Bluegreen Vacations Duel
The Bluegreen Vacations Duel, formerly known as the Twin 125s, is a NASCAR Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two races, which both serve as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500. The finishing order in the two races, held on the Thursday before the Daytona 500, determine the starting lineup for the Daytona 500 held on race day.
Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is unique in NASCAR. Only the two front row starters are determined by the standard knockout qualifying system. For all other drivers it only determines their starting position in their duel with odd placed cars being entered into the first duel and even placed cars going in the second. After the Top 2 positions are locked in, the next 30 places of starting grid of the Daytona 500 is set by the finishing order of these two races with the top 15 making up the next 15 places on the inside and outside lanes respectively. After the Duels are completed the four fastest non-qualifiers by time and finally the six or seven highest-earning teams in points not in the race yet advance, and the starting grid for the Daytona 500 would then be set. The order is still subject to change if engine regulations are violated.
History
The event began as twin 100-mile races. From 1959–1971, the races were counted with points towards the Grand National championship. Purses awarded were counted separately from those awarded in the Daytona 500. For 1968, the races were scheduled for each, but were cancelled due to rain, and the starting lineup for the 1968 Daytona 500 fell back on the timed laps. In 1969, the races were extended again to 125 miles. Lengthening the races added the need for a pit stop, increasing the complexity and excitement of the races.For 1972, NASCAR's modern era commenced, and the races were dropped from the Grand National schedule as points-paying championship events. As part of Winston's changes to the series, races were required to be at least to be included as official points events. The races continued, however, as a non-points event. CBS began covering the event in the early 1980s, airing them tape-delayed and edited the day before the Daytona 500.
With the introduction of restrictor plates in 1988, the resulting reduction in speed and fuel consumption again allowed drivers to possibly complete the race without a pit stop. Nine times from 1988–2004, one of the races went without a caution, and without a pit stop by the winner. In 2003, rules had been put in place requiring smaller fuel tanks on restrictor plate track, which effectively forced a pit stop once again.
Starting in 2001, the races were shown live on television, as the Daytona 500 would rotate between FOX/FX and NBC/TNT from 2001–2006.
In 2005, the races were lengthened to 150 miles, given a new name, the Gatorade Duel, and from 2005–12, used NASCAR's All-Exempt Tour format. The grids changed from even-odd qualifiers to a combination of even-odd based on the front row drivers by speed, then previous year's points standings of exempt and non-exempt teams by speed. A rain delay in 2006 saw the second race finish under the lights.
Starting in 2007, the Gatorade Duel is shown live on Speed, under the new broadcast agreement. That same year, allegations of cheating came up. In 2013, Budweiser took over as sponsor of the Duels.
During Speedweeks 2013, Daytona International Speedway announced that the qualifying races would be held in prime-time and under stadium lighting on the Thursday before the Daytona 500 beginning in 2014, the races' debut on Fox Sports 1.
From 2016 to 2018, the races were renamed the Can-Am Duel after new title sponsor Bombardier Recreational Products' range of Can-Am All-terrain vehicles.
The Duels became a points event once again in 2017 with the unveiling of a new race format. The two race winners will receive ten points for their victories.
Format
- Coors Light Pole qualifying is currently held one week prior to the Daytona 500. Since 2003, it has been held the Sunday before. Prior to that, it was held the Saturday before and the Wednesday before prior to the 1980s. Standard three-round knockout qualifying procedures are used for restrictor plate tracks. The fastest qualifier in the third round wins the pole position for the Daytona 500, and second fastest in the third round is considered the second starting position, also known as the "outside pole". Both front row starters are locked into those positions on the Daytona 500 starting grid.
- The two fastest qualifiers above are awarded the first starting position on the grid for each of the two Duel races, respectively.
- Drivers who qualify in odd-numbered positions in Q3 start in the first Can Am Duel, while those who qualify in even-numbered ones in that round start in the second Duel. This fills positions 1-6 in each duel.
- The 12 drivers eliminated after Q2 have their Q2 times determine their starting position. The fastest driver eliminated in Q2, based on Q2 times only, starts 7th in the first Duel, while the second-fastest driver in Q2 starts in that position in the second one and based on position of elimination from Q2, they start in the first or second numbered positions.
- Drivers eliminated after Q1 will have Q1 times determine their starting position. The fastest driver eliminated in Q1 starts 13th in the first Duel, while the second-fastest driver eliminated in Q1 starts in there in the second one.
Format (except 2005–12)
- The Top 15 finishers in each Twin 125 race advance to the Daytona 500 starting lineup.
- *The Top 15 from the first race fill the inside portions of rows 2 through 16.
- *The Top 15 from the second race fill the outside portions of rows 2 through 16.
- After both races, the remaining non-qualifiers revert to their original qualifying speeds. Currently the four fastest remaining cars are assigned positions 33-36. This format has been in place from 1998-2003 and 2013–present. This rule was to generally protect fast qualifying cars that suffered a crash or engine failure during the heats.
- *Starting 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 are reserved for provisionals. The highest entries in championship owner 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 1995–1997, four provisionals were used.
- *From 1998-2003, 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 is 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.
- Since 2013, after the seven provisionals are assigned, the starting order of positions 37 through 40 is determined by fastest qualifying speeds.
All Exempt Tour Format (2005–2012)
- All exempt teams, along with the two drivers who qualified for the front row – the top two drivers from qualifying 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 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, 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 are split into the second race, and even ranked qualifiers are in the first race, 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 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 are finalized in this manner if one 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 positions are available.
- * If both front row starters are exempt teams, three 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.
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, 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.
- 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.
Past winners
- 1961: First race was shortened due to crash.
- 1974: Both races were shortened due to energy crisis.
- 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 and 2015: Second race was extended due to a green–white–checker finish.
- 2017: Was the first time that points were on the line.
Multiple winners (drivers)