Gordon, Stewart head qualifiers at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart won Thursday's 60-lap Gatorade Duel runs at Daytona to qualify for Sunday's Daytona 500.

Stewart won the day's opening race, edging Dale Earnhardt Jr. Gordon captured the second, 0.187 seconds ahead of Kurt Busch.

When the "Super Bowl" of NASCAR racing unfolds Sunday afternoon, David Gilliland will be on the pole after winning it last Sunday for the second pole of his career.

The field for the 49th running of the race also includes Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Michael Waltrip and Casey Mears, as well as Ken Schrader, Sterling Marlin, Johnny Sauter, David Reutimann, Dale Jarrett, David Stremme, Matt Kenseth, J.J. Yeley, Carl Edwards, Joe Nemechek, Tony Raines and Ryan Newman.

Waltrip was required to use a back-up car after his Toyota was cited for major rules violations this week. He offered an apology before Thursday's runs.