The Daytona 500 not only heralds the opening the NASCAR season for 2016, but it also ushers in a new era of qualifying with a 40-car field.
Rather than the 43-car fields of the past, 36 Sprint Cup teams possess a charter that guarantees a spot in the field, and there will be four open positions for unchartered teams to fill. That format will carry through the entire 2016 season, but the Daytona 500 qualifying is a little different in that it only determines the front row of the field.
For teams that don't earn the top two spots in qualifying, the finishing order will determine where they start in Sprint Cup Can-Am Duels on Thursday, which will set the starting order for the remainder of the field.
Unchartered teams will have even more pressure during qualifying on Sunday, with spots in the Daytona 500 field on the line. The top two unchartered finishers in the Can-Am Duels will get a spot in the 40-car field, and the other two open spots will go to the next two unchartered teams that finished best in qualifying.
If you're looking for an unchartered team to watch, the Wood Brothers' No. 21 car, driven by Ryan Blaney, is one to keep an eye on. Although long a part of NASCAR history, the Wood Brothers failed to earn one of the initial 36 charters after running only partial seasons in the past three years.
2016 Daytona 500 qualifying info
Location: Daytona International Speedway, Fla.
Qualifying coverage: 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Qualifying begins: 1:15 p.m. (approximately)
TV: Fox
Online: Fox Sports Go
Radio: Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM channel 90