DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The intensity was already high for the non-chartered teams trying to make this year’s Daytona 500 field, but it will reach a fever pitch Thursday night during the Bluegreen Vacation Duels at Daytona Int’l Speedway.

Six drivers — Austin Cindric, Kaz Grala, Ty Dillon, Timmy Hill, Garrett Smithley and Noah Gragson — will be vying for the final two positions on the starting grid for The Great American Race.

Ryan Preece and David Ragan secured their spots in the Daytona 500 field Wednesday night, by virtue of being the fastest two drivers among the eight non-chartered entries competing for the four open spots in the race.

The top-finishing non-chartered driver in each of the 60-lap, 150-mile Duel qualifying races will advance into the big show on Sunday. Should Preece or Ragan race their way into the Daytona 500, the next driver on speed would earn a spot in the show.

Cindric and Grala are the next two eligible to make the race based on speed.

For Dillon, Hill, Smithley and Gragson, their only path to make the Daytona 500 is to best the other three non-chartered drivers in their respective Duel.

It’s a situation that evokes plenty of pressure, but for Dillon it’s not an unfamiliar position. He had to race his way into the Daytona 500 during his event debut in 2015 and successfully did so.

“My first year ever coming here, I had to make it in (through the Duels), but the field wasn’t as packed as this one is. There’s a lot of talent, along with a lot of fast race cars,” Dillon noted. “It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a good show. Unfortunately, there’s going to be a really good driver and a really good team that has to go home tomorrow. That’s the tough part about it, but it is racing. It’s competition.

“There are going to be hurt feelings, and there are going to be celebrations too, so hopefully we are on the happy side of that one.”

Both Cindric and Grala know that, though they have potential fallback plans that could get them into the Daytona 500, they can’t rely on others racing their way in to make the race themselves.

That means it’s no-holds-barred when it comes to Thursday night’s Duels.

“I have to take a step back, because the competitive side of me wasn’t overly satisfied with our qualifying run, but I feel like personally it means a great deal just to be here,” noted Cindric. “I think it’s an opportunity that a lot of drivers work very hard to try and achieve, especially this in this side of motorsports, so for me to have a shot to get in is pretty cool. But there’s a lot of work that needs to be done and that’s pretty much all I’ve been thinking about. I’ve spent the last three weeks stressing about qualifying and the Duels, but it’s good stress. That means you’ve got something to fight for.”

“I think our lap was good in terms of performance, but we slowed down a little bit from practice,” said Grala. “We didn’t need that and I’m not sure why that happened. Cindric beating us (on speed) put us in a pretty precarious position. Our car is really good, though, and I have all the confidence in the world that we can race our way in. … I feel good about our chances; it’s just more stress than we wanted to go into Thursday with. I’m going to be learning on the go … and, hopefully, I’ve learned enough by the end.”

Perhaps the biggest story among the non-chartered entries is Gragson, who wasn’t permitted to post a qualifying time Wednesday night after his No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet failed pre-qualifying inspection three times.

Gragson will have to start at the rear of his Duel and work his way toward the front if he hopes to compete in his first Daytona 500 on Sunday afternoon.

“It’s unfortunate what happened, but we still have a shot to make it in (through) the Duel,” said Gragson. “I’m thankful for the opportunity I have with Beard Motorsports. We’re ready to go.”

Cindric starts 10th in the first Duel, while Ty Dillon rolls from 17th and Hill lines up 20th.

In the second Duel, Grala rolls off 10th, Smithley starts 18th and Gragson starts 22nd.

Dillon said there will be a fine line for all six drivers to balance once they get out in the draft, with a mix of aggression and protecting the race car being key to success in each of the Duels.

“You’ve got to get the car into the race, but to get it in, you’ve got to finish the race. It’s just that; it’s a balance,” Dillon said. “You have to put yourself in the right situations. These races are wild. I remember my first duel. It’s way more aggressive than you think it’s going to be, as far as a qualifying race goes.

“I think having some experience definitely helps, but I’m sure everyone will be doing whatever it takes (to advance into the Daytona 500).”

Coverage of the Bluegreen Vacation Duels at Daytona begins Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET, live on FS1, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.