NASCAR
All-Ford Front Row for Daytona 500: Joey Logano and Michael McDowell Put Dark Horse Mustang on Point
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ford Performance is very well represented on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway, with a front row lockout for the 66th Running of the Daytona 500. Joey Logano from Team Penske and Front Row Motorsports’ Michael McDowell were the two fastest qualifiers Wednesday night. Both drivers can now fully focus on chasing a second Daytona 500 triumph. Neither team has any concerns in Thursday night’s Bluegreen Vacation Duels.
“This is all about the team, I’d like to take credit today but I can’t,” Logano said. “Superspeedway qualifying is 100% about the team, this is my first pole on one, and about time someone else sits on the pole here.”
Logano’s last jab there refers to Hendrick Motorsports, who had won eight of the last nine Daytona 500 poles. Three of their four Chevrolets were in second round time trials, but none made the front row.
Logano, the 2015 Daytona 500 winner, will start Sunday with 2021 winner Michael McDowell to his outside. The No. 34 Ford has never started this well on a superspeedway. Even with a new Ford Mustang body style, the blue ovals were still lightning-quick.
This marks Team Penske’s first ever Daytona 500 pole, and the 29th time Joey Logano will see a green flag first on Sunday.
No front row starter has won a Daytona 500 since 2000 however. Both past winners of The Great American Race will try and erase this nearly quarter century long streak.
Open drivers to lock in their berth on time were Anthony Alfredo and David Ragan.
Drivers having to rely on Thursday night’s Duel races to make the Daytona 500 include: Jimmie Johnson, Kaz Grala, BJ McLeod, and JJ Yeley. Only two of these drivers will make up the final starting spots for Sunday’s Great American Race.
The Bluegreen Vacation Duels from Daytona are the next on-track action in Speedweek. The 150-mile features will set the rest of the starting lineup for the Daytona 500. They will go green at 7:00 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Chris Graythen/Getty Images
