Chase Briscoe spearheaded a successful evening for Toyota during Wednesday's qualifying session for NASCAR's Daytona 500 by clinching the pole position for the "Great American Race."
his marks Briscoe's first Daytona 500 pole, following his transition to Joe Gibbs Racing this season after Stewart-Haas Racing shut down at the end of 2024. The Ford team reduced its lineup from four cars to one under the Haas Factory Team. Briscoe's shift to the JGR No. 19 also secured Toyota its first pole in the Cup Series opener, which is annually heralded as NASCAR's premier race.
This year's race is scheduled for Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.
"A fantastic way to kick off our season. An incredible start to the year. An amazing beginning with Toyota," Briscoe remarked. "Being the person to give them their first anything when they've already achieved so much is pretty special."
"To think I'll be starting on the front row or on the pole of the Great American Race with the quintessential American brand of (sponsor) Bass Pro Shops is unbelievable. Immense gratitude to Coach Gibbs and the entire Joe Gibbs Racing team."
Toyota has participated in the Cup Series since 2007, still relatively new compared to Chevrolet and Ford.
Briscoe's lap at 182.745 mph outpaced a group of Ford competitors. Austin Cindric, the 2022 Daytona 500 victor, secured second place in a Ford for Team Penske. In last year's Daytona 500, the team owned by motorsports giant Roger Penske started from the pole with Joey Logano, who concluded the season with his third Cup Series championship.
Ford drivers occupied four of the top five positions in the time trials, but only Briscoe and Cindric were confirmed as front-row starters on Wednesday night.
"A lot of fast Fords," Cindric commented. "It's pretty good to start on the front row with one of my close friends. Overall, a great achievement for the start of this week. Every aspect of this weekend is crucial for setting up an opportunity to win this race on Sunday."
The only other drivers who secured spots in the Daytona 500, although not specific starting positions, during time trials, were in Toyotas. Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr., who were not assured entry, recorded speeds sufficient to claim two of the four open spots in the race not occupied by chartered cars.
Johnson mentioned that his Legacy Motor Club was unaware of the provisional until it was announced earlier this year, despite it being a new rule included in the charter agreement teams signed in September. The rule required a team to request the provisional 90 days before the event, and it was not publicly disclosed until after the Daytona 500 deadline had passed.
"We weren't aware of it until the rule was released. It was hidden in the charter agreement that was issued," Johnson stated earlier Wednesday. "But once the rule was out, within three minutes, we contacted NASCAR and realized it wasn't within the 90-day window, making us ineligible."
"We've had extensive discussions with everyone at NASCAR, and I now have a clearer understanding of the rule's intent. I anticipate some changes after (this year's Daytona 500) to better define and clarify it. Our initial reaction wasn't positive, but it is what it is, and hopefully, our car is fast enough to qualify."
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