The odd starting positions for the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season opener, the Daytona 500, are set following Gander RV Duel 1.
With Gander RV Duel 1 in the books, the odd starting positions for the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season opener, the 61st annual Daytona 500, at Daytona International Speedway have been set. They were determined based on the results of this race.
Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick won the 60-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona International Speedway oval in Daytona Beach, Florida in his #4 Ford to secure himself the third place starting position for Sunday’s 200-lap race at the track.
Third place was the highest possible Daytona 500 starting position for the drivers who competed in Gander RV Duel 1, as Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron, who started it from the pole position, already clinched the pole position for the Daytona 500 with his qualifying run this past Sunday, February 10.
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Byron finished Gander RV Duel 1 in 16th place in his #24 Chevrolet, as he opted to fall toward the back of the field after several laps since being involved in a wreck likely would have forced him to use a backup car for the Daytona 500, which would have resulted in him losing the pole position for the race.
Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson, who started Gander RV Duel 1 in second place in his #48 Chevrolet as the fastest qualifier on Sunday who failed to secure a front row starting position, finished in eighth. As a result, he is set to start the Daytona 500 on the inside of the ninth row in 17th.
Here is a list of the drivers who are set to start in the odd starting positions for the 2019 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
Odd Starting Positions
1st – William Byron
3rd – Kevin Harvick
5th – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
7th – Paul Menard
9th – Matt DiBenedetto
11th – Martin Truex Jr.
13th – Darrell Wallace Jr.
15th – Chris Buescher
17th – Jimmie Johnson
19th – Ryan Newman
21st – Ryan Preece
23rd – Daniel Suarez
25th – Parker Kligerman
27th – Landon Cassill
29th – Daniel Hemric
31st – Kyle Busch
33rd – Matt Tifft
35th – Brad Keselowski
37th – Cody Ware
39th – Tyler Reddick
Gander RV Duel 2 is set to determine the even starting positions for the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season opener, the 61st annual Daytona 500, thus setting the starting lineup for the race. This race is scheduled to be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET this evening. Be sure to tune in to it at that time.