History
The event began as twin 100-mile (40-lap) races. From 1959–1971, the races were counted with points towards the Grand National championship. Purses awarded were counted separately from those awarded in the Daytona 500. For 1968, the races were scheduled for 125 miles (201 km) each, but were cancelled due to rain, and the starting lineup for the 1968 Daytona 500 fell back on the timed laps. In 1969, the races were extended to 125 miles (50 laps), which would require a fuel stop, and change the pit stop strategy.
For 1972, NASCAR's modern era commenced, and the races were dropped from the Grand National schedule as points-paying championship events. As part of Winston's changes to the series, races were required to be at least 250 miles (400 km) to be included as official points events. The races continued, however, held as a non-points event. CBS began covering the race by the early 1980s, airing them tape-delayed and edited the day before the Daytona 500.
With the introduction of restrictor plates in 1988, the resulting reduction in speed and fuel consumption again allowed drivers to possibly complete the race without a pit stop. Nine times from 1988–2004, one of the races went without a caution, and without a pit stop by the winner. In 2003, rules had been put in place requiring smaller fuel tanks on restrictor plate track (from 22-gallons down to 13), which effectively forced a pit stop.
Starting in 2001, the races were shown live on television, as the Daytona 500 would rotate between FOX/FX and NBC/TNT from 2001–2006.
In 2005, the races were lengthened to 150 miles (60-laps), given a new name, the Gatorade Duel, and from 2005-12, used an All-Exempt Tour format. The grids changed from even-odd qualifiers to a combination of even-odd based of the front row drivers by speed, then previous year's points standings (even-odd) of exempt teams) and non-exempt teams by speed.. A rain delay in 2006 saw the second race finish under the lights.
Starting in 2007, the Gatorade Duel is shown live on SPEED, under the new broadcast agreement. That same year, allegations of cheating came up.
Read more about this topic: Budweiser Duel
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