Kyle Busch secured the pole position for the 68th edition of the DAYTONA 500, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. The Las Vegas native, aged 40, achieved the fastest qualifying time with a lap of 49.006 seconds in the second round, marking Chevrolet’s 32nd pole win in the storied event as the brand pursues its fourth consecutive championship.
Busch Celebrates Milestone and Acknowledges Team Effort
Busch expressed pride in capturing his first DAYTONA 500 pole, a significant achievement in his career.
“Certainly, here on Wednesday night, being able to get my first pole for the DAYTONA 500, that’s pretty special,”
he said.
“I’ve had one other speedway pole down here in Daytona for the summer race. This feels really good for RCR as a group. Everybody from ECR, thanks to Bob (Fisher) and his whole team there.”
Justin Allgaier Qualifies Well in JR Motorsports’ Second Attempt
JR Motorsports returned to the NASCAR Cup Series for their second attempt at a DAYTONA 500 starting spot with Justin Allgaier behind the wheel of the No. 40 Chevrolet. Allgaier finished 14th overall in qualifying, earning one of the two open spots available based on speed, showcasing continuing competitiveness in the high-profile event following their debut last year.
Upcoming Duels Will Finalize Starting Lineup
The pole setters have been determined, but the lineup for the remaining positions will be decided in the two 60-lap, 150-mile Duels at Daytona. These races will take place on Thursday, February 12, and broadcast live on FS1 starting at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Additional live coverage will be available on MRN radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Busch Reflects on Team Progress and Future Prospects
Discussing their preparation, Busch highlighted improvements made since last year’s speedway events.
“I think we learned some things last year at a couple of the speedway races. I feel like those guys have really tuned-in on those things that worked. I hope it turns out to be what we all think it should be for speed on Sunday. I’m sure we’ll find a little bit more about it tomorrow.”
Gratitude for Crew and Partners Behind the Success
Busch offered thanks to Richard Childress Racing, noting the significance of the moment for crew chief Jim Pohlman in his first race in that role.
“This is special for all of us at Richard Childress Racing; for Richard and Jim Pohlman, with it being his first race as the crew chief. Obviously having the opportunity to come down here with fast speedway cars, and I’ve had fast speedway cars with RCR every time we’ve been here. It feels really good to sit on the pole and to have the No. 1 starting spot come Sunday. But we also want the No. 1 finishing position on Sunday.”
He also acknowledged key partners, including Lucas Oil and all others supporting the No. 8 Chevrolet team.
Significance of the Pole for Chevrolet and the DAYTONA 500
Securing the pole position is critical for both Busch and Chevrolet as they aim to maintain their dominance with a fourth straight DAYTONA 500 victory. Chevrolet’s strong qualifying showing underscores their commitment to competitive excellence and power on NASCAR’s biggest stage. As the Duels approach to finalize the race lineup, all eyes will be on whether Busch and the No. 8 team can convert their speed advantage into race-day success.
