Chase Briscoe smiles as he speaks to reporters throughout the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto racing media day Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, at Daytona Worldwide Speedway in Daytona Seashore, Fla. (AP Photograph/Chris O’Meara)
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Chase Briscoe led a banner evening for Toyota in qualifying for the Daytona 500 by successful the pole for NASCAR’s “Great 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 greatest race of the season.
“A great way to start our season. Unbelievable way to start off the year. Unbelievable way to start off with Toyota,” stated Briscoe. “To be able to be the guy to deliver them the first anything when they’ve already accomplished so much is pretty cool. To think I’m going to start on the front row or on the pole of the ‘Great American Race’ with ultimately the great American brand of (sponsor) Bass Pro Shops is unbelievable. Can’t thank Coach Gibbs enough, the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization.”
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 Group Penske, which began from the pole final 12 months with Joey Logano, who closed the 12 months 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 evening.
“A lot of fast Fords,” stated Cindric. “Pretty good to start on the front row with one of my good friends. All in all, a great box checked for the start of this week. I think every single part of this weekend is important to setting up with an opportunity 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 say two of the 4 “open” spots within the race.
The rest of the beginning order is ready Thursday evening 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 12 months of not racing NASCAR full-time.
“Both Jimmie and I were beneficiaries of their (Toyota’s) hard 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 automobile to 1 driver who doesn’t compete full-time in NASCAR and brings marketability and visibility to the largest 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 evening. If he takes the provisional, Trackhouse Racing is not going to obtain any factors or purse cash, and the sphere will likely be 41 vehicles — the most important subject since 43 vehicles was the usual in 2015.
Johnson stated his Legacy Motor Membership was unaware of the provisional till it was introduced earlier this 12 months — though it was a brand new rule included within the constitution settlement groups signed in September. The rule required a workforce 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 know about it until the rule came out. Evidently, it was buried in the charter agreement that came out,” Johnson stated earlier Wednesday. “However when the rule got here out, I overlook the time of the morning, three minutes later, we had been on the cellphone with NASCAR and acknowledged it wasn’t throughout the 90 day-window and we weren’t eligible.
“We’ve had a lot of talks with everyone at NASCAR and I have a better understanding of the intent of the rule, and I would anticipate some changes following (Daytona) to better define and clarify that. When first read, our reaction wasn’t great, but it is what it is and hopefully, we have a fast-enough car to get in.”
He did, simply off the pace 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, in search of 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 accessible.