Written by Adrian Beecher
(Photo Credit: Chris Tello / The SkyBoat)
Daytona, Florida – In the first round, Alex Bowman in the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet, taking over for Dale Jr. this season. He ran a lap average of 194.885 mph. He was eight one-hundredths of a mph faster than the 2nd fastest on the track Danny Hamlin in the No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota. William Byron was the last to qualify after finishing as the fastest in practice, he would qualify 4th fastest in round 1. Here’s a list of all 12 drivers that advanced to round 2 of qualifying.
In round two we saw more of the same with Bowman running a 195.644 mph average lap to capture his first ever Daytona 500 Pole. Hamlin ran second fastest sealing his spot on the front row for the Daytona 500.
Just missing the cut was Jimmie Johnson in 3rd and Kyle Busch in 4th, however, them and the rest of the field will have to finalize their qualifying positions next Thursday in the Can-Am Duel. This was the 2nd career cup series pole for Bowman. He captured his first in Phoenix in November of 2016.
