On Wednesday night, the pole qualifying session determined the starting lineup for the Daytona 500, and Hendrick Motorsports drivers Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson won the race for the front row, locking in the first and second starting spots for the event. NASCAR fans are eagerly anticipating the Daytona 500, which will feature these top drivers at the front of the pack.
Bowman secured the pole position with a top speed of 181.686 mph in his Chevrolet, marking a record sixth consecutive front row start for him in the Daytona 500. His teammate Kyle Larson, who is returning to NASCAR this season after a suspension, secured the second starting spot with a speed of 181.057 mph.
The rest of the starting lineup for the Daytona 500 will be determined through two 150-mile qualifying races on Thursday night. However, with the top two spots already locked in, Bowman and Larson are in a strong position to start the race at the front of the pack.
Hendrick Motorsports has a long history of success at the Daytona 500, and the team’s dominance in the pole qualifying session is further proof of their strength at the event. The team has won eight of the past nine pole positions, and leads all teams with 16 pole wins at the Daytona 500.
In addition to Bowman and Larson, Hendrick driver William Byron also had a strong showing in the pole qualifying session, securing the third starting spot. Former Hendrick driver Jimmie Johnson also made a successful return to NASCAR with a qualifying spot for the event.
It’s worth noting that the pole winner doesn’t necessarily have an advantage in the Daytona 500. In fact, the last pole winner to win the race was Dale Jarrett in 2000. In the past eight years, none of the pole winners have finished better than 14th in the race. Nonetheless, starting at the front of the pack is always a strong advantage, and Bowman and Larson will look to make the most of their top starting spots.
Overall, the pole qualifying session was a strong showing for Hendrick Motorsports, and fans are excited to see how the team performs in the Daytona 500. With Bowman and Larson starting at the front of the pack, all eyes will be on the Hendrick drivers as they aim for victory in one of NASCAR’s most prestigious events.
