Chase Briscoe has earned a coveted front row spot for the 68th Daytona 500, following a high-stakes qualifying session on February 11 at Daytona International Speedway. The Chase Briscoe Daytona 500 front row position was secured as Briscoe and Kyle Busch posted the fastest times among the 45 NASCAR Cup Series entrants.
Busch and Briscoe Lock Down Leading Positions
Kyle Busch clinched the pole position for the Daytona 500, clocking a lap at 183.651 mph in his No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. This marks Busch’s second Daytona 500 pole, but his first with Richard Childress Racing. Briscoe, who won last year’s pole, narrowly missed that distinction this time but still grabbed a front-row seat by qualifying second with a 183.587 mph lap in the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing. Both drivers’ spots in Sunday’s showcase race are guaranteed and will not be affected by the qualifying Duels on Thursday night.
Top Ten Qualifiers Ready for the Duels
The race for prime starting positions intensified as the fastest ten drivers after the first session battled again in a second qualifying run. Their times determined strong starting places for the upcoming qualifying Duels. Following Busch and Briscoe, the fastest drivers were Ryan Preece, Denny Hamlin, Alex Bowman, Kyle Larson, Corey Heim, Chris Buescher, Chase Elliott, and Joey Logano.
In Thursday’s Duels, the top ten are strategically split between the two races, with drivers set to compete for their final Daytona 500 starting positions. The format ensures that performance in these races heavily influences where drivers will begin Sunday’s main event. However, for Busch and Briscoe, their positions on the front row are already secure regardless of Thursday’s outcomes.
Heim and Allgaier Qualify on Speed
Among the eight drivers from non-chartered teams seeking entry into the Daytona 500, Corey Heim and Justin Allgaier eased some of the pre-race pressure by securing their places based strictly on speed. Heim recorded a lap at 183.158 mph in his No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing, earning his debut appearance in the Daytona 500. Allgaier, piloting the No. 40 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, completed his quick run at 182.923 mph to make his second Daytona 500 field. The remaining six open teams must now vie for the last two spots during Thursday evening’s Duels, knowing four will be eliminated.
Noah Gragson Penalized for Qualifying Rule Violation
Drama unfolded as Noah Gragson saw his qualifying time disallowed. While making his run in the No. 4 Ford, Gragson placed his left hand near the B post, in violation of a new NASCAR rule implemented earlier in the week prohibiting drivers from touching areas near the driver’s side window during Superspeedway qualifying.
“I totally forgot about that rule, so that one is on me.”
— Gragson told Jamie Little from Fox-TV.
“Yeah, I feel like an idiot for that and putting my hand there. Oh well, we got the race tomorrow (The Duels) to get in. I’m down for that.”
— Gragson told Jamie Little from Fox-TV.
Gragson, along with all other hopefuls, must await the Duel races set for 7 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. on Thursday to learn if they will start in the Daytona 500. These Duels can be watched on FS1-TV and heard on MRN Radio and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio as excitement builds ahead of Sunday’s iconic event.
What This Means for the Daytona 500 Field
The final makeup of the Daytona 500 grid will be settled following Thursday night’s Duels, delivering high stakes as four teams face elimination. For Chase Briscoe, his secure front row start affirms his strong standing among drivers, reflecting the intense competition and strategic importance of qualifying at Daytona. This year’s field is set to showcase a mix of veterans such as Kyle Busch and emerging talents like Corey Heim and Justin Allgaier, promising an unpredictable and fiercely contested season opener. As the countdown continues, all attention remains on Daytona, where every detail, from qualifying procedure to starting position, could determine the outcome of “The Great American Race.”
