Hendrick Motorsports’ Daytona 500 pole streak is over.
Joey Logano edged Michael McDowell for the highest beginning spot in Sunday’s season-opening NASCAR race within the second spherical of qualifying on Wednesday. It’s the twenty ninth profession pole for Logano and his first for the Daytona 500.
Hendrick drivers entered the season with three straight Daytona 500 poles. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in 2020 had been the one non-Hendrick driver since 2014 to begin first within the famed race. However McDowell snapped that streak with a blistering lap earlier than Logano — who posted the quickest lap within the first spherical of qualifying — beat him within the night’s last qualifying run.
Logano’s pole is the primary for Ford for the reason that 2012 season. Chevy drivers had gained the final 11 Daytona 500 pole positions. After he bought out of his automotive, Logano didn’t take any credit score for a lap during which he merely mashed the fuel and saved his automotive low on the observe.
“That is all concerning the staff,” Logano mentioned. “Truthfully I’d wish to take credit score, however I can’t immediately.”
Wednesday night time’s qualifying session solely decided the primary two spots in Sunday’s race. The remaining are up for grabs throughout Thursday night time’s Duel races. With 42 vehicles entered for 40 spots within the race, 21 vehicles will take part in every of the 2 races on Thursday night time. The primary race will set the odd-numbered positions on the grid whereas the second race will set the even-numbered beginning spots.
With 36 groups locked into the race, there are six drivers racing for 4 open spots and the 2 quickest vehicles amongst them on Wednesday night time earned beginning spots. Anthony Alfredo and David Ragan are assured to begin Sunday’s race, whereas Jimmie Johnson, JJ Yeley, Kaz Grala and B.J. McLeod are racing for 2 spots.
Johnson simply must beat Yeley within the first Duel to get into the race whereas Grala wants to complete forward of each Ragan and McLeod within the second race. Yeley posted the slowest time of any driver Wednesday night time; it’ll be a shock if he will get into the race forward of Johnson.
Duel 1 beginning lineup
1. Joey Logano
2. Kyle Larson
3. Chase Elliott
4. Austin Dillon
5. Ross Chastain
6. Todd Gilliland
7. Ryan Preece
8. Chris Buescher
9. Alex Bowman
10. Daniel Suarez
11. Anthony Alfredo
12. Erik Jones
13. Daniel Hemric
14. Martin Truex Jr.
15. Ty Gibbs
16. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
17. Corey LaJoie
18. Jimmie Johnson
19. Tyler Reddick
20. Carson Hocevar
21. JJ Yeley
Duel 2 beginning lineup
1. Michael McDowell
2. Austin Cindric
3. William Byron
4. Kyle Busch
5. Harrison Burton
6. Riley Herbst
7. Chase Briscoe
8. Noah Gragson
9. Ryan Blaney
10. AJ Allmendinger
11. Josh Berry
12. Brad Keselowski
13. David Ragan
14. Bubba Wallace
15. Justin Haley
16. Christopher Bell
17. Denny Hamlin
18. Zane Smith
19. John Hunter Nemechek
20. B.J. McLeod
21. Kaz Grala
