It features two components:
• Pole Day on Wednesday
• The Duels on Thursday

Pole Day

This "locks in" the first two positions -- the front row -- for the Daytona 500.
It also establishes the starting orders for the Duels at Daytona, which are two 150-mile qualifying races for the Daytona 500.

The fastest car earns the pole for the Daytona 500 and the pole for the first Duel race.
The second-fastest car earns the outside pole for the Daytona 500 and the pole for the second Duel race.

The Duels

These two 150-mile qualifying races set positions 3-39 for the Daytona 500.

A combined total of  up to 66 cars will be allowed into the two Duel races.

Cars must compete in one of the Duel races, in order to race in the Daytona 500.

Odd-number finishers in the final car owner point standings (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.) are in the first Duel race.

Even-number finishers in the final car owner point standings (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc.) are in the second Duel race.

Additional qualified cars that weren't in the final top 35 are alternated between the two Duel fields using an odd-even format.

Setting the Daytona 500 field

Cars that finished in the top 35 in car owner point standings automatically make the Daytona 500 field.

The top two starting positions are determined by Pole Day qualifying speeds.

Positions 3-39 are determined by finishing orders in the Duel races.

The final four spots in the field will be based on Pole Day qualifying speeds of cars that have not already earned a starting position.

However, if there is an eligible Cup Series past champion entered who has not already qualified, that past champion will receive the final position.
If there is more than one past champion eligible for this berth, it goes to the most recent champion.