The first row of the Daytona 500 was swept by Hendrick Motorsports, with defending Cup champion Kyle Larson on pole and Alex Bowman second.
Seven of the last eight Daytona 500 poles have been won by Hendrick Motorsports. Larson is competing in the Daytona 500 for the first time. For this race, he’d never gotten out to a better start than eighth. For the fifth year in a row, Bowman qualified for the top row of the event.
Larson finished at 181.159 mph to be the first reigning Cup champion since Jimmie Johnson in 2008 to win the Daytona 500 pole. Bowman qualified at 181.046 mph.
“You are really proud of your team to get a pole here because this is the littlest it has to do with us drivers; qualifying at superspeedways,” Larson said. “Just a huge thank you to the engine shop at Hendrick Motorsports. Everybody who’s had a part in touching these vehicles; whether it be on the computer, engineering, or just hands on. … Hopefully this is the beginning of a really good weekend.”
Larson and Bowman were also the only cars to claim a starting spot in the Daytona 500 on Sunday. The qualifying races on Thursday will determine where the rest of the field will start.
With a speed of 180.850 mph, William Byron qualified third. At 180.527 mph, Aric Almirola was fourth, and Chase Elliott was fifth at 180.314 mph.
The 1995 Indy 500 winner Noah Gragson and the 1997 Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve qualified for the Daytona 500. Six non-chartered cars will compete for four berths in the Daytona 500. The two best non-chartered cars in qualifying secured a berth in the Daytona 500 starting grid. Gragson, who is racing full-time for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series this season, qualified for the race after struggling to qualify for last year’s 500.
“Just to make the show is incredible because we’re a small team,” said Villeneuve, who is driving for Team Hezeberg.
Kaz Grala, Greg Biffle, JJ Yeley, and Timmy Hill, the other four non-chartered drivers, will have to race their way into the race on Thursday.
Several uniforms inspired by NASCAR racing drivers are currently available at the following websites for a reasonable price:
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