Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson Win NASCAR Duels at Daytona

Danica Patrick Makes Daytona 500 After Crash

Jimmie Johnson, (R) driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, (Jerry Markland/Getty Images) and Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Duels 2 and 1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2015 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Thursday was a very cold night at Daytona International Speedway, but it was a very good night for Hendricks Racing drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson winners of the two Duels at Daytona, 60-lap heat races which fill out the field for Sunday’s Daytona 500.

43 cars fill the grid for the Daytona 500, while 50 or more try to make the race. Grid spots are determined by qualifying speed, owner points, or a top-16 finish in one of the Duels. Former series champs also get a free spot in the big show.

2014 Daytona 500 champ Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the first Duel ahead of team mate Jeff Gordon who slipped past Joey Logano in the last few hundred yards. Earnhardt, Gordon and Matt Kennseth swapped the lead through the first 40 laps, when Earnhardt took over for the remainder.

Trevor Bayne, driver of the #6 AdvoCare Ford, and Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, are involved in an on-track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Duel 1 at Daytona International Speedway on February 19, 2015 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sean Gardner/Getty Images