The starting lineup for Gander RV Duel 1 is set following the qualifying session for the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season opener, the Daytona 500.
Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron took the pole position for the opening race of the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season, the 61st annual Daytona 500, in the qualifying session for the race at Daytona International Speedway.
As a result, the 21-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native is also set to start from the pole position for Gander RV Duel 1 on Thursday, February 14 in his #24 Chevrolet. However, he will have nothing to gain in this race except for experience because of the fact that he is locked into the pole position for next Sunday’s Daytona 500.
The drivers who finished the Daytona 500 qualifying session in the odd positions are set to compete in this 60-lap Gander RV Duel 1 around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona International Speedway oval in Daytona Beach, Florida.
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Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson is set to start Gander RV Duel 1 alongside Byron on the front row as a result of the fact that he finished in third place in the Daytona 500 qualifying session in his #48 Chevrolet. He was the fastest driver of the qualifying session who is not locked into a front row starting position.
Richard Childress Racing’s Daniel Hemric, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Martin Truex Jr. and Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski are set to round out the top five in the starting lineup for this race in third, fourth and fifth place in their #8 Chevrolet, #19 Toyota and #2 Ford, respectively.
Wood Brothers Racing’s Paul Menard, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Kyle Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola are set to round out the top 10 in the starting lineup for this race in sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th place in their #21 Ford, #18 Toyota, #4 Ford, #12 Ford and #10 Ford, respectively.
The finishing order of this race, not including where Byron finishes, is set to determine the odd starting positions for the Daytona 500.
Here is the starting lineup for 2019 Gander RV Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway. Included are the Daytona 500 qualifying speeds for each driver.
Rank – Driver – Speed (miles per hour)
1 – William Byron – 194.305
2 – Jimmie Johnson – 193.807
3 – Daniel Hemric – 192.460
4 – Martin Truex Jr. – 192.353
5 – Brad Keselowski – 192.263
6 – Paul Menard – 191.107
7 – Kyle Busch – 191.164
8 – Kevin Harvick – 190.957
9 – Ryan Blaney – 190.799
10 – Aric Almirola – 190.739
11 – Kurt Busch – 190.589
12 – David Ragan – 190.420
13 – Michael McDowell – 189.978
14 – Ryan Truex – 189.737
15 – Jamie McMurray – 189.482
16 – Brendan Gaughan – 189.394
17 – Darrell Wallace Jr. – 189.191
18 – Matt Tifft – 188.667
19 – Ross Chastain – 187.899
20 – Corey Lajoie – 185.847
21 – B.J. McLeod – 182.682
Fox Sports 1 is set to broadcast Gander RV Duel 1 live from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 14, so be sure to tune in. The 61st annual Daytona 500 is scheduled to officially get the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season underway on Sunday, February 17, and it is set to be broadcast live on Fox beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET.