Did Not Qualify: 87-Joe Nemechek, 08-Boris Said, 09-Brad Keselowski, 27-Kirk Shelmerdine, 71-Mike Wallace, 37-Tony Raines, 73-Mike Garvey, 75-Derrike Cope, 23-Mike Skinner, 51-Kelly Bires, 46-Carl Long, 64-Geoff Bodine, 57-Norm Benning

Pole Speed: 188.001 mph
Defending Champion: 39-Ryan Newman
Manufacturers: Chevrolet (15), Dodge (7), Ford (9), Toyota (12)

Duel 2

Kyle Busch beat Mark Martin to the checkered flag to win the second Gatorade Duel qualifying race at Daytona. Brian Vickers finished third followed by Juan Pablo Montoya and Denny Hamlin.

A.J. Allmendinger and Jeremy Mayfield were the highest finishing drivers that were not previously guaranteed a starting spot and as such have made the Daytona 500.

Ryan Newman, who posted third-fastest time on Sunday, wrecked out of Duel 2 and will likely have to start a backup car on Sunday.

Duel 1

After over a year without a win, Jeff Gordon returned to victory lane by winning Gatorade Duel 1 at Daytona on Thursday. Tony Stewart finished second place followed by Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano and Aric Almirola.

Tony Stewart was the highest finisher of the cars not guaranteed a starting spot in the Daytona 500. That gives Regan Smith a starting spot based on his qualifying time.

Scott Riggs was the second-highest finisher of those who had to race their way into the 500 and therefore will race on Sunday.

Daytona 500 polesitter Martin Truex Jr. spun late in the race.

The Gatorade Duel at Daytona is ready to roll this Thursday. The two qualifying races will set the starting lineup for the 51st Daytona 500 to be run on Sunday. Each race is 150 miles (60 laps) and the lineups for the two races have been determined by qualifying speeds posted this past Sunday. Martin Truex Jr., the Daytona 500 pole winner, will start on the pole for Duel 1 and Mark Martin will start on the pole for Duel 2. Their positions on the Daytona 500 front row are locked, regardless of finishing order in the Duel races.

In addition, the top 35 car owners in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings are guaranteed a starting spot. Terry Labonte is likely to make it in on a past champion's provisional. The remaining 7 spots will go to a combination of fastest qualifying speeds and any drivers who are capable of racing into the Daytona 500 through the Duel. The two highest finishing drivers not in the top 35 car owner points from each race will qualify for the 500. The three drivers qualifying on speed will be Bill Elliott, Travis Kvapil, and Tony Stewart.

The 2009 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona gave Fox an easy win in Saturday night primetime ratings. According to Hal Boedeker of the Orlando Sentinel, the preliminary numbers show Fox drawing 7.6 million viewers for its race coverage.

But Jayski.com reports that the Shootout ratings are down 9% from last year:

Both the Bud Shootout and [Daytona 500 pole] qualifying posted declines compared to last year's ratings -- 9% for the Shootout and 22% for the qualifying -- and the Shootout fell to its lowest overnight rating ever on FOX.

It's been easy to blame sluggish ticket sales and empty seats on poor economic conditions. Last year high gas prices took the fall. But these TV ratings declines have been going on for a few years now and it's hard to pin that on the economy. For awhile now fans have expressed dissatisfaction with NASCAR's direction, including its much-touted "Realignment". Perhaps these fans are serious.

One thing to consider... the Shootout race ran only 78 laps and yet was able to spawn eight cautions. That's pretty embarrassing for an "all-star" event. Extrapolated out to 500 miles and that could speak to the quality of racing to expect on Sunday.

Martin Truex, Jr. and Mark Martin will lead the field of 43 starters to the green flag for the 51st Daytona 500 next Sunday. Truex, Jr. recorded a lap of 188.001 mph to take the pole, the second of his career in NASCAR Sprint Cup competition. Martin's lap of 187.817 mph was just one one-hundredth of a second faster than third-place qualifier and Daytona 500 defending champion Ryan Newman. Juan Pablo Montoya was fourth fastest and Bill Elliott rounded out the top five.

Only the front row starting positions are set for the race. The remainder of the starting lineup will be determined by the Gatorade Duels at Daytona -- a pair of 150-mile qualifying races -- scheduled to be run on Thursday.

Jimmie Johnson, Aric Almirola, Travis Kvapil, Jeff Gordon, and Tony Stewart comprised the remainder of the top ten.

Speeds for all 56 qualifiers are available at NASCAR.com.

Kevin Harvick passed Jamie McMurray heading into turn three on the final lap just moments before a multi-car crash ended the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona. Harvick led McMurray to the caution and checkered flags to record his first Shootout win.

Harvick was running fourth when the white flag was displayed to the field and charged between Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin exiting turn two, taking second place on the high side. McMurray attempted to hold off Harvick and Johnson by taking the high line and then low line down the backstretch. When McMurray moved back to the inside, Harvick passed McMurray on the high side just as Jeff Gordon, Casey Mears, and Johnson got together and crashed in turn three, also collecting Hamlin. Harvick, the 2007 Daytona 500 winner, will collect $200,000 for his win.

Tony Stewart and Gordon managed to clear the wreck to finish third and fourth. A.J. Allmendinger rounded out the top 5.

The race featured a record number of lead changes (23) amongst a record number of drivers (15). The final yellow flag also set a record for the most number of cautions (8).

The race started with a bang as David Ragan, Joey Logano, Scott Speed and Robby Gordon got together in turns three and four on lap five. Ragan appeared to have checked up in response to slower cars ahead of him and was tapped from behind by Gordon. None of the drivers would return to the race.

Rounding out the top ten were Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch.

Jimmie Johnson capped the top of the speed charts during today's two Budweiser Shootout practice sessions at Daytona International Speedway.  His speed of 192.620 mph was just a tick faster than A.J. Allmendinger, who clocked a 192.542 mph.  Defending race champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. was third-fastest at 192.304 mph.  Kyle Busch topped the afternoon practice session with a speed of 191.453 mph.

Pole sitter Paul Menard ran into trouble minutes before the end of the second practice session, cutting a right rear tire and spinning out in turn 2.  Also involved was Scott Speed.  Both cars suffered minor damage and are expected to be repaired before tomorrow night's race.  Other drivers receiving cosmetic damage in separate incidents include Kasey Kahne, Reed Sorenson, and Kyle Busch.

One driver who will have to start at the rear of the field is Jeff Burton, after blowing a motor in the second practice session.

Top practice speeds: