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The 2012 Daytona 500 isn't for another week, but Sunday's Daytona Qualifying event will guarantee a couple of spots in the race. As Jeff Gluck writes about the qualifying race:
What happens today? Officially, the Daytona 500 qualifying session only locks in two spots: The pole position and the outside pole position. But it will also allow three other drivers – who don't have a guaranteed spot in the 500 – to clinch a berth in the race based on their speed.
Furniture Row Racing (based in Denver, CO) will have Regan Smith taking part in this event. In 2011, Smith finished in seventh at the Daytona 500 after starting the race at No. 5. Smith is among the 35 drivers who do have a guaranteed spot in the race, but he will be toward the back end of those racers (No. 29).
On Saturday night, Kyle Busch kicked off the coming week's Daytona events with a victory in the Budweiser Shootout, defeating Tony Stewart. A late slingshot move by Busch put him across the finish line before Stewart. If that is a preview of things to come this week, it's already shaping up to be a series of events.
Where: Daytona International Speedway
When: 11:05 a.m.MT
TV: Fox
Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN)
Online: Listen online for free at MRN website
For more on the Daytona 500, check out SB Nation NASCAR's extensive coverage.