In a surprising turn of events, Ford dominated the qualifying round for the Daytona 500, securing the front row with Joey Logano and Michael McDowell. The powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports team, which has been known for its qualifying prowess, was left in the dust by the Ford drivers.
Logano, the 2015 Daytona 500 winner, expressed his gratitude to his team for their efforts. He acknowledged that superspeedway qualifying is heavily reliant on the car's performance, stating, 'This is all about the team. I'd like to take credit, but I can't. Superspeedway qualifying is 100 percent the car.' Logano's pole position marks the first for Team Penske in the Daytona 500.
For Hendrick Motorsports, it was a disappointing night as their driver Kyle Larson came in third, breaking their streak of winning the pole at Daytona for the past eight out of nine years. Larson's third-place finish was the highest among the Hendrick drivers.
However, it was a remarkable night for Ford. In addition to Logano and McDowell's front-row sweep, four Ford drivers made it to the final round of qualifying. Austin Cindric, driving for Penske, secured the fourth spot, while Chase Elliott and William Byron, both from Hendrick, came in fifth and sixth respectively. The seventh and eighth positions were claimed by Austin Dillon and Kyle Busch from Richard Childress Racing.
Among the remaining spots, two were filled by Anthony Alfredo of Beard Motorsports and David Ragan, driving a special third car for RFK Racing. Alfredo's strong performance ensured his position in the Daytona 500 field, while Ragan, who has yet to win the prestigious race in his 16 attempts, expressed his relief at making it into the field.
Notably, Jimmie Johnson, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, failed to qualify and will have to rely on one of the two Thursday night qualifying races to secure a spot in the race. Driving for his own Legacy Motor Club, Johnson expressed his disappointment but remained determined to race his way in.
The qualifying results also shed light on Toyota's performance, as Erik Jones, who drives for Johnson at Legacy, was the highest-qualifying Toyota driver in 22nd place. Despite having higher expectations, Johnson acknowledged that the Toyota team was in a similar position as the other drivers in their manufacturer.
With the qualifying round complete, the focus now shifts to the Daytona 500, which marks the start of the NASCAR Cup Series season. The race is set to take place on Sunday, where Logano and McDowell will lead the field to the green flag. As the anticipation builds, all eyes will be on Daytona Beach, ready to witness the thrill and excitement that the 'Great American Race' always delivers.
Overall, Ford's strong showing in qualifying has set the tone for an exciting and competitive Daytona 500. The battle for supremacy on the iconic track promises to be intense as the drivers vie for the ultimate prize in NASCAR.
