Daytona 500: Who's in, who's out

The grid was set, with 10 of 53 missing the cut. As Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick locked up the front row on Pole Day last weekend, the 125s set positions three through to 30 for the 500, with the top 15 from each heat transferring directly to the grid. That means race winners Jeff Gordon and Michael Waltrip will start third and fourth.

Positions 31 through to 36 were filled via remaining prior qualifying times, and spots 37 through 43 were based on last year's car-owner points.

Who did get in through their Gatorade race results? Mike Skinner, Todd Bodine, Stacy Compton, and Casey Atwood - all of whom would likely not have made it had they not raced into the top 15.

Who did not make the cut? One big name was Jimmy Spencer, who was caught in a wreck in his new Target-sponsored ride which led to a tyre blow-out. "Something happened up there in the front of us," he said. "I got hit from behind and got in the accident. Big difference when there's a veteran driver following you and somebody who doesn't know what the hell they're doing. I knew I was in trouble then. I knew I had a tyre going down. This is the Daytona 500, so you've got to keep going. I got back into the top 15 with a bent up car. The team never gave up, and I figured I wouldn't. Finally the tire blew out.

"There's nothing you can do. This is part of the sport. I've been up and down. Some cars will make the Daytona 500 that probably don't deserve to make it, but that's the rules are made and that's the way these races are setup. It's tough."

Others to miss out included Rick Mast (not fast enough), Buckshot Jones (ditto) and, most heartbreakingly, Hut Stricklin. He had been 31st-fastest in time trials, and the team was 26th in provisional points.

Shawna Robinson became the first woman driver since Janet Guthrie in 1980 to qualify for the 500, also making the show on prior speed. Meanwhile, 60-year-old Dave Marcis, well supported in what he says is his final race as a driver, finished an easy seventh in the second heat and will start 14th in his 33rd Daytona 500.

Six of the seven teams taking provisionals presented Fords, those being Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Elliott Sadler, Robert Pressley, and Ricky Craven. The exception was the Pontiac of Johnny Benson.

As for Spencer on Sunday, he won't be anywhere near the Daytona oval. "I'll probably hit the golf ball on Sunday," he said. "I won't watch the race."

For the full Daytona 500 grid, click here.