Chase Briscoe earned a front-row starting position for the Daytona 500 alongside polesitter Kyle Busch after Wednesday’s qualifying session. Briscoe shared a humorous throwback photo showing a younger version of himself next to a cardboard cutout of Busch, highlighting the significance of their shared front-row achievement. Busch, driving the No. 8 Chevy, secured pole with a fastest lap of 48.933 seconds, while Briscoe closely followed with a time of 49.023 seconds.
This marks Busch’s first pole position in his 21 attempts at the Great American Race, a milestone for the two-time Cup Series champion who has yet to win the prestigious event despite several close calls. Meanwhile, Briscoe returns to the front row after leading the pack last year in the season opener. Reflecting on the moment, Briscoe posted on X,
“Never thought when I took this in 2012 that we’d share the @DAYTONA 500 Front Row together 😂”
Race Performance Highlights from Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium
Earlier, Briscoe demonstrated strong form during the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, leading 35 laps and posting some of the fastest times. Despite this, he finished in sixth place behind his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin. Busch experienced a challenging race there, finishing 19th. Commenting on Busch’s pole start for Daytona, team owner Richard Childress offered a straightforward message, emphasizing the competitive nature heading into the event.
Briscoe Reflects on Consistent Front Row Success Compared to Hendrick Motorsports
Briscoe’s back-to-back front row appearances have filled him with pride as the Joe Gibbs Racing driver. In a post-qualifying interview, he acknowledged the dominance Hendrick Motorsports once held in front-row starting positions and highlighted the progress his own team has made.
“I felt like forever Hendrick cars on the front row, seven, eight years in a row. It’s cool for sure to be able to consistently two years in a row now. It’s really a testament to the folks back at [Joe Gibbs Racing]. We’ve made so many improvements on our superspeedway program. This race really comes down to, at least in qualifying, attention to detail, just doing every little thing. The No. 19 group has consistently kind of been the best one. That’s really exciting for us. Just a lot of pride in that,” he said via Motorsportswire.com
Briscoe is currently in his second season with Joe Gibbs Racing, having finished fourth in last year’s Daytona 500. Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron claimed the Harley J. Earl Trophy for the second year in a row in 2023 and remains one of only two active drivers with multiple wins in the event, alongside Denny Hamlin.
Current Qualifying and Race Updates Ahead of Daytona 500 Start
In this year’s qualifying, Byron struggled, placing outside the top 20 in the first round and finishing 22nd in Friday’s Duel 1. Team Penske secured strong positions with Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney taking the top spots in that race. The Daytona 500 is scheduled to start at 2:30 PM ET on Sunday, with coverage available on FOX and HBO Max, along with live radio updates through SiriusXM.
As the race approaches, Briscoe’s front-row start alongside Busch signals an intense battle ahead, reflecting both drivers’ determination and their teams’ improvements. The front-row pairing not only emphasizes Briscoe’s rising stature in NASCAR but also showcases the evolving competition with traditional powerhouses like Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske.
Never thought when I took this in 2012 that we’d share the @DAYTONA 500 Front Row together 😂 pic.twitter.com/nE82wZyxTY
— Chase Briscoe (@chasebriscoe) February 12, 2026
