NASCAR start time, format, TV for Daytona 500 pole qualifying

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — It's Daytona 500 pole day at Daytona International Speedway, and we've got some essential information you need to get ready for today's qualifying session.

START TIME: Qualifying begins at 1:35 p.m. Eastern.

TV/RADIO SCHEDULE: FOX will broadcast today's qualifying session and has a preview show beginning at 1 p.m. ET. The Motor Racing Network (MRN) will call the session on the radio.

LAST YEAR: Rookie Austin Dillon brought the legendary No. 3 car — formerly driven by the late Dale Earnhardt — back to Daytona and drove it to the top qualifying spot. Martin Truex Jr. joined him on the front row.

WHO IS ALREADY IN: NASCAR's provisional rules mean the top six drivers in points from last year — Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Jeff Gordon — are locked into the Daytona 500. Also, the most recent past Sprint Cup champion who could need a provisional — Jimmie Johnson — will be in the field.

WHO COULD MAKE IT TODAY: For the first time in NASCAR history, knockout qualifying will be used to determine the front row for the Daytona 500. The top two drivers in the final round of knockout qualifying will lock themselves into the field. They will be joined by the drivers with the four fastest speeds from any of the three rounds of qualifying — not including the drivers on the front row.

FORMAT: Single-car qualifying is no more. The field has been split into two groups; each will have a five-minute first round to post the fastest lap time possible. Then the top 24 drivers will move on to the five-minute second round. After that, the top 12 drivers will have five minutes to post a lap and determine the Daytona 500 pole sitter.

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS? Those drivers who aren't locked into the Daytona 500 after today will have to wait until Thursday night's Budweiser Duel races, which set the complete field for the Great American Race.

I'M CONFUSED. TELL ME AGAIN? NASCAR will use group qualifying to set the Daytona 500 field today. The two fastest cars in the final round will make up the front row, plus the next four fastest drivers from any of the three rounds. And if the top six drivers in points from last year aren't among the fastest drivers tomorrow, they'll still be in the Daytona 500 anyway.

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PHOTOS: History of the Daytona 500