Alex Bowman earns third Daytona 500 pole

For the third time in his NASCAR Cup Series career, Alex Bowman will lead the field to the green flag in the Daytona 500.

Bowman posted a lap time of 49.536 seconds, averaging 181.686 mph, in the second round of qualifying Wednesday night, to capture the top spot at Daytona International Speedway. He won poles for the Daytona 500 previously in 2018 and 2021.

“Just fortunate to qualify some really fast racecars, really cool to see Hendrick Motorsports go 1-2-3,” Bowman said.

Kyle Larson, last year’s pole winner, will start second Sunday. The rest of the field will be determined in the Bluegreen Vacations Duels Thursday.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver extended his team’s streak of earning the pole for the Daytona 500 to three consecutive years and eight out of the nine last years.

HISTORY

Bowman now holds the records for the most front row starts in the Daytona 500 with six, breaking a tie with Buddy Baker, Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon, Richard Petty, and Cale Yarborough.

Additionally, 44 drivers have sat on the pole for the Daytona 500. Eight current drivers have won a pole for the Daytona 500, with Alex Bowman leading the charge among active competition.

Overall, other drivers with three poles are Dale Jarrett, Fireball Roberts and Ken Schrader.

All-time, Bill Elliott, Buddy Baker and Cale Yarborough have won the most poles for The Great American Race with four each.

OUTLOOK
The Daytona 500 is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 19 on FOX.

SOURCES
Racing-Reference.info