Cars Control Races

Ford cars produced all of the top-10 times during Tuesday's second practice. 

Some unlikely drivers, such as Harrison Burton, Cole Custer and Chase Briscoe, were among the racers with the best times. 

As noted, though, plenty can change over a day during Speedweeks, but the initial takeaway is that the Ford cars have the most speed. 

Team Penske has the most notable group of Ford cars, but Stewart-Haas Racing, RFK Racing and some smaller teams could benefit from the control of the speed standings. 

Ford had three of the top four finishers in Duel 1 last season and the top finishers from four different teams in Duel 1 in 2020. 

The manufacturers sometimes form a drafting alliance throughout the Daytona Speedweeks to have strength in numbers. 

That could be the case during one or both of the Duels for Ford to take advantage of its early speed in Daytona. 

The most exciting qualifying session of the NASCAR Cup Series season takes place on Thursday. 

The Duels prior to the Daytona 500 determine the starting order for the first race of the NASCAR season. 

Two races will take place back-to-back at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday. One race will decide the odd-numbered starting positions, and the other sets the even-numbered spots on the grid for Sunday's race. 

Thursday's races will set the starting grid from third place on down the starting grid. The front row of the Daytona 500 will be determined during Wednesday's qualifying session.

The top two racers from qualifying will start on the pole for their respective duels. 

Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin have the most career Duel wins in their careers. The pair of Joe Gibbs Racing drivers have three wins each. Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick and Joey Logano all have two Duel victories each. 

       

Daytona Duels Info

Date: Thursday, February 17

Start Times: 7 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. ET 

TV: FS1

Live Stream: Fox Sports app and FoxSports.com.

     

Drivers to Watch

Denny Hamlin 

Denny Hamlin is one of the top drivers to watch throughout the week at Daytona. 

The 41-year-old is a three-time Daytona 500 champion and also has a trio of Duels victories from 2008, 2014 and 2017. 

The No. 11 car driver turned in a less-than-ideal performance last season, when he finished in 13th place in his duel race. 

Hamlin's experience on the Daytona oval should be more valuable than in previous seasons because of all the changes happening with the cares. 

NASCAR shifted to the NextGen Series car for the 2022 season, and it may take some time for all of the drivers to get used to the driving the vehicle on the superspeedway track. 

Hamlin is expected to be in the mix for the pole in Wednesday's qualifying, but if he doesn't earn a front-row spot, he should be in competition for a high starting place through the Duel. 

The three-time Duel winner could be even more dangerous in his qualifying race if he is teamed with one or more of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates. 

       

Joey Logano

Joey Logano's two Duel victories occurred in 2019 and 2020. He has nine top-10 finishes in his 26 Daytona starts and took fourth in his Duel race last season. 

The 31-year-old could be under a bit more pressure to earn results off the bat this season because of the changes at Team Penske. 

Logano is still teamed up with Ryan Blaney, but Austin Cindric has taken over for Brad Keselowski, who has moved to RFK Racing. 

The No. 22 car driver's recent success in the Duel races could set the tone for a strong weekend for Team Penske. 

Logano and Blaney will be two of the favorites to win the Daytona 500, and Cindric could be one of the dark horses to claim victory on Sunday. 

Look for Logano to lead the Team Penske charge on Thursday to get as high as possible on the starting grid to achieve success early on Sunday. 

The sleepers in the 2022 Daytona 500 field will have a hard time matching the underdog story of Michael McDowell, who unexpectedly captured the title 12 months ago.

However, the playing field is as level as it could be for another sleeper to win since all the racers entered into the field will be making their first race runs in the new Next Gen car.

Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are among the favored drivers Sunday. But they could be beaten by the less heralded contenders because of the unpredictable nature of the Daytona 500 and the on-the-fly adjustments made during the first race of its kind in the new car setup.

                 

Top Sleepers to Watch

Christopher Bell

Christopher Bell always has to be considered as one of the top sleepers at Daytona because of the team behind him.

Joe Gibbs Racing has won three of the past six Daytona 500s thanks to Denny Hamlin, and it should be one of the best equipped teams to deal with the changing environment with the new cars.

Bell has a pair of top-20 finishes at Daytona International Speedway and started fifth in the most recent event. He should benefit from drafting alongside Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. Strength in numbers typically helps drivers in the drafting lanes throughout the race.

The No. 20 car driver does not have the Daytona oval results to warrant a pick to win the event, but he has at least started well. Bell has three top-20 starts on the Daytona oval, and that could be significant as he tries to avoid the chaos of the first stage while drivers get used to the new car on the high banking.

If Bell earns a high qualifying spot, he could translate that into leading some laps or at least a position near the front alongside his teammates. The high positioning also could help him avoid the numerous wrecks that typically happen at Daytona, which may put him in the mix for the victory.

            

Cole Custer

Cole Custer could benefit from the same factors as Bell.

Custer has strength in numbers with his Stewart-Haas Racing teammates, and he has started well at Daytona in the past. The No. 41 car driver started 12th and 16th in his first two races at Daytona. He finished 11th in a crash-filled contest in February 2021.

The alignment of Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola and Chase Briscoe alongside Custer could help the Stewart-Haas cars remain at the front and challenge the other deeper teams. Harvick and Almirola carry a ton of experience, and Briscoe finished fifth in the Xfinity Series race to open the season in 2020.

Custer finished the 2021 season with five top-20 finishes in his last six races. So if anything, he is consistent. That is key to focus on in a race wherein unexpected things are a regular occurrence.

If Custer remains calm behind the wheel and combines well with his teammates, he could be close to the top of the field at the end, as he was 12 months ago.