Gatorade Duel

Gatorade Duel

Venue	Daytona International Speedway
Sponsor	Pepsico
First race	1959
Distance	150 miles (241.401 km)
Laps	60
Previous names	100 Mile Qualifying Races (1959–1967) 125 Mile Qualifying Races (1969–1980) UNO Twin 125 Qualifiers (1981–1984) 7-Eleven Twins (1985–1987) Twin 125 Qualifiers (1988–1989) Gatorade Twin 125 Qualifiers (1991–1993) Gatorade Twin 125s (1994–1996) Gatorade 125s (1997–2004) Gatorade Duels (2005–present)

The Gatorade Duel, to be known as the Budweiser Duel starting in 2013, is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway. It consists of two 150-mile (240 km) races, and serves as a qualifying race for the Daytona 500. The finishing order in the two 150-mile (240 km) races, held on the Thursday before the Daytona 500, determine the starting lineup for the Daytona 500 held on Sunday.

Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is unique in NASCAR. Only the two front row starters (the pole position and "outside pole") are determined by the ordinary qualifying process of timed laps. After the top two positions are locked in, the rest of the starting grid is set by the finishing order of these two races. All drivers participate in one of the two races, including the drivers who locked their positions on the front row from qualifying. The first duel includes the drivers who qualified in the odd positions. Where they finish in that Duel is how the inside lane will start during the Daytona 500 (with an exception that the winner of the pole will automatically start on the pole no matter where they finish n the first Duel unless they have to go to a backup car, change an engine, etc). The second Duel includes the drivers who qualified in the even positions and where they finish will set the outside lane for the Daytona 500 (with an exception to the person who qualified 2nd as they are locked into that position also). Once the Duels are completed, the starting grid for the Daytona 500 would then be set.

History

The original Gatorade Duel logo

The event began as twin 100-mile (40-lap) races. From 1959–1971, the races were counted with points towards the Grand National championship. Purses awarded were counted separately from those awarded in the Daytona 500. For 1968, the races were scheduled for 125 miles (201 km) each, but were cancelled due to rain, and the starting lineup for the 1968 Daytona 500 fell back on the timed laps. In 1969, the races were extended to 125 miles (50 laps), which would require a fuel stop, and change the pit stop strategy.

For 1972, NASCAR's modern era commenced, and the races were dropped from the Grand National schedule as points-paying championship events. As part of Winston's changes to the series, races were required to be at least 250 miles (400 km) to be included as official points events. The races continued, however, held as a non-points event. CBS began covering the race by the early 1980s, airing them tape-delayed and edited the day before the Daytona 500.

With the introduction of restrictor plates in 1988, the resulting reduction in speed and fuel consumption again allowed drivers to possibly complete the race without a pit stop. Nine times from 1988–2004, one of the races went without a caution, and without a pit stop by the winner. In 2003, rules had been put in place requiring smaller fuel tanks on restrictor plate track (from 22-gallons down to 13), which effectively forced a pit stop.

Starting in 2001, the races were shown live on television, as the Daytona 500 would rotate between FOX/FX and NBC/TNT from 2001–2006.

In 2005, the races were lengthened to 150 miles (60-laps), given a new name, the Gatorade Duel, and a revised format. In deference to NASCAR's new Top 35 exemption, the grids changed from even-odd qualifiers to a combination of top 35 even-odd from the previous year's owner points and then the rest of the drivers' by speed.[1]. A rain delay in 2006 saw the second race finish under the lights.

Starting in 2007, the Gatorade Duel is shown live on SPEED, under the new broadcast agreement. That same year, allegations of cheating came up.

See also: List of Gatorade Duel broadcasters

Format

• Coors Light Pole qualifying is currently held one week prior to the Daytona 500. Since 2003, it has been held the Sunday before. (In 2010, qualifying was held on Saturday to avoid a conflict with Super Bowl XLIV) Prior to that it was held the Saturday before (except 1992), and prior to the 1980s, the Wednesday before. Each car, one at a time, makes a two-lap qualifying attempt, with the best single lap of the two counting as his qualifying speed. The fastest qualifier wins the pole position for the Daytona 500, and second fastest is considered the "outside pole." Both front row starters are locked in to those positions on the Daytona 500 starting grid.
• The two fastest qualifiers above (the Daytona 500 pole winner and the "outside" pole winner) are awarded the pole positions for the two Duel races respectively.

2005–present

• All exempt teams (the previous season's top 35 teams through owner points), along with the two drivers who qualified for the front row – the top two drivers from qualifying, if they are not exempt teams, are locked into the Daytona 500 starting field, regardless of finishing position in the Duel races.
• The pole position winner is given the pole for the first Duel, and the driver who qualifies second is given the pole for the second Duel; regardless of their exempt status.
• Exempt teams (excluding the pole and "outside pole" winners) are split among the two Duels based on their owner points position from the previous season. Odd numbered points positions are entered into the first Duel, even-numbered points positions are entered into the second Duel.
  • If both teams on the front row at the Daytona 500 are even-positioned teams from the previous year's points (and would be in Duel 2), the slowest exempt team of the odd-positioned teams, based on the final points standings from the previous year, is moved to Duel 2. This was used in the 2012 Duels.
• Non-exempt entries are split between the two qualifying races. The top qualifier among non-exempt teams provided the team is not on the front row is slotted into the second race (along with even ranked non-exempt qualifiers) are split into the second race, and even ranked qualifiers are in the first race (as if they were called 36th and 37th, et al.), unless both front row starters were odd or even teams from the previous year, or if one of the two non-exempt teams makes the front row.
• After the participants are determined for the two Duels, the actual lineups for the two Duels revert back to overall time trial speed rank.
• The top two finishers among the non-exempt teams (excluding any that happened to qualify on the front row) from each Duel advance to the Daytona 500.
• Starting positions 3 through 39 are finalized by Duel finishes. Drivers from the first Duel start on the inside and drivers from the second Duel on the outside.
  • Starting positions 3 through 40 (or 41) are finalized in this manner if one (or both) front row starter is a non-exempt team.
• One to four additional positions are filled by non-exempt entries by original time trial speeds.
  • If both front row starters are non-exempt teams, only one position is available. If the 43rd position is not needed, two positions are available.
  • If one front row starters is a non-exempt team, two (or three) positions are available.
  • If both front row starters are exempt teams, three (or four) positions are available. This brings the field to 42 cars.
• If there is a former Sprint Cup Series champion driver who raced in the previous season racing for a non-exempt team and has yet to qualify, the most recent former champion not in the field yet takes the 43rd position. It is not unusual for a non-exempt team to seek out a former champion as their driver, as it provides an easier way to qualify. Otherwise, an extra position by time is available.

Prior to 2005

• The top 14 finishers of each Twin 125 race (excluding the two front row qualifiers) advance to the Daytona 500 starting lineup. The top 14 from the first race (excluding the pole position winner) fill the insides of rows 2 through 15. The top 14 from the second race (excluding the outside pole winner) fill the outsides of rows 2–15.
• Starting positions 31–40 (until 1995) were filled by the fastest remaining cars going back to the original pole qualifying session. This rule was to protect fast qualifying cars that suffered an unfortunate accident or engine failure during the Twin 125 races. In 1995, it was changed to starting positions 31–38, and in 1998, 31–36. The rule reverted back in 2004 to 31–38.
• The final starting positions were reserved for provisionals, where the highest teams in owner (not driver) points from the previous year not making the race by speed making the field – (two cars; four from 1995–1997, with a guarantee of four; seven guaranteed from 1998 until 2003; five guaranteed in 2004). From 1990 until 1997, the 43rd slot was reserved for the most recent Cup champion not in the field; since 1998, the position is guaranteed; if there is no Cup champion needing that 43rd slot, the next driver in points earns the position.

Early years

• In the early years of the Daytona 500, the rules for the qualifying races varied widely. In 1959, the first race comprised the Convertible series, while the second comprised the Grand National series. The top 20 finishers in each race advanced to the Daytona 500, while a last-chance, 25-mile (40 km) consolation race was held on Saturday, to fill the field to a maximum of 65 cars.
• In early years, the qualifying races were held on the Friday prior to the Daytona 500, rather than the current Thursday.
• On rare occasions, a 75-mile "consolation race" was also held.
• In some early years, pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 was held on Wednesday, the day before the qualifying races. It was eventually moved up to the weekend before.

Notes

• In 2010, Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne had a combined victory margin of .019 over second place drivers Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart
• Dale Earnhardt set a record by winning one of the Twin 125 races ten consecutive years, and twelve times overall.
• Jeff Gordon won a Twin 125 in 1993, his rookie season. It marked his first win in a NASCAR Winston Cup event, however, it did not count as an official points-paying victory.
• In 2007 Jeff Gordon won the race, but failed the post race inspection. He then "earned" the lowest starting spot for a race winner, starting in 42nd place. He was still given the victory.
• Since the race became a non-championship heat race in 1971, two drivers who did not win a Cup race, Clifton "Coo Coo" Marlin and Mike Skinner, have won the race.
• Four drivers have lost their lives in qualifying races. Talmadge "Tab" Prince was killed in 1970, Friday Hassler in 1972, Ricky Knotts in 1980 and Bruce Jacobi in 1987.
• Denny Hamlin won the second Gatorade Duel on February 14, 2008, making him the first ever Toyota driver to win a Sprint Cup race.
• A driver each from Hendrick Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing have won the Duel races from 2007–2009.
• Randy LaJoie suffered a horrific crash in the 1984 UNO Twin 125 event when he spun out of turn 4, got airborne and slammed hard into the wall, then performed two backflips and a barrel roll, in an identical position as Ricky Rudd's Busch Clash accident days earlier. The grass apron was promptly graded and paved over for the Firecracker 400 that July.
• Oddly, despite Richard Petty's wins at Daytona in championship competition, none of his official 200 wins included a qualifying race (1959–71).
• 2000 was Bill Elliott's only win as an owner/driver.

Past winners

Year	Date	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Race Distance		Race Time	Average Speed (mph)
					Laps	Miles (km)
1959	February 20	Bob Welborn		Chevrolet	40	100 (160.934)	0:41:54	143.198
		Shorty Rollins		Ford	40	100 (160.934)	0:46:26	129.218
	February 21	Jack Smith	Jack Smith	Chevrolet	10	25 (40.233)	0:10:37	141.28
1960	February 13	Fireball Roberts	John Hines	Pontiac	40	100 (160.934)	0:45:32	137.614
		Jack Smith	Jack Smith	Pontiac	40	100 (160.934)	0:40:57	146.52
		Curtis Turner	Holman-Moody	Ford	10	25 (40.233)	0:18:22	144.694
1961	February 24	Fireball Roberts(2)	Smokey Yunick	Pontiac	39*	97.5 (156.911)	0:45:06	129.711
		Joe Weatherly	Bud Moore Engineering	Pontiac	40	100 (160.934)	0:39:16	152.671
		Junior Johnson		Pontiac	10	25 (40.233)	0:10:04	149.006
1962	February 16	Fireball Roberts(3)	Jim Stephens	Pontiac	40	100 (160.934)	0:38:13	156.999
		Joe Weatherly	Bud Moore Engineering	Pontiac	40	100 (160.934)	0:41:16	145.395
		Bobby Johns		Pontiac	10	25 (40.233)	0:09:53	151.556
1963	February 22	Junior Johnson	Ray Fox	Chevrolet	40	100 (160.934)	0:36:34	164.083
		Johnny Rutherford	Smokey Yunick	Chevrolet	40	100 (160.934)	0:36:49	162.969
1964	February 21	Junior Johnson	Ray Fox	Dodge	40	100 (160.934)	0:35:08	170.777
		Bobby Isaac	Ray Nichels	Dodge	40	100 (160.934)	0:35:20	169.811
1965	February 12	Darel Dieringer	Bud Moore Engineering	Mercury	40	100 (160.934)	0:36:13	165.669
		Junior Johnson	Junior Johnson	Ford	40	100 (160.934)	0:54:01	111.076
1966	February 23	Paul Goldsmith	Ray Nichels	Plymouth	40	100 (160.934)	0:37:24	160.427
		Earl Balmer	Ray Fox	Dodge	40	100 (160.934)	0:39:01	153.191
1967	February 24	LeeRoy Yarbrough	Jon Thorne	Dodge	40	100 (160.934)	0:36:36	163.934
		Fred Lorenzen	Holman-Moody	Ford	40	100 (160.934)	0:34:22	174.587
1968	February 22	Races cancelled due to rain
1969	February 20	David Pearson	Holman-Moody	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:49:16	152.181
		Bobby Isaac	Nord Krauskopf	Dodge	50	125 (201.168)	0:49:27	151.688
1970	February 19	Cale Yarborough	Wood Brothers Racing	Mercury	50	125 (201.168)	0:40:48	183.295
		Charlie Glotzbach	Ray Nichels	Dodge	50	125 (201.168)	0:50:46	147.734
1971	February 11	Pete Hamilton	Cotton Owens	Plymouth	50	125 (201.168)	0:42:51	175.029
		David Pearson	Holman-Moody	Mercury	50	125 (201.168)	0:44:27	168.728
1972	February 17	Bobby Isaac	Nord Krauskopf	Dodge	50	125 (201.168)	0:59:00	127.118
		Bobby Allison	Richard Howard	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:48:45	178.217
1973	February 15	Buddy Baker	Nord Krauskopf	Dodge	50	125 (201.168)	0:43:12	173.611
		Coo Coo Marlin	H.B. Cunningham	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:47:43	157.177
1974	February 14	Bobby Isaac	Banjo Matthews	Chevrolet	45*	112.5 (181.051)	0:54:27	123.212
		Cale Yarborough	Richard Howard	Chevrolet	45*	112.5 (181.051)	0:52:03	129.724
1975	February 13	Bobby Allison	Penske Racing	Matador	50	125 (201.168)	0:47:52	156.685
		David Pearson	Wood Brothers Racing	Mercury	50	125 (201.168)	0:47:47	156.958
1976	February 12	Dave Marcis	Nord Krauskopf	Dodge	50	125 (201.168)	1:02:47	119.458
		Darrell Waltrip	DiGard Motorsports	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:48:00	156.25
1977	February 17	Richard Petty	Petty Enterprises	Dodge	50	125 (201.168)	0:41:42	179.856
		Cale Yarborough	Junior Johnson	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:43:45	171.429
1978	February 16	A. J. Foyt	A. J. Foyt Enterprises	Buick	50	125 (201.168)	1:00:58	123.018
		Darrell Waltrip	DiGard Motorsports	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:44:12	169.683
1979	February 15	Buddy Baker	Harry Ranier	Oldsmobile	50	125 (201.168)	0:44:45	167.598
		Darrell Waltrip	DiGard Motorsports	Oldsmobile	50	125 (201.168)	0:49:01	153.009
1980	February 14	Neil Bonnett	Wood Brothers Racing	Mercury	50	125 (201.168)	0:54:15	138.25
		Donnie Allison	Hoss Ellington	Oldsmobile	50	125 (201.168)	0:45:20	165.441
1981	February 12	Bobby Allison	Harry Ranier	Pontiac	50	125 (201.168)	0:49:36	150.125
		Darrell Waltrip	Junior Johnson	Buick	50	125 (201.168)	0:49:03	152.905
	February 13	Lake Speed	Speed Racing	Oldsmobile	30	75 (120.7)	0:31:12	144.231
1982	February 11	Cale Yarborough	M.C. Anderson	Buick	50	125 (201.168)	0:55:26	135.298
		Buddy Baker	Hoss Ellington	Buick	50	125 (201.168)	0:51:54	144.509
	February 12	Tim Richmond	Billie Harvey	Ford	30	75 (120.7)	0:31:17	143.847
1983	February 18	Dale Earnhardt(1)	Bud Moore Engineering	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:48:28	157.746
		Neil Bonnett	RahMoc Enterprises	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	1:01:23	122.183
		Blackie Wangerin	Wangerin Racing	Ford	30	75 (120.7)	0:31:57	140.845
1984	February 12	Cale Yarborough	Harry Rainer	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:57:56	129.459
		Bobby Allison	DiGard Motorsports	Buick	50	125 (201.168)	0:53:44	139.578
	February 17	Connie Saylor	Lain Racing	Pontiac	30	75 (120.7)	0:35:22	127.238
1985	February 14	Bill Elliott	Melling Racing	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:41:43	179.784
		Cale Yarborough	Harry Rainer	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:48:16	155.387
	February 15	Randy LaJoie	Snellman Brothers	Chevrolet	30	75 (120.7)	0:23:46	189.341
1986	February 13	Bill Elliott(2)	Melling Racing	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:48:49	153.636
		Dale Earnhardt(2)	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:48:56	153.27
1987	February 12	Ken Schrader	Junie Donlavey	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:57:31	130.397
		Benny Parsons	Hendrick Motorsports	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:41:02	182.778
1988	February 11	Bobby Allison	Stavola Brothers Racing	Buick	50	125 (201.168)	0:57:16	130.966
		Darrell Waltrip	Hendrick Motorsports	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:56:01	133.889
1989	February 16	Ken Schrader(2)	Hendrick Motorsports	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:50:57	147.203
		Terry Labonte	Junior Johnson	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:39:34	189.554
1990	February 15	Geoff Bodine	Junior Johnson	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:40:05	187.11
		Dale Earnhardt(3)	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:47:42	157.123
1991	February 13	Davey Allison	Robert Yates Racing	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:45:21	165.38
		Dale Earnhardt(4)	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:47:50	156.794
1992	February 13	Dale Earnhardt(5)	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	1:04:25	116.43
		Bill Elliott(3)	Junior Johnson	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:44:10	169.811
1993	February 11	Jeff Gordon	Hendrick Motorsports	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:48:56	153.27
		Dale Earnhardt(6)	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:47:41	157.288
1994	February 17	Ernie Irvan	Robert Yates Racing	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:47:59	156.304
		Dale Earnhardt(7)	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:51:06	146.771
1995	February 13	Sterling Marlin	Morgan-McClure Motorsports	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:49:59	150.05
		Dale Earnhardt(8)	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:56:52	131.887
1996	February 15	Dale Earnhardt(9)	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:52:26	143.039
		Ernie Irvan(2)	Robert Yates Racing	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:40:19	186.027
1997	February 13	Dale Jarrett	Robert Yates Racing	Ford	50	125 (201.168)		166.113
		Dale Earnhardt(10)	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)		162.749
1998	February 12	Sterling Marlin(2)	SABCO Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)		139.925
		Dale Earnhardt(11)	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)		147.203
1999	February 12	Bobby Labonte	Joe Gibbs Racing	Pontiac	50	125 (201.168)	0:45:52	163.57
		Dale Earnhardt(12)	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:48:16	155.28
2000	February 17	Bill Elliott(4)	Bill Elliott	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:39:44	188.758
		Ricky Rudd	Robert Yates Racing	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:39:53	188.048
2001	February 15	Sterling Marlin(3)	Chip Ganassi Racing	Dodge	50	125 (201.168)	0:50:51	147.493
		Mike Skinner	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:46:12	162.338
2002	February 14	Jeff Gordon(2)	Hendrick Motorsports	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:40:50	183.674
		Michael Waltrip	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:56:50	131.965
2003	February 13	Robby Gordon	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:41:24	181.14
		Dale Earnhardt, Jr.	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:41:28	180.845
2004	February 12	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.(2)	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.	Chevrolet	50	125 (201.168)	0:48:03	156.087
		Elliott Sadler	Robert Yates Racing	Ford	50	125 (201.168)	0:41:08	182.334
2005	February 17	Michael Waltrip(2)	Dale Earnhardt, Inc.	Chevrolet	60	150 (241.401)	1:04:05	140.422
		Tony Stewart	Joe Gibbs Racing	Chevrolet	60	150 (241.401)	1:00:02	145.161
2006	February 16	Elliott Sadler(2)	Robert Yates Racing	Ford	64*	160 (257.495)	1:08:16	140.625
		Jeff Gordon(3)	Hendrick Motorsports	Chevrolet	64*	160 (257.495)	1:05:32	146.49
2007	February 15	Tony Stewart(2)	Joe Gibbs Racing	Chevrolet	63*	157.5 (253.471)	1:23:16	113.491
		Jeff Gordon(4)	Hendrick Motorsports	Chevrolet	60	150 (241.401)	0:58:05	154.95
2008	February 14	Dale Earnhardt, Jr.(3)	Hendrick Motorsports	Chevrolet	60	150 (241.401)	0:59:00	160.81
		Denny Hamlin	Joe Gibbs Racing	Toyota	64*	160 (257.495)	1:14:45	128.428
2009	February 12	Jeff Gordon(5)	Hendrick Motorsports	Chevrolet	60	150 (241.401)	1:04:32	139.436
		Kyle Busch	Joe Gibbs Racing	Toyota	60	150 (241.401)	0:57:14	157.251
2010	February 11	Jimmie Johnson	Hendrick Motorsports	Chevrolet	60	150 (241.401)	1:01:27	146.461
		Kasey Kahne	Richard Petty Motorsports	Ford	60	150 (241.401)	0:51:32	174.644
2011	February 17	Kurt Busch	Penske Racing	Dodge	62*	155 (249.448)	0:58:12	159.794
		Jeff Burton	Richard Childress Racing	Chevrolet	60	150 (241.401)	1:05:54	136.571
2012	February 23	Tony Stewart(3)	Stewart Haas Racing	Chevrolet	60	150 (241.401)	0:56:34	159.104
		Matt Kenseth	Roush Fenway Racing	Ford	60	150 (241.401)	0:46:23	194.175

• 1961: First race was shortened due to crash.
• 1974: Both races were shortened due to energy crisis (10% shorter).
• 2006: Both races were extended due to a Green-white-checker finish.
• 2007: First race was extended due to a Green-white-checker finish.
• 2008: Second race was extended due to a Green-white-checker finish.
• 2011: First race was extended due to a Green-white-checker finish.

Manufacturer wins

RACE 1 Manufacturer Wins Chevrolet 20 Ford 12 Dodge 7 Pontiac 5 Mercury 3 Buick 3 Plymouth 2 AMC 1 Oldsmobile 1

RACE 2 Manufacturer Wins Chevrolet 26 Ford 10 Dodge 4 Pontiac 3 Buick 3 Mercury 2 Oldsmobile 2 Toyota 2

OVERALL Manufacturer Wins Chevrolet 45 Ford 21 Dodge 11 Pontiac 8 Buick 6 Mercury 5 Plymouth 2 Oldsmobile 2 Toyota 2 AMC 1

Television broadcasters

CBS began covering the Gatorade Duel by the early 1980s, airing them tape-delayed and edited the day before the Daytona 500. Starting in 2001, the races were shown live on television, as the Daytona 500 would rotate between Fox/FX and NBC/TNT from 2001–2006. Starting in 2007, the Gatorade Duel was shown live on SPEED, under the new broadcast agreement.

Year	Network	Lap-by-lap	Color commentator(s)
2011	SPEED	Mike Joy	Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
2010	SPEED	Mike Joy	Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
2009	SPEED	Mike Joy	Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
2008	SPEED	Mike Joy	Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
2007	SPEED	Mike Joy	Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
2006	TNT	Bill Weber	Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach
2005	FX	Mike Joy	Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
2004	TNT	Allen Bestwick	Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach
2003	FX	Mike Joy	Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
2002	TNT	Allen Bestwick	Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach
2001	FSN	Mike Joy	Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds
2000	CBS	Mike Joy	Ned Jarrett and Buddy Baker
1999	CBS	Mike Joy	Ned Jarrett and Buddy Baker
1998	CBS	Mike Joy	Ned Jarrett and Buddy Baker
1997	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Buddy Baker
1996	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Buddy Baker
1995	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Richard Petty
1994	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
1993	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Neil Bonnett
1992	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
1991	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs and Ned Jarrett
1990	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
1989	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
1988	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and Chris Economaki
1987	CBS	Ken Squier	Ned Jarrett and David Hobbs
1986
1985
1984	USA	Ken Squier	David Hobbs
1983	USA	Ken Squier	David Hobbs
1982	USA
1981	CBS
1980	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs
1979	CBS	Ken Squier	David Hobbs
1978	ABC	Jim McKay	Jackie Stewart
1977
1976
1975	ABC
1974	ABC	Keith Jackson	Jackie Stewart and Chris Economaki
1973	ABC	Jim McKay	Jackie Stewart and Chris Economaki
1972	ABC	Keith Jackson	Chris Economaki
1971	ABC	Keith Jackson	Chris Economaki
1970
1969
1968
1967	ABC
1966
1965
1964
1963
1962
1961
1960	CBS	Bud Palmer

Related links

• 2011 Daytona 500 Gatorade Duels Line Up
• Gatorade Duel Info And 2011 Pole Qualifying Results
• Gatorade Duel #1 Race info page
• Gatorade Duel #2 Race info page
• NASCAR Commentators Crews and Networks