For Nascar Fans, the Lineup is Very Important!
If you or anyone you know is a Nascar fan, you probably realize how important the Nascar lineup is. First of all, the lineup denotes who will and who will not be able to participate in the most anticipated races of the season, such as the Daytona 500. Also, because the lineup is determined by qualifying times, it generally serves as an indicator of how each driver will do in a particular season.
Unless you are a seasoned fan, however, the aforementioned paragraph may be the extent of your knowledge on the lineup. If so, you have come to the right place! In the next few paragraphs, you will find information on how the lineup is decided, as well as who some of the big names were for the 2005 Daytona 500, held on February 20. Keep reading!
Deciding the Nascar Lineup
Qualifying times and pre-Daytona statistics are crucial in deciding the Nascar lineup. According to the official Nascar website, the Nascar lineup is set by merging the highest ranked 35 teams in the owner standings with the fastest seven cars not in those positions, in the order of their qualifying speeds. The 43rd position is reserved for a former champion, provided he is not already qualified and satisfies the rulebook's criteria. If this spot is not used by a former champion, it goes to the next fastest car in qualifying. However, the lone exception is the Daytona 500, which uses qualifying and two 150-mile races to determine the field.
The lineup for the 2005 Daytona 500 consisted of some popular drivers, such as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Kyle Petty. In the end, Jeff Gordon won the race, making him the fifth driver to win three or more Daytona 500s. The other four drivers include Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, and Dale Jarrett. However, this race proved to be one of the most exciting in Nascar history, with four lead changes in the last nine laps.
The 2006 Daytona 500 is scheduled for February 19, and the lineup will be officially announced closer to this date. For the true Nascar fan, however, the 2006 season begins on February 11 at Daytona with the Bud Shootout and continues until November 19 with the Ford 400 at Homestead. We wish you and your favorite driver a wonderful and happy racing season!