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Anxious day ends with 43 cars in the show
by Ron Buck, ESPN.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Daytona 500 qualifying? It's was like an algebra problem for drivers on Thursday:

Begin with qualifying speeds; divided the 56 cars by two; subtract provisional spots, add the top 15 drivers in each Twin 125; subtract pole-sitter Dale Jarrett and teammate Ricky Rudd.


	Chad Little raced his way into the Daytona 500 by finishing 15th in Thursday's first Twin 125.

If the equation equaled 43 or lower, move on to the Daytona 500 on Sunday. If the answer was 44 or higher, pack up the trailer and move on to Rockingham, N.C., next week.

It was enough to make even the most experienced driver's head spin.

The easy way to solve the problem is to finish in the top 15 in either of Thursday's Twin 125 races. If a driver couldn't do that, he was left hoping his qualifying speed was good enough -- but there were only six of those spots available. The last chance to make the field was by using a provisional starting spot based on last season's points.

"We'll see what happens. All we can do is wait," said Kyle Petty, who finished 18th in the first Twin and knew he wasn't going to make it on speed after clocking just the 51st-quickest lap in Monday's second-round qualifying. "What can I say? It's Daytona."

At least Petty had a safety net -- a possible provisional spot. Petty wound up receiving the final one based on points. Darrell Waltrip got the last ticket to the show -- via the past champions provisional.

For rookie Mike Bliss, who's driving for A.J. Foyt's first-year team, finishing 20th in the first Twin meant his only way into the 500 was on the strength of his speed. Bliss was on the speed chart's preverbial "bubble" at No. 25. Bliss was suddenly rooting for those drivers ahead of him on the speed chart to race their way into the show in the second Twin 125.

"Now we hold our breath and see what happens," Bliss said as the field for the second Twin took the green. "We'll see what happens. I'm disappointed (now). There is nothing I can do now."

Bliss may want to think about buying fellow rookie Dale Earnhardt Jr., dinner -- "Little E" helped Bliss' cause by finishing fourth in the second Twin. Michael Waltrip and Jeff Gordon also raced their way into the 500, leaving Bliss and Steve Park (26th in qualifying) as the final two drivers to make it on speed.

Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Hamilton, Mike Wallace, Elliott Sadler, Kevin Lepage and Sterling Marlin receive passing grades by using provisionals. Rookies Dave Blaney, Stacy Compton and Bliss, Robert Pressley, Wally Dallenbach Jr., and Park qualified above the bell curve via speed.

But those who received "A's" on Thursday were Chad Little, Matt Kenseth and Robby Gordon. Each made the field by racing.

Little finished 15th in the first Twin 125s -- grabbing one of the two final 500 starting spots. Kenseth went from 28th in qualifying to finishing 12th in the second Twin 125. And Gordon, who was involved in a practice incident and then shoving match in the garage area with Tony Stewart on Wednesday, ran ninth in the first Twin to make the 500 field.

"It's a relief to get through the 125. It's a relief to have a clean race, especially after some of the things Tony (Stewart) said right after the incident -- that a lot of guys don't respect me down here," said Gordon, who was 31st on the speed chart. "I think I gained a little respect today."

"It's a relief, all right," said Little, who was down in 45th heading into Thursday's races, but will now start 29th for the 500. "We ran 15th, that's all we needed. It's good to know that we were able to draft our way up in there and not take it by a provsional -- if that's what I came down to. We learned enough and this will help us a lot for the 500. It's a big relief for everybody."

"At least we made it," said Kenseth, who would have been the dreaded 44th driver had he not raced his way into the field in the second Twin 125. "I was hoping it wasn't gonna be that close. At least we are in the race. I couldn't sleep last night. Now I can get some rest."

Those who may not sleep well tonight included Dave Marcis, who saw his bid for a 34th Daytona 500 start dashed when he finished 17h in the second Twin. Other big names who won't be in the field Sunday include Ricky Craven and Bodine bothers, Geoffrey and Todd.

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