Wednesday February 22, 2012 - 9:26 AM

Guide to the 2012 Gatorade Duels

By Brian De Los Santos | CBSSports.com staff

Are you befuddled by NASCAR's bizarre qualifying format for the Daytona 500? Well fret not, as we have everything you need to know about how the field will come to be set after Thursday's qualifying races.

For starters, 39 drivers are already locked into the field, though only the front row starting positions are actually set. There are 10 drivers vying for the four remaining starting spots.

Daytona 500 starting lineup

The front-row for the Daytona 500 is set based on Feb. 19 qualifying runs.

Based on their finishing order in Duel 1, top 35 drivers plus the two highest non-top 35 drivers will be lined up in odd-number starting positions (3-5-7--39) for the 500. Based on their finishing order in Duel 2, top 35 drivers plus the two highest finishing non-top 35 drivers will get even-number starting positions (4-6-8--38).

The final four spots in the field will be filled by the fastest remaining non-top 35 qualifiers from Feb. 19, with the exception of the 43rd position, which would be assigned to an eligible past champion (if needed). Should there not be an eligible past champion, the position will be assigned to the next fastest non-top 35 qualifier not in the field.

Transfer-eligible drivers

Drivers not in the top 35 of owner points (including those already locked into the field based on Feb. 19 qualifying or by the past champion's provisional) are eligible for the two transfer spots in each qualifier. It's the so-called race within the race.

• Trevor Bayne and David Stremme from Duel 1 and Tony Raines from Duel 2 are already locked into the Daytona 500 since they were the three fastest non-top 35 qualifiers. However, the incentive remains to finish in a transfer spot to improve starting position for the 500. Without a transfer spot, none of these three are slated to start better than 40th.

• Terry Labonte is locked into the Daytona 500 by virtue of the past series champion's provisional. However, he can also make the field via a transfer position or possibly fall back on qualifying speed, which would then shift the champion's provisional to Bill Elliott should he need it.

• There are multiple ways for Kenny Wallace (Duel 2), Terry Labonte (Duel 1), Dave Blaney (Duel 2) and Michael Waltrip (Duel 1) to make the Daytona 500 field. The easiest way, of course, is for each driver to finish in one of the two transfer spots in his qualifying race. Barring that ...

Locked into field (Top 35 owner points)

These drivers are locked into the Daytona 500 by virtue of NASCAR's top 35 owner rule.