Under the unique qualifying system used for the Daytona 500, Ryan Newman and Kurt Busch will both compete in Thursday’s second Gatorade Duel to determine their starting positions in the NASCAR Nextel Cup season opener.
Qualifying Sunday determined the front row for the “Great American Race” and speeds, along with the Gatorade Duel finishes, will determine the drivers’ starting positions for the Daytona 500.
Newman posted the 27th fastest lap in his Alltel Dodge Charger Sunday. His lap of 183.602 mph, 49.019 seconds, was 2.718 mph behind pole winner David Gilliland in a Ford. Gilliland’s Robert Yates Racing Ford was clocked at 186.320 mph, 48.304 seconds, giving him his second straight restrictor-plate pole. Gilliland claimed the pole for last fall’s race at Talladega. Newman will start 13th in Thursday’s second Gatorade Duel qualifying race.
“We knew we weren’t going to get the pole today,” Newman said. “We tried some things in an effort to learn more for Sunday’s race. It made more sense than going out and trying to win something we knew we wouldn’t have a chance at.
“I think we have a really good car for the Duels and the Daytona 500 and I can’t wait to get out on the track. For our team, we have a great race car; it’s just not that great in qualifying.”
Busch’s Miller Lite Dodge was 35th quickest of the 61 cars that recorded a qualifying time. His 183.068-mph, 49.162-second lap, gives him the 18th starting position in Thursday’s second Gatorade Duel.
“What we do down here and the way we do things everywhere else is totally different, but it always seems that people always get flipped out when they look at all the statistics and all,” Busch said. “The bottom line is that only the top-two qualifying times mean anything. Those guys are the only two guys who have their spots locked in. We’re all out there on Thursday racing for our actual starting spots in the 500.
“Sure, we’d liked to have been faster in qualifying and gotten a better starting spot in our qualifying race, but we’re not really that much concerned. We’re starting 18th in the second (150-mile qualifying race) and know what we have to do. Just don’t forget that we started 19th in last night’s (Saturday) Shootout and came back to finish third.
“There’s a lot riding on Thursday, and we’ll be ready for it.”
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