DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Chase Briscoe made headlines during the qualifying for the Daytona 500 by securing the pole position, marking a significant moment for Toyota at NASCAR’s most prestigious event. This achievement represents Briscoe’s first-ever pole in the Daytona 500, following his transition to Joe Gibbs Racing after Stewart-Haas Racing concluded its operations in 2024. Briscoe’s success in the No. 19 car not only highlights his talent but also provides Toyota with its first-ever pole in this coveted race.
“What an incredible way to kick off our season! It’s truly remarkable to achieve this with Toyota,” Briscoe expressed. “To be the one who contributes to their initial accomplishment in a race where they’ve already achieved so much is genuinely exciting. I can hardly believe that I’ll be starting on the front row, on the pole of the ‘Great American Race,’ alongside the wonderfully American brand of Bass Pro Shops. My heartfelt thanks to Coach Gibbs and the entire Joe Gibbs Racing team.”
Briscoe clocked in a speed of 182.745 mph, fending off strong competition from Ford drivers. Austin Cindric, a previous Daytona 500 champion, qualified in second place driving for Team Penske. Last year, the pole position was taken by his teammate Joey Logano, who finished the season as the Cup Series champion.
While Ford drivers dominated the time trials, taking four out of the five top positions, only Briscoe and Cindric solidified their spots on the front row for the race. Cindric remarked, “There were plenty of fast Fords out there. It’s fantastic to start on the front row with one of my good friends. This checkpoint is crucial as we prepare for the weekend ahead. Each aspect of this weekend plays a major role in setting up our chances to win on Sunday.”
In addition to Briscoe and Cindric, Toyota drivers Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr. also secured their positions in the race, with their qualifying speeds earning them two of the four “open” spots, despite not being guaranteed entry. Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR champion and a two-time Daytona 500 winner, alongside Truex, the 2017 Cup champion, will participate in this iconic race even as Truex embarks on his first year stepping back from full-time racing.
Truex acknowledged the efforts of Toyota, saying, “Jimmie and I definitely benefited from their hard work on the engines.” Both drivers were eligible for the “world-class driver” provisional, which allows one non-full-time competitor to participate in the race, offering the potential for increased visibility. This provisional spot may go to Helio Castroneves, a four-time Indianapolis 500 winner, should he not qualify on his own in the upcoming trials. However, if Castroneves takes this spot, Trackhouse Racing would miss out on points and prize money, resulting in a field of 41 cars, the largest since the standard of 43 cars was adjusted in 2015.
Johnson expressed that his Legacy Motor Club was unaware of this provisional arrangement until recently, stating, “We didn’t know about it until the rule was brought to light. Apparently, it was tucked into the charter agreement released in September. Once the new rule was revealed, we quickly contacted NASCAR but realized we missed the 90-day window for eligibility.” He added, “We’ve been discussing this extensively with NASCAR, and I now have a clearer understanding of the rule’s intention. I hope we can clarify this after Daytona. Our initial reaction was less than ideal, but we’re going with the flow and planning to have a competitive car.”
Ultimately, Johnson was able to secure enough speed to join Truex in the race. The remaining drivers vying for two open spots in the upcoming qualifying races include Anthony Alfredo, Justin Allgaier, Corey LaJoie, B.J. McLeod, Chandler Smith, and J.J. Yeley. Should Castroneves qualify on track, the competition will leave just one open position available for the event.
