Three Ford drivers sat poised to finish first, second and third during Wednesday’s Daytona 500 single-car qualifying session. The power trio was ready to throw a manufacturer’s bash.
But Toyota pilot Chase Briscoe spoiled the NASCAR Cup Series party. Debuting with his new Joe Gibbs Racing team, Briscoe captured the spotlight by earning the pole position for Sunday’s season-opening showcase at Daytona International Speedway.
Now that Briscoe has pole position, can he end the front-row jinx?
Chase Briscoe Makes Positive 1st Impression
After pacing the field during the opening qualifying round, Briscoe capped the event with a time of 49.249 seconds, edging Ford drivers Austin Cindric (49.325 seconds), Ryan Preece (49.335) and defending Cup champion Joey Logano (49.358).
Fastest in the first round.
Fastest in the final round.It was never in doubt for @chasebriscoe! #BuschLightPole pic.twitter.com/7oqqfdg9EW
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 13, 2025
Briscoe’s effort marked the first time a Toyota driver earned the top starting spot for the “Great American Race.” In his first event with the No. 19 team, Briscoe registered his third career pole.
“A great way to start our season,” Briscoe told Fox Sports. “Unbelievable way to start off the year. Unbelievable way to start off with Toyota. To be able to be the guy to deliver them the first anything when they’ve already accomplished so much is pretty cool.
“Can’t thank (team owner) coach (Joe) Gibbs enough, the entire organization. The whole offseason, everybody kept telling me the focus was trying to qualify better at superspeedways. That’s something I really struggled at last year. For our 19 group to come here and sit on the pole at the biggest race of the year is pretty special.”
Patient NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Thrive at Daytona
But now that Briscoe earned that “special” moment, what will he do with it? Can he stifle the front-row jinx at the iconic 2.5-mile banked oval superspeedway?
During nine of the past 10 Daytona 500s, the pole-sitter has failed to finish better than P14.
Alex Bowman remains the lone recent exception. The Hendrick Motorsports driver placed fifth from the pole in 2023.
The others?
Starting from the inside of the front row didn’t help much.
Logano experienced it last February, finishing P32 after enduring an accident on Lap 191. William Byron, who went on to claim the checkered flag in a backup machine, bumped Brad Keselowski, who was running second. Keselowski’s spinning machine struck Logano, igniting an 18-car collision. The melee created a reg-flag situation for 15 minutes, 27 seconds.
Patience remains a key, as six of the past seven Daytona 500 champions started 10th or worse.
Can Briscoe break the front-row jinx?
On the pole for the Daytona 500!! The greatest American brand in @BassProShops leading the field to green in the Great American Race! pic.twitter.com/LcpZEU5kur
— Chase Briscoe (@chasebriscoe) February 13, 2025
