NASCAR 2019: Key information on Daytona 500 pole qualifying and The Clash

NASCAR is back.

The 2019 season officially kicks off Sunday with the start of Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway — a host of events that culminate with the 61st annual Daytona 500.

Festivities begin with Daytona 500 pole qualifying and the Advance Auto Parts Clash exhibition race on Sunday. Thursday brings a pair of 60-lap Duels that will determine the lineup for the Daytona 500.

The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series holds its season opener Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1), and the NASCAR Xfinity Series follows on Saturday (2:30 p.m. ET, FS1) before the Monster Energy Cup Series takes center stage on Feb. 17 with the Daytona 500.

Here is everything you need to know for Pole Qualifying, The Clash and the Duels:

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DAYTONA 500 POLE QUALIFYING: A two-round, single-vehicle format on the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

The driver with the top time at the end of the second round will earn the pole position. The driver with the second-best time will start alongside on the front row. The remaining Daytona 500 lineup will be set by the Gander RV Duels.

• START TIME: Sunday, noon ET
• TV: Fox
• RADIO: Motor Racing Network
• STREAMING: Fox Sports Go
• WEATHER: Light rain or showers. High of 70 degrees.
• 2018 Front row: Alex Bowman (pole winner) and Denny Hamlin

DAYTONA QUALIFYING:2018 recap and all-time pole winners by year

ADVANCE AUTO PARTS CLASH: The 75-lap exhibition race (187.5 miles) will be broken up into two stages with a competition caution at lap 25 separating the segments. 

The field is limited to drivers who won poles in 2018 Cup races, former Clash winners who competed full-time in 2018, former Daytona 500 pole winners who competed full-time in 2018, former Daytona 500 champions who competed full-time in 2018 and drivers who qualified for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

• START TIME: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET
• GREEN FLAG: 3:24 p.m ET.
• TV: Fox Sports 1
• RADIO: Motor Racing Network
• STREAMING: Fox Sports Go
• Weather: Showers tapering off into cloudy skies.
• 2018 WINNER: Brad Keselowski
• FIELD: Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Erik Jones, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Paul Menard, Daniel Suarez, Martin Truex Jr., Jamie McMurray, Ryan Newman, Austin Dillon, Jimmie Johnson, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer and Brad Keselowski.

GANDER RV DUELS: The twin 150-mile races will determine the full starting lineup for the 61st Daytona 500. Sunday's pole winner will start first in Duel No. 1 while the second-place qualifier will head up Duel No 2, but their finish is largely irrelevant. They will be locked into the Daytona 500 front row, barring penalties.

The winners of each of the two 60-lap Duels will secure the second row to start the Daytona 500. The remaining starting positions will be determined by finishing order in each of the Duels.

• START TIME: Thursday, 7 p.m. ET
• TV: Fox Sports 1
• RADIO:Motor Racing Network
• STREAMING: Fox Sports Go
• Weather: Partly cloudy. Temperatures in the high 60s-low 70s.
• 2018 WINNERS: Duel 1 — Ryan Blaney; Duel 2 — Chase Elliott

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