The Daytona 500 is the crown jewel of NASCAR races. Rightfully referred to as ‘The Great American Race’, the 200-lap race is the most prominent racing spectacle of the season. Its stature makes drivers and racing teams naturally drawn toward it. Imagine a driver’s joy of getting a chance to shine on the grandest stage of NASCAR Cup Series races. However, before the days of franchising and charter systems in NASCAR, the Daytona 500 qualifying sessions were surrounded by gloom.

Since introducing the charter system, chartered teams have sealed a spot in the Daytona 500. From the 40 allocated spots, 36 chartered drivers have already set foot in the main event. The remaining four spots are up for grabs, with the two fastest non-chartered cars moving to the main event and the remaining vehicles battling it out through duels. As a result, the qualifying rituals of the Daytona 500 have given rise to some of the most intense battles in the sport.

From an unprecedented deja vu to eliminations by inches

The 1997 Daytona 500 qualifying race was a record-breaking race. Bud Moore Engineering was one of the most famed teams at that time. Having nurtured legendary drivers like Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson, and Bobby Allison, the team had created a streak of having qualified for every Daytona season opener for 25 years. Following David Pearson’s elimination in 1972, 1997 was the first time no Bud Moore driver would participate in the Great American race.

Surprisingly, it was David Pearson’s son, Larry Pearson, driving the No.15 Ford, who couldn’t finish among the top 15 drivers at the Twin 125s, now known as the Bluegreen Vacations Duel. However, that was far from the noise Geoffrey Bodine’s qualification for the 1999 Daytona 500 made.

Coming into the race as Joe Bessey Motorsports’ No.60 Chevrolet driver, Bodine took to the Twin 125s in a few weeks. The team was formed six weeks before the qualifying race and signed Bodine two weeks before the opener. Edging multiple opponents for a P15 finish, the NASCAR legend sealed a spot in the 1999 Daytona 500 main event.

The Bodine family has entertained the fans heartily at the Daytona 500. Two years after Geoffrey Bodine’s last-ditch entry to the main event, his brother Todd was knocked out of contention despite running P5 in the race’s final lap. To lose a healthy spot in the biggest NASCAR race of the season in the last seconds of the race can be highly frustrating.

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In the last lap of the Gatorade Twins 125s, Todd ran fifth and was a part of the intense five-wide battle for dominating the spots close to the front row. However, due to a shocking move by Dave Blaney coming in from the apron, Todd Bodine was relegated to the 17th spot in the end. While Bodine made peace with his misfortune, it must have been very disheartening to experience.

Casey Mears’ never-say-never qualifying attempt in the 2003 Daytona 500

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Racing for Chip Ganassi Racing in the #41 Target Dodge, former driver Casey Mears indeed overcame some obstacles to claim his place in the 2003 Daytona 500. With six laps to go, the rookie Mears was under intense pressure to make his efforts count. While exiting turn two, the youngster collided with the retainer wall just enough to make contact and drive by the wall right into the race.

At the time of the contact, Mears was in the last place. Being forced to make haste due to a lack of time, Casey Mears made his case and surged close to the competition in the #41. In the race’s final lap, Mears ran his car as hard as he could and gained five spots in the grid to claim a P15 finish. Occupying the last spot for the Daytona 500, Mears etched his name among some of the most dramatic finishes in the Gatorade 125s history.

In the 2005 Gatorade 125s, former NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace delivered the goods to enter the Daytona 500, albeit at the cost of Kerry Earnhardt. Driving the #00 Chevrolet for Michael Waltrip Racing, ‘Herman’ eventually finished 40th in the main event. However, what was more interesting was his entrance into the race.

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In the final lap of the qualifying race, Kenny Wallace had held an edge over Kerry Earnhardt in the final qualifying spot. Holding on to it as tightly as he could, Wallace beat Earnhardt by a hundredth of a second. The minute margin depicts the urgency and gravity of the Gatorade 125s very well. After all, it was the only chance to get inside the Great American Race.