Nascar Race Today

Dillon secures pole position in 500, Truex Jr. behind him in second

Making his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut in the No. 3 Chevrolet, Austin Dillon won the Coors Light Pole for the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Dillon surpassed all other contenders with a fastest speed of 196.019 mph.

Following Dillon was Martin Truex Jr. with a speed of 195.852 mph in his No. 78 Chevrolet.

Both Dillon and Truex Jr. have set their starting positions in the Daytona 500 as first and second, respectively. The rest of the drivers will race in the Budweiser Duel events to determine their position in the race.

Danica Patrick, who topped Coors Light Pole qualifying in 2013, and Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Tony Stewart finished 25th and 35th, respectively, during qualifying. Both drivers suffered blown engines during practice Saturday and will start at the rear for their respective Duel races, as well as the Daytona 500.

The Daytona Duels will take place Thursday, with the first 125-miler beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Drivers will duel for 60 laps to earn their positions in the Daytona 500 on Sunday.

The field for each Duel is determined by assigning the cars that earned odd-numbered positions from qualifying to the first Duel race. The cars that earned even-numbered positions from qualifying will compete in the second Duel race. The starting positions for each Duel race will be based on the driver's qualifying times.

The top 15 finishers in each Duel race -- excluding Dillon and Truex Jr. who are starting first and second in the field -- will earn an automatic spot in the Daytona 500, filling positions 3-32.