Daytona Beach, Florida — kyle busch By winning the pole for NASCAR’s season-opening Daytona 500, the driver facing the longest active losing streak in “The Great American Race” got a chance to get the victory that has eluded him his entire career.
Busch is 0-for-20 in the Daytona 500 and hasn’t started in the top five since 2016, when he still drove for Joe Gibbs Racing. He started fourth that year and finished third, then finished his career best second behind his then teammate denny hamlin In 2019.
Team owner Richard Childress said, “Kyle, we’ve got to get him to .500.”
“Feels great right now – to be able to qualify on my first pole for the Daytona 500, it’s pretty special,” said Busch, who wore custom-designed Olympic-themed racing shoes at Daytona International Speedway.
He earned the pole Wednesday night by running a speed of 183.925 mph in a Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, the team that signed him ahead of the 2023 season when his contract with Gibbs expired and his salary was too high for most teams.
But the two-time NASCAR champion has had a tough time in the No. 8. He has won three races since joining RCR – all in his first season – and snapped a 93-race losing streak at the Daytona 500.
His pole run remained strong for several weeks for Busch and his family: older brother, Kurt, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame last month.
“It feels really good for RCR as a group,” Bush said. “It’s a valiant effort from everyone here. It would be really cool to do an interview like this about being No. 1 on Sunday night.”
RCR last placed a car on pole for the Daytona 500 in 2014 Austin DillonThe grandson of owner Richard Childress Racing qualified first. Dillon won the race in 2018.
chase briscoLast year’s pole sitter, Joe finished second in a Toyota for Gibbs Racing.
“It’s a really big deal, not only for me, but I haven’t even checked my phone, I’m sure [Bass Pro Shops owner] Johnny Morris is already ballistic,” Briscoe said of his sponsor. “He’s so excited for this race. This week he called me two or three times telling me he was very excited to be here and asking me how the car was. This is a big deal for him too. It will be amazing to be on the front row again on Sunday.”
Although 37 drivers were entered into the race ahead of time trials, the starting order is not determined until after a pair of Thursday night qualifying races. 36 of them are drive-chartered cars that guarantee a spot in every race. One extra spot goes to seven-time NASCAR champion jimmy johnson Under a provisional rule that allows a 41st “world-class driver” to enter a Cup event.
Johnson is a two-time Daytona 500 winner and finished third last year. He left full-time NASCAR racing after the 2020 season.
Two spots were open for those who were not already closed and were claimed corey hamm 23XI for racing and Justin Allgaier For JR Motorsports. They were the fastest cars in time trials.
Hamm, last year’s Truck Series champion, will make his Daytona 500 debut.
“It’s definitely nerve-wracking,” the 23-year-old Georgia man said. “Very impressed and thanks to 23XI Racing and Toyota, coming here with an open car and a fourth team in 23XI, to be able to do this is pretty impressive in my eyes as well. I think it’s a huge accomplishment for those guys. It’s a privilege to be a part of the team.”
Allgaier is driving for two-time race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the fourth time in his career and second consecutive year.
“It’s a great sport to be a part of and it’s amazing to come here and try to make your way,” Earnhardt said. “It’s stressful, but that’s the best part about it.”
There are two remaining open spots in the field that will be decided through a 150-mile qualifying race on Thursday night. The highest finisher in each race among disqualified drivers will earn a berth in the Daytona 500.
Those still trying to join the race are: anthony alfredo, corey lajoie, BJ McLeod, casey mears, chandler smith And J.J. yellow. Only two will race on Sunday.
