Chastain Claims Prime Starting Spot for Daytona Thriller, Buescher Locks Out Front Row

Ross Chastain, piloting the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, has seized the coveted pole position for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway, clocking a blistering lap of 48.809 seconds, averaging an impressive 184.396 mph. He will share the front row with Chris Buescher of RFK Racing, whose No. 17 Ford trailed Chastain by a mere 0.051 seconds in the decisive final round of qualifying.

"I’m not sure that we expected that leaving the shop, to be honest," Chastain remarked, reflecting on his qualifying triumph. This marks his third career pole in the NASCAR Cup Series, adding to his previous top starting spots at Nashville in 2023 and Watkins Glen in 2024. The Alva, Florida native emphasized the intricate balance required for success at Daytona. "You’re always trying to be efficient — you’re trying to have the least amount of drag when you’re coming to Daytona. And you’re trying to put the most grip into it with this new package. Hats off to Trackhouse, ECR. To have our (engine) issues last week, and come right back and redeem all that … it’s a Busch Light pole award, and as a Busch Light driver, this means a lot." The significance of the pole, he noted, is amplified by his sponsorship association with Busch Light.

The qualifying session revealed a strong performance from several drivers, with Austin Hill set to start third in his career-best qualifying result. Ryan Preece, a contender with aspirations for the championship chase, secured the fourth starting position, followed by Riley Herbst rounding out the top five.

Further down the grid, Shane van Gisbergen, currently holding the sixteenth and final Chase playoff spot, will commence the race from sixth. Notably, all three Trackhouse Racing entries qualified within the top ten, with Connor Zilisch taking seventh place. Rounding out the top ten starters are Austin Cindric in eighth, Joey Logano in ninth, and Kyle Larson in tenth.

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This qualifying session saw the first instance this season of a driver and team failing to qualify for the event, with 41 cars vying for the 40 available grid spots. Five open cars competed for the remaining spots alongside the 36 chartered teams. Casey Mears (No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet), Daniel Dye (No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet), Joey Gase (No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet), and Corey Heim (No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota) all successfully made the field. Gase secured his spot on the grid by a narrow margin of 0.125 seconds, while Heim, the highest-qualifying open driver, will start eleventh. Gray Gaulding, in the No. 66 ‘Garage 66’ Ford, was the sole entrant unable to qualify, experiencing significant bottoming out in Turns 1 and 2, with his rear diffuser appearing unsecured. Gaulding was attempting to make his first Cup Series start in three years.

The qualifying process was divided into two rounds, with the first round setting the stage for the battle for the pole. Riley Herbst initially set a competitive pace, leading the session with a 48.949-second lap halfway through. As the field narrowed, Ryan Preece posted a 48.897-second lap to briefly take the top spot, signaling his intent to contend for the championship. Joey Logano narrowly advanced to the second round, beating Corey Heim by a scant 0.004 seconds. A peculiar moment occurred during Ty Gibbs’ qualifying run when NASCAR’s caution lights briefly illuminated. Series officials granted Gibbs a reprieve, allowing him to cool his car and re-qualify. He improved from 21st on his initial attempt to 14th on his second.

The second round of qualifying saw the top ten drivers battle for the front row positions. The drivers qualified in reverse order from tenth to first, placing Preece as the final competitor on track. Lap times generally improved across the board in this round. Joey Logano initially led with a 49.074-second lap, quickly surpassed by Austin Cindric’s 49.071-second effort. Shane van Gisbergen then posted a 49.019-second lap to take provisional pole. However, Buescher ultimately lowered the benchmark with a dominant 48.859-second lap, a significant improvement. Chastain responded with a 48.808-second lap, which proved to be insurmountable, securing him the pole position. Preece ultimately qualified fourth among the top ten contenders. No incidents were reported during the qualifying sessions.

The NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona is a pivotal event on the calendar, often serving as a wildcard race where championship contenders and underdogs alike can find success. Daytona International Speedway, with its unique 2.5-mile tri-oval configuration, is renowned for its high speeds and unpredictable pack racing, which can lead to dramatic finishes and significant shifts in the championship standings. The aerodynamic package employed for restrictor plate racing at Daytona and Talladega aims to keep the field closely bunched, fostering thrilling drafting battles and increasing the potential for multi-car incidents.

The starting lineup for the Coca-Cola Zero Sugar 400 is as follows:

1. Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
2. Chris Buescher, No. 17 RFK Racing Ford
3. Austin Hill, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
4. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
5. Riley Herbst, No. 15 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
6. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 16 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
7. Connor Zilisch, No. 91 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
8. Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
9. Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
10. Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
11. Corey Heim, No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota
12. Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
13. Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
14. Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
15. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
16. William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
17. Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
18. Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
19. Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
20. Brad Keselowski, No. 6 RFK Racing Ford
21. Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
22. Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
23. Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
24. Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
25. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet
26. Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
27. Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
28. Justin Haley, No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
29. Noah Gragson, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
30. Harrison Burton, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
31. Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
32. Daniel Hemric, No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
33. Josh Berry, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
34. AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
35. Zane Smith, No. 36 Front Row Motorsports Ford
36. J.J. Yeley, No. 15 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford
37. Jimmie Johnson, No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet
38. Ty Dillon, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
39. Cody Ware, No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Ford
40. Daniel Dye, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet

Drivers who qualified but are not listed above failed to meet the minimum speed or did not participate in the final round of qualifying. The race is scheduled to commence shortly, promising a high-octane battle for supremacy on the famed Daytona tri-oval.

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