DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Chase Briscoe led a banner night time for Toyota in qualifying for the Daytona 500 by profitable the pole for NASCAR’s “Nice American Race.”
It’s the first Daytona 500 pole for Briscoe, who moved to Joe Gibbs Racing this season when Stewart-Haas Racing closed on the finish of 2024. His transfer to the No. 19 gave Toyota its first pole in NASCAR’s largest race of the season.
“An effective way to begin our season. Unbelievable option to begin off the yr. Unbelievable option to begin off with Toyota,” stated Briscoe. “To have the ability to be the man to ship them the primary something once they’ve already completed a lot is fairly cool. To suppose I’m going to begin on the entrance row or on the pole of the ‘Nice American Race’ with finally the nice American model of (sponsor) Bass Professional Outlets is unbelievable. Can’t thank Coach Gibbs sufficient, the whole Joe Gibbs Racing group.”
Briscoe’s lap of 182.745 mph held off a slew of Ford challengers. Former Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric certified second in a Ford for Crew Penske, which began from the pole final yr with Joey Logano, who closed the yr as NASCAR Cup Collection champion.
Ford drivers claimed 4 of the highest 5 spots in time trials, however solely Briscoe and Cindric because the entrance row starters had been locked in Wednesday night time.
“A variety of quick Fords,” stated Cindric. “Fairly good to begin on the entrance row with one in all my good pals. All in all, an incredible field checked for the beginning of this week. I believe each single a part of this weekend is vital to organising with a chance to win this race on Sunday.”
The one different drivers locked in throughout time trials had been Toyota drivers Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr., who weren’t assured entry however posted speeds quick sufficient to assert two of the 4 “open” spots within the race.
The rest of the beginning order is ready Thursday night time in a pair of qualifying races.
There are 9 drivers entered for 4 open spots and Truex and Johnson claimed two of them in time trials. Johnson is a seven-time NASCAR champion, two-time Daytona 500 winner and member of the Corridor of Fame. Truex is the 2017 Cup champion and in his first yr of not racing NASCAR full-time.
“Each Jimmie and I had been beneficiaries of their (Toyota’s) exhausting work on their engines,” Truex stated.
Each would have been eligible to request the “world-class driver” provisional that ensures entry as a forty first automotive to at least one driver who doesn’t compete full-time in NASCAR and brings marketability and visibility to the most important race of the season.
The provisional will go to four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves if he fails to race his means in Thursday night time. If he takes the provisional, Trackhouse Racing is not going to obtain any factors or purse cash, and the sector shall be 41 automobiles — the biggest area since 43 automobiles was the usual in 2015.
Johnson stated his Legacy Motor Membership was unaware of the provisional till it was introduced earlier this yr — despite the fact that it was a brand new rule included within the constitution settlement groups signed in September. The rule required a staff to request the provisional 90 days earlier than the occasion, and the rule was not publicly introduced till after the deadline for the Daytona 500 had handed.
“We didn’t learn about it till the rule got here out. Evidently, it was buried within the constitution settlement that got here out,” Johnson stated earlier Wednesday. “However when the rule got here out, I neglect the time of the morning, three minutes later, we had been on the cellphone with NASCAR and acknowledged it wasn’t inside the 90 day-window and we weren’t eligible.
“We’ve had numerous talks with everybody at NASCAR and I’ve a greater understanding of the intent of the rule, and I might anticipate some adjustments following (Daytona) to raised outline and make clear that. When first learn, our response wasn’t nice, however it’s what it’s and hopefully, we now have a fast-enough automotive to get in.”
He did, simply off the velocity of Truex, but it surely was sufficient to make sure the 2 former champions will race Sunday.
The drivers who should race their means in Thursday, searching for the 2 remaining spots, are Anthony Alfredo, Justin Allgaier, Corey LaJoie, B.J. McLeod, Chandler Smith and J.J. Yeley. If Castroneves races his means in, there’ll solely be one open spot obtainable.
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