Pre-charter format (except 2005–12)

• The Top 15 (14 until 2004) finishers in each Twin 125 race (excluding the two original front row qualifiers) advanced to the Daytona 500 starting lineup.
  • The Top 15 (14 until 2004) from the first race (excluding the original pole position winner) filled the inside portions of rows 2 through 16 (15 until 2004).
  • The Top 15 (14 until 2004) from the second race (excluding the original outside pole winner) filled the outside portions of rows 2 through 16 (15 until 2004).
• After both races, the remaining non-qualifiers revert to their original qualifying speeds. Until NASCAR imposed the charter system in 2016, the four fastest remaining cars were assigned positions 33–36. This format has been in place from 1998 to 2003 and 2013 to 2015. This rule was to generally protect fast qualifying cars that suffered a crash or engine failure during the heats.
  • In 2015 with knockout qualifying, a driver's qualifying speed is based on his fastest, regardless of it taking place in Q1, Q2, or Q3.
  • For 1998–2003, qualifying speeds filled positions 31–36.
  • For 1995–1997 and 2004, qualifying speeds filled positions 31–38.
  • Through 1994, qualifying speeds filled positions 31–40.
• The final starting positions (37-42) were reserved for provisionals. The highest entries in championship owner points (not driver points) from the previous season that have not yet made the field are assigned grid positions 37–42.
  • Prior to 1995, the provisional system varies, with typically two cars added.
  • From 1995 to 1997, four provisionals were used.
  • From 1998 to 2003, seven provisionals were used.
  • In 2004, five provisionals were used.
  • Provisionals are assigned by owner points from the previous season.
• Since 1990, the 43rd and final spot on the grid were tentatively reserved for the most recent NASCAR Cup champion not yet in the field. The "Champions Provisional" is used if needed, but if there are no former Cup champions in need of the slot, it reverts to a standard provisional spot. (This provisional was abolished with the charter system in 2016.)
• Since 2013, after the seven provisionals are assigned, the starting order of positions 37 through 40 is determined by fastest qualifying speeds. Under the current charter system, the rule is in effect, but only for positions 39 and 40, for open (non-chartered) cars.

All Exempt Tour Format/"Top 35 Rule" (2005–2012)

Between the 2005 and 2012 seasons, the Duel used different rules because of NASCAR's All Exempt Tour format (better known as the "top 35 rule") used at the time for the NASCAR Cup Series.

• All exempt teams (the previous season's Top 35 teams through owner points), along with the two drivers who qualified for the front row – the top two drivers from qualifying (if they are not exempt teams) are locked into the Daytona 500 starting field, regardless of finishing position in the Duel races.
• The pole position winner is given the pole for the first Duel, and the driver who qualifies second is given the pole for the second Duel; regardless of their exempt status.
• Exempt teams (excluding the pole and "outside pole" winners) are split among the two Duels based on their owner points position from the previous season. Odd-numbered points positions are entered into the first Duel and even-numbered points positions are entered into the second Duel.
  • If both teams on the front row in the Daytona 500 are even-positioned teams from the previous year's points (and would be in Duel 2), the slowest exempt team of the odd-positioned teams, based on the final points standings from the previous year, is moved to Duel 2. This was used in the 2012 Duels.
• Non-exempt entries are split between the two qualifying races. The top qualifier among non-exempt teams provided the team is not on the front row is slotted into the second race (along with even ranked non-exempt qualifiers) are split into the second race, and even ranked qualifiers are in the first race (as if they were called 36th and 37th, et al.), unless both front row starters were odd or even teams from the previous year, or if one of the two non-exempt teams makes the front row.
• After the participants are determined for the two Duels, the actual lineups for the two Duels revert to overall time trial speed rank.
• The Top 2 finishers among the non-exempt teams (excluding any that happened to qualify on the front row) from each Duel advance to the Daytona 500.
• Starting positions 3-39 are finalized by Duel finishes. Drivers from the first Duel start on the inside and drivers from the second Duel start on the outside.
  • Starting positions 3-40 (or 41) are finalized in this manner if one (or both) front row starter is a non-exempt team.
• One to four additional positions are filled by non-exempt entries by original time trial speeds.
  • If both front row starters are non-exempt teams, only one position is available. If the 43rd position is not needed, two positions are available.
  • If one front row starters is a non-exempt team, two (or three) positions are available.
  • If both front row starters are exempt teams, three (or four) positions are available. This brings the field to 42 cars.
• If there is a former NASCAR Cup Series champion driver who raced in the previous season racing for a non-exempt team and has yet to qualify, the most recent former champion not in the field yet takes the 43rd position. It is not unusual for a non-exempt team to seek out a former champion as their driver, as it provides an easier way to qualify. Otherwise, an extra position by time is available.

Charter-era format

Under the current charter system, because all chartered entries are guaranteed entry to every race of a season:

• All finishers driving for chartered teams in each Duel (excluding the two original front row qualifiers) advanced to the Daytona 500 starting lineup; the first race determines the starting position of the inside row and the second determines the outside row.
• The highest-placed "open" entry (entering the race without a charter) of each duel race will advance, based on their finishing position (for a total of two cars each). This also determines their starting position.
• Two fastest non-chartered drivers that advanced based on qualifying speeds alone will start on the last row of the Daytona 500, for a total of four non-chartered cars (NASCAR reduced the starting grid from 43 to 40 with the introduction of the system).
  • If the "open" driver that was the top unchartered entry in the duel race was also the fastest non-chartered driver in the time trials, the fastest "open" driver not locked-in that way will advance on their qualifying time alone. Otherwise, their time would be used as a fallback for them to start on the last row of the event.

The arrangement of the Duels under the charter system notably cost Ty Dillon a starting spot in 2021 when Ryan Preece beat him during the Duels as Dillon, despite still finishing in the top-10, did not have a fast enough qualifying time compared to his non-chartered peers.^[7]

Early years

• In the early years of the Daytona 500, the rules for the qualifying races varied widely. In 1959, the first race comprised the Convertible series, while the second comprised the Grand National series. The Top 20 finishers in each race advanced to the Daytona 500, while a last-chance, 25-mile (40 km) consolation race was held on Saturday, to fill the field to a maximum of 65 cars.
• In early years, the qualifying races were held on the Friday prior to the Daytona 500, rather than the current Thursday.
• On rare occasions, a 75-mile "consolation race" was also held.
• In some early years, pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 was held on Wednesday, the day before the qualifying races. It was eventually moved up to the weekend before, and returned to Wednesday in 2021.
• Typically, until 2014, the faster of two laps in single-car qualifying determined starting positions for the Duels and the front row for the 500.

Race notes

• 1961: First race was shortened due to crash.
• 1974: Both races were shortened due to energy crisis (10% shorter).
• 2006: Both races were extended due to a green–white–checker finish.
• 2007, 2011 and 2018: First race was extended due to a NASCAR overtime.
• 2008, 2015 and 2021: Second race was extended due to a NASCAR overtime.
• 2017: Was the first time that points were on the line in Modern era (1972–present).
• 2021: Second race was delayed 3 hours for rain, finished early Friday morning.

Multiple winners (drivers)

Multiple winners (teams)

Manufacturer wins