NASCAR
Kyle Busch, Chase Briscoe on Daytona 500 Front Row, Corey Heim, Justin Allgaier Fastest Open Cars
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Is the 21st time the charm for Kyle Busch at the Daytona 500? The very decorated past champion with Richard Childress Racing was fastest man in town for pole qualifying Wednesday night. Starting to Busch’s outside in Sunday’s Great American Race is last year’s pole winner–Chase Briscoe.
Corey Heim and Justin Allgaier were also the two fastest open cars, sealing their bids in 2026’s crown jewel race. Heim, the reigning Craftsman Truck Series champion, will make his Daytona 500 debut as the first of 12 scheduled starts in 2026. Allgaier, meanwhile, puts JR Motorsports back in the spotlight for their second Cup start. These four drivers have no stress ahead now before Sunday’s green flag. They can all use Thursday night’s America 250 Florida Duels at Daytona as an extra practice session.
“That sounds really good right now you know, certainly here on Wednesday night” said Kyle Busch. “Being able to qualify on my first pole for the Daytona 500, that’s pretty special. I’ve had one other superspeedway pole in my career down here in Daytona for the summer race. But this feels good, feels really good for RCR as a group.”
“Everyone from ECR, thanks to Bob and his whole team there. Especially thanks to Zone Nicotine Pouches for being on board with us. Maybe it was the flames that brought us all the speed and the heat that we needed for tonight, I don’t know.”
“Lucas Oil, obviously their fuel and oil treatments and everything that we run in this racecar to give us the speed that we need to be up front. Just a valiant effort by everybody here. You know, it’d be really nice to be doing an interview like this about being number one come Sunday night.”
The remainder of the Daytona 500 starting grid will be set through the Duel races. Race one goes green Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to James Gilbert/Getty Images
