Four unqualified drivers for the Daytona 500

Four drivers ultimately failed to qualify for the 2021 Daytona 500s following the qualifying session and Duels.

There were 44 cars on the entry list for the 2021 Daytona 500. But unfortunately only 40 will be on the starting grid for the season opener.

Results, after the qualifying races on Thursday evening, four drivers left the circuit with no hope of taking the start of the Daytona 500. 36 places were automatically allocated thanks to to the Charter system in place in the NASCAR Cup Series for a few seasons now. So in the end, the real issue concerned eight drivers fighting for four places.

The eight drivers who had to fight for their ticket to the Daytona 500 were Ryan Preece, Austin Cindric, David Ragan, Kaz Grala, Ty Dillon, Noah Gragson, Timmy Hill and Garrett Smithley.

Two of them, Preece and Ragan, managed to qualify on time in the qualifying session. This left only two places to be allocated during the duels.

During the first Duel Preece finished in fifth place just ahead of Dillon. Cindric cut the line in 16th position and Hill in 19th. In the second Duel, Ragan finished eighth ahead of Grala 14th, Smithley 16th and Gragson 18th.

Cindric however kept the advantage over Dillon thanks to a better time in qualifying.

In the end it is therefore Dillon, Hill, Smithley and Gragson who were eliminated and who will therefore not be able to participate in the Daytona 500.

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