Busch soars to pole for Daytona 500

Kyle Busch is still seeking to become a Daytona 500 champion, but he crossed another accomplishment at the track off his list Wednesday night: Daytona 500 polesitter.

Busch won the pole for the 68th edition of the race with a lap of 183.651 mph in the final round of qualifying. The No. 8 team from Richard Childress Racing swept both rounds of the single-car qualifying event.

“It sounds really good right now,” Busch said. “Certainly, here on Wednesday night, and being able to qualify on my first pole for the Daytona 500, that’s pretty special. I’ve had one other speedway pole in my career down here in Daytona for the summer race, but this feels really good.”

Busch is winless in 20 attempts at the Daytona 500. He has three top-five finishes in the event: a runner-up finish (2019), a third-place finish (2016), and a fourth-place finish (2008).

Chase Briscoe secured the other spot on the Daytona 500 front row. A year after being the polesitter for the event, Briscoe qualified second with his Joe Gibbs Racing team. The fast lap for Briscoe was 183.587 mph.

Wednesday night solidified the front row. All other starting positions for the Daytona 500 will be determined after the two qualifying duel races held Thursday night.

There are 45 drivers entered for the Daytona 500. On Sunday, 41 will take the green flag.

Corey Heim and Justin Allgaier were the two fastest Open drivers who locked in their spots in the Daytona 500. Heim will compete in the race for the first time after missing the field a year ago, and does so in a fourth entry for 23XI Racing. Allgaier and JR Motorsports are back in the event for the second consecutive year.

“Going out first, no one really knew where we were going to end up compared to our practice (and) qualifying times,” Heim said. “We were pretty similar, maybe a little bit faster, but I knew it was going to be really close… I thought it was going to be the (No.) 40 and the (No.) 99 looking at the practice speeds and whatnot. So, yeah, it was kind of nerve-wracking to say the least, but as soon as we knew all cars would be out of the round except for us, that’s the final solidifying factor.

“I thought for a second that three of us were going to be in the final round and have to race it out. But to cap it off is so impressive and thankful for 23XI Racing and Toyota for coming here with an Open car. 23XI to be able to do that is pretty impressive, even for my eyes. I feel like that’s a very big accomplishment for those guys and just blessed to be a part of the team.”

Heim and Allgaier will go into the Thursday qualifying races to compete for their official starting spots in the Daytona 500. The other Open drivers (Corey LaJoie, Anthony Alfredo, Chandler Smith, BJ McLeod, Casey Mears, and JJ Yeley) will be fighting for the final two spots to make the Daytona 500 field

“This is a lot of fun either way,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. on whether it’s more stressful as a driver or an owner at Daytona. “This is such a great sport, so much fun to be a part of it. It’s awesome to come down here and try to make your way in. It is stressful, but that’s the best part about it.”

Jimmie Johnson is also locked into the Daytona 500. Johnson and Legacy Motor Club used the Open Exemption Provisional to guarantee Johnson’s spot, which expands the field to 41 drivers. Johnson will race for his official starting spot in his Thursday night duel race.

Noah Gragson had his qualifying time disallowed by NASCAR for violating a new rule about air deflection. NASCAR has outlawed drivers from being able to put their hands by the window nets or near the A-post of the car, and Gragson did so during his qualifying lap.

“I completely forgot about that rule, so that one’s on me," he said. "Luckily, we have the duels, and I feel like for the Daytona 500, it’s such a long race, you can kind of start wherever. So, it is what it is. But I feel like an idiot for that, putting my hand up. Oh well. We’ve got a race tomorrow to do. I’m dumb for that.”

NEXT: The twin qualifying duel races at 7 p.m. ET Thursday.