Motorsports

Procedure for making the 500

By Jim Tomlin, Times Staff Writer
Published February 11, 2008

Sunday's qualifying decided the first two starting spots for this year's Daytona 500, on Feb.17. After that, the qualifying procedure gets convoluted:

-The top 35 in last season's owner points are guaranteed a spot. But after the top two, actual grid positions are decided in ...

-Thursday's two 150-mile qualifying races. The top two in each qualifier who were not in last year's top 35 in points will make the 500. The qualifying races determine spot 3-39 in the 500, after which ...

-The fastest remaining drivers from time trials will complete the field. Unless ...

-The final spot could go to a former series champ who doesn't make the lineup any other way. If none of them needs the spot, it would go to the next-best driver based on qualifying speed.

So what does all of this mean in real terms?

Jimmie Johnson and Michael Waltrip will start first and second in the 500, regardless of what happens Thursday. In addition to Waltrip, two other drivers from outside of last year's top 35 - Joe Nemechek and David Reutimann - qualified fast enough to clinch a spot in the 500 even if they don't finish the twin 150s.

The three drivers who could use the champion's provisional are, in order of priority, Kurt Busch (whose Penske Racing team transferred his 2007 points to the car of Sam Hornish so Hornish would have a spot in the first five races of '08), Dale Jarrett and Bill Elliott.

[Last modified February 10, 2008, 22:59:20]