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Joey Logano earns Daytona 500 pole award, Michael McDowell on front row

JHby:Jonathan Howard•02/14/24•

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Joey Logano Daytona 500 pole
Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

These Ford Mustang Dark Horses are pretty quick! Joey Logano wins the Daytona 500 pole award. Michael McDowell will start on the front row. Both former Daytona champions, these two NASCAR drivers are going to give it their all on Sunday.

Of course, there are still the Duels to get through. However, Logano and McDowell will not have to worry too much. Keep your car clean, don’t get wrecked, and put that fast Mustang Dark Horse on the front row on Sunday.

Joey Logano will start on the pole for the first time in his career. He won the Daytona 500 in 2015, will he add a second to his record after finishing runner-up a year ago?

Not only did Alex Bowman fail to make the front row for the seventh year in a row, a few other streaks were broken. Chevy’s pole award streak dating back to 2012 is now over. Hendrick Motorsports had put a driver on the front row every year since 2014, that is now over as well.

Look out for these Fords this week. The new body seems to have unlocked something. At least in this small sample size.

Joey Logano and Michael McDowell on the front row. Then it is Kyle Larson, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott, William Byron, Austin Dillon, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, and Harrison Burton to complete the top-10. The remaining starting spots for the Daytona 500 will be determined by the Duels tomorrow night.

Joey Logano earns first Daytona 500 pole award

Last year, Joey Logano pulled off a win at Atlanta. Since its repave, the track has been a drafting-style race. If Logano can tap into whatever made him fast there, he might have a real chance on Sunday. Let’s not forget, he was right there when the final flag flew in 2023 in this race.

Unfortunately for Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was in front of him. P2 in the Daytona 500 is probably the worst P2 in the world. How about Michael McDowell and front row? They were able to put their car on the front row and give the 2021 Daytona winner a real chance at his second Harley J. Earl.

Another story from tonight, David Ragan is locked in, and Jimmie Johnson is not. How is that for a shock? While Johnson wasn’t alone in the Toyota camp when it came to his lack of speed, it still stinks.

Johnson will hope his Camry XSE finds speed and consistency after 10-15 laps on the track. The Duels are hard, but he will have a very strong chance at making his way into the big race on Sunday.

So, Joey Logano earns the pole. Ford is fast. Toyota is still slow in qualifying at Daytona. Chevy has been put on the back burner, for now. What else will we learn this week about the cars and drivers in 2024?