Toyota secured its first-ever pole position for the Daytona 500, with Chase Briscoe setting the fastest lap in both rounds of qualifying on Wednesday night. Briscoe’s impressive lap of 49.249 seconds and 182.745 mph earned him the top spot for Sunday’s race.
In a historic moment for Toyota, Briscoe will lead the first Duel qualifying race on Thursday, while Austin Cindric will start first in the second Duel. This marks Briscoe’s first points race for Toyota after joining Joe Gibbs Racing to replace the retired Martin Truex Jr.
The team’s first Daytona 500 pole came in 1998 when Bobby Labonte set the fastest lap in a Pontiac. Truex, still on a part-time schedule, secured his spot in the race alongside Jimmie Johnson based on their qualifying speeds.
With 45 cars vying for 40 spots, the competition is intense. Truex and Johnson’s strong performances have left only two spots available for seven drivers. Notably, Hélio Castroneves is guaranteed a spot in the race despite driving an open car.
If Castroneves doesn’t qualify through the Duel, he can utilize a newly created NASCAR provisional spot designed for drivers of significant status. This provision could potentially push the total number of cars in the Daytona 500 to 41.
As the Duel races approach on Thursday night, the excitement continues to build. The starting lineups for both races are set, with the highest-finishing open car in each Duel securing a spot in the Daytona 500. The anticipation is high as drivers gear up for the ultimate showdown at Daytona International Speedway.