Who Could Get In Via the Gatorade Duels

Qualifying Time

Boris Said (No. 60 Ford): Fastest of non-qualifiers, but could make the 500 one of two ways — if he finishes first or second among the go-or-go-home drivers, or if Michael Waltrip, Joe Nemechek or David Reutimann finish top-2 among the drivers not in on owners’ points.

Patrick Carpentier (No. 10 Dodge): Second-fastet of non-qualifiers, but could make the 500 one of two ways — if he finishes first or second among the go-or-go-home drivers or if Waltrip, Nemechek, Reutimann or Said finish top-2 among the drivers not in on owenrs points.

Brian Vickers (No. 83 Toyota): Third-fastert non-qualifier, but could make the 500 one of two ways — if he finishes among the top-2 among the go-or-go-home drivers, or if Waltrip, Nemechek, Reutimann, Said or Carpentier finish top-2 among the drivers not in on owners points.

Jacques Villeneuve (No. 27 Toyota): Fourth-fastest non-qualifiers, but could make the 500 one of two ways — if he finishes among the top-2 among the go-or-go-home drivers, or if Waltrip, Nemechek, Reutimann, Said or Carpentier finish top-2 among the drivers not in on owners points.

Past Champions

Bill Elliott (No. 21 Ford): The 1988 champion must place top-2 among the go or go-homers in his duel or hope both Kurt Busch and Dale Jarrett finish top-2 in their Duels.

Dale Jarrett (No. 44 Toyota): D.J. must finish top-2 among the go or go-homers, unless Busch manages to do that. Then Jarrett would earn the past champion’s provisional because his 1999 championship is more recent than Elliott’s 1988 title.

Who Must Race Their Way In

Stanton Barrett (No. 50 Chevrolet): He’s raced in four Duels with an average finish of 21st and despite making 11 Daytona starts, he has yet to make a 500 start. Odds of making the race: 40-to-1.

Ken Schrader (No. 49 Dodge): Schrader will race in his 24th Duel, and he’s averaged a finish of ninth. If he gets some help, he’s got the craftiness to sneak in. Odds: 20-to-1.

Carl Long (No. 8 Dodge): Odds are about as Long as his surname would indicate, but anything’s possible. Odds: 43-to-1.

Eric McClure (No. 37 Chevrolet): He’s been here before, racing for his proverbial Daytona 500 existence as an underdog. Despite that, he has two top-20 finishes in the Duels. Odds: 20-to-1.

Sterling Marlin (No. 09 Chevrolet): There’s something to be said for a 27-time veteran of the Duels, but does he have the equipment? Odds: 15-to-1.

AJ Allmendinger (No. 84 Toyota): Came close but fell short in his first shot a year ago, but this program has improved by leaps and bounds. Odds: 15-to-1.

Kenny Wallace (No. 87 Chevrolet): He’s tried and failed in his last two attempts at this race, so I have a feeling he’s due. Odds: 10-to-1.

John Andretti (No. 34 Chevrolet): Hasn’t tried to make the race in a couple of years, but has an average finishing position of 13th in 12 Duel starts, so it’s not out of the question. Odds: 20-to-1.

Daytona Beach News Journal