Thursday's Daytona Duels, kick-off time, starting lineup, TV, streaming the qualifying races for the 2026 Daytona 500, History
— Single lap runs by single cars are one thing ... It's time to go racing, for real, now.
That's right, Daytona 500 qualifying, which went down on Wednesday night, may have been the first session with cars on the track at Daytona International Speedway this week, but on Thursday night, beating, banging and bump drafting will commence.
It will come in the form of two 150-mile qualifying races, known now as the BlueGreen Vacation Duel at Daytona. Of course, throughout history they've been referred to as many things, namely the "Twin 125s".
The Daytona Duels are a pair of 150-mile races used to set positions 3-40 (or 41) in the starting grid for Sunday’s main event. Though the length and format of the races have changed over the years, the event has been part of Speedweek since its creation in 1959.
Thursday night is unique only to Speedweeks with the Duels serving as the only qualifying races in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season.
When are the 2026 Daytona Duels?
Daytona Duel Racers will contest two 60-lap, 150-mile events Thursday night on 12th February, with the starting order for Sunday only one element in the equation.
What time is the NASCAR Duels race today?
- The first of two Daytona Duel races is set to start at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12.
Duel No. 1 is set to get underway Thursday, Feb. 12 (7 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Meanwhile, Duel No. 2 is tentatively scheduled for 8:45 p.m. ET (FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Where is the DAYTONA Duels?
The Daytona 500, as well as all other events, Like Daytona Duels during Speedweek, is run at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
How many laps are the Daytona Duels?
The two races are scheduled for two 60-lap, 150-mile races to set rest of Daytona 500 field).
What channel is Duels at Daytona on today?
Both BlueGreen Vacation Duel at Daytona races will air on FS1 (Fox Sports 1).
Daytona Duel Format: How do the Daytona Duel races work?
Wednesday's single-car qualifying runs determined only the front row for Sunday's Daytona 500. Joey Logano won the pole, and Michael McDowell finished second and will start beside him on the front row.
The rest of the field will be set during the Duels. The drivers who posted qualifying times in the odd-numbered positions will run in one race with the even-numbered times participating in the other. The finishing order of the two races will determine the starting order in the two rows for Sunday's Great American Race.
How to watch The Duel at Daytona: Time, TV channel, live stream
Date: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026
Duel 1 Time: 7 p.m. ET
Duel 2 Time: 8:45 p.m. ET (approximate)
TV Network: FS1 (both duel races)
Streaming: Fubo, FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app
Complete 2026 Daytona Duels Field Starting lineup, drivers grid
Daytona Duel lineups to set Daytona 500 field, after pole qualifying. Briscoe, Cindric lead way
Here are those lineups:
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There are 37 drivers who know they are in the field:
— The 36 drivers of teams that have charters: AJ Allmendinger, Christopher Bell, Josh Berry, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Chase Briscoe, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, William Byron, Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Cole Custer, Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, Todd Gilliland, Noah Gragson, Denny Hamlin, Riley Herbst, Carson Hocevar, Erik Jones, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Michael McDowell, John Hunter Nemechek, Ryan Preece, Tyler Reddick, Zane Smith, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Daniel Suarez, Shane van Gisbergen, Bubba Wallace, Cody Ware and Connor Zilisch.
— Jimmie Johnson, driving a non-chartered (open) car, is guaranteed a spot in the field by using the open exemption provisional,
There are eight open entries (disclaimer: the entry list won’t be final until Wednesday) that will vie for the final four spots: Anthony Alfredo, Justin Allgaier, Corey Heim, Corey LaJoie, B.J. McLeod, Casey Mears, Chandler Smith and JJ Yeley.
First Duel at Daytona lineup
Second Duel at Daytona lineup
Full List of Daytona Duel winners by year, history 1959-2025
1959: Bob Welborn, No. 49 Chevrolet; Shorty Rollins, No. 99 Ford
1960: Fireball Roberts, No. 22 Pontiac; Jack Smith, No. 47 Pontiac
1961: Fireball Roberts, No. 22 Pontiac; Joe Weatherly, No. 8 Pontiac
1962: Fireball Roberts, No. 22 Pontiac; Joe Weatherly, No. 8 Pontiac
1963: Junior Johnson, No. 3 Chevrolet; Johnny Rutherford, No. 13 Chevrolet
1964: Junior Johnson, No. 3 Dodge; Bobby Isaac, No. 26 Dodge
1965: Darel Dieringer, No. 16 Mercury; Junior Johnson, No. 27 Ford
1966: Paul Goldsmith, No. 99 Plymouth; Earl Balmer, No. 3 Dodge
1967: LeeRoy Yarborugh, No. 12 Dodge; Fred Lorenzen, No. 28 Ford
1968: Duels canceled due to rain
1969: David Pearson, No. 17 Ford; Bobby Isaac, No. 71 Dodge
1970: Cale Yarborough, No. 21 Mercury; Charlie Glotzbach, No. 99 Dodge
1971: Pete Hamilton, No. 6 Plymouth; David Pearson, No. 17 Mercury
1972: Bobby Isaac, No. 71 Dodge; Bobby Allison, No. 12 Chevrolet
1973: Buddy Baker, No. 71 Dodge; Coo Coo Marlin, No. 14 Chevrolet
1974: Bobby Isaac, No. 27 Chevrolet; Cale Yarborough, No. 11 Chevrolet
1975: Bobby Allison, No. 16 Matador; David Pearson, No. 21 Mercury
1976: Dave Marcis, No. 71 Dodge; Darrell Waltrip, No. 88 Chevrolet
1977: Richard Petty, No. 43 Dodge; Cale Yarborough, No. 11 Chevrolet
1978: A.J. Foyt, No. 51 Buick; Darrell Waltrip, No. 88 Chevrolet
1979: Buddy Baker, No. 28 Oldsmobile; Darrell Waltrip, No. 88 Oldsmobile
1980: Neil Bonnett, No. 21 Mercury; Donnie Allison, No. 1 Oldsmobile
1981: Bobby Allison, No. 28 Pontiac; Darrell Waltrip, No. 11 Buick
1982: Cale Yarborough, No. 27 Buick; Buddy Baker, No. 1 Buick
1983: Dale Earnhardt, No. 15 Ford; Neil Bonnett, No. 75 Chevrolet
1984: Cale Yarborough, No. 28 Chevrolet; Bobby Allison, No. 22 Buick
1985: Bill Elliott, No. 9 Ford; Cale Yarborough, No. 28 Ford
1986: Bill Elliott, No. 9 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1987: Ken Schrader, No. 90 Ford; Benny Parsons, No. 35 Chevrolet
1988: Bobby Allison, No. 12 Buick; Darrell Waltrip, No. 17 Chevrolet
1989: Ken Schrader, No. 25 Chevrolet; Terry Labonte, No. 11 Ford
1990: Geoffrey Bodine, No. 11 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1991: Davey Allison, No. 28 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1992: Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet; Bill Elliott, No. 11 Ford
1993: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1994: Ernie Irvan, No. 28 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1995: Sterling Marlin, No. 4 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1996: Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet; Ernie Irvan, No. 28 Ford
1997: Dale Jarrett, No. 88 Ford; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1998: Sterling Marlin, No. 40 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
1999: Bobby Labonte, No. 18 Pontiac; Dale Earnhardt, No. 3 Chevrolet
2000: Bill Elliott, No. 94 Ford; Ricky Rudd, No. 28 Ford
2001: Sterling Marlin, No. 40 Dodge; Mike Skinner, No. 31 Chevrolet
2002: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet; Michael Waltrip, No. 15 Chevrolet
2003: Robby Gordon, No. 31 Chevrolet; Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 8 Chevrolet
2004: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 8 Chevrolet; Elliott Sadler, No. 38 Ford
2005: Michael Waltrip, No. 15 Chevrolet; Tony Stewart, No. 20 Chevrolet
2006: Elliott Sadler, No. 38 Ford; Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet
2007: Tony Stewart, No. 20 Chevrolet; Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet
2008: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet; Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
2009: Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet; Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota
2010: Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet; Kasey Kahne, No. 9 Ford
2011: Kurt Busch, No. 22 Dodge; Jeff Burton, No. 31 Chevrolet
2012: Tony Stewart, No. 14 Chevrolet; Matt Kenseth, No. 17 Ford
2013: Kevin Harvick, No. 29 Chevrolet; Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota
2014: Matt Kenseth, No. 20 Toyota; Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
2015: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet; Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet
2016: Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Chevrolet; Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota
2017: Chase Elliott, No. 24 Chevrolet; Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
2018: Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford; Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
2019: Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Ford; Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford
2020: Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford; William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
2021: Aric Almirola, No. 10 Ford; Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet
2022: Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Ford; Chris Buescher, No. 17 Ford
2023: Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford; Aric Almirola, No. 10 Ford
2025: Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Toyota; Austin Cindric, No. 2 Penske, Ford
Who has won the most Duels at Daytona?
12: Dale Earnhardt
6: Cale Yarborough
5: Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
4: Junior Johnson, Bobby Isaac, Bill Elliott
3: Fireball Roberts, David Pearson, Buddy Baker, Sterling Marlin, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano
Which organization has won the most Daytona Duels?
16: Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing
10: Joe Gibbs Racing
7: Robert Yates Racing, Team Penske
6: Junior Johnson & Associates
4: Holman-Moody, Bud Moore Engineering, Nord Krauskopf, DiGard Motorsports, Rainier-Lundy, Dale Earnhardt Inc., Stewart-Haas Racing
Which manufacturer has won the most Daytona Duels?
53: Chevrolet
32: Ford
11: Dodge
8: Pontiac
7: Toyota
6: Buick
5: Mercury
3: Oldsmobile
2: Plymouth
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