Stenhouse Jr. dethrones Hendrick Motorsports, continues Chevrolet’s Daytona 500 Pole streak

Heading into Daytona 500 Qualifying on Sunday, Hendrick Motorsports was looking for their sixth consecutive Daytona 500 Pole. After final qualifying practice on Saturday, all four HMS cars were fastest among mock qualifying runs, suggesting the reign would likely continue. Chevrolet had a streak of their own as they were looking for their eighth consecutive Pole in “The Great American Race”, as well as their 12th in 13 years.

Only one of those streaks remained alive after the last car made their qualifying attempt, and unfortunately for Hendrick Motorsports, they weren’t the ones celebrating. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., in his first attempt with his new team, JTG Daugherty Racing, won the Pole for the 62nd Annual Daytona 500. Alex Bowman, the 2018 Daytona 500 polesitter, is the only other driver who knows where he will start in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 16. His 2nd place qualifying run marks his third straight front row start for the 500.

Stenhouse was the 18th out of 42 cars to make a qualifying attempt and at the time had a 0.7 second gap over the second fastest time. Each Hendrick car challenged the fastest time, but none would prevail as Bowman, Chase Elliott, Jimmie Johnson and last year’s polesitter William Byron put down the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 8th fastest times, respectively.

It is Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s 3rd career Pole Award and first since the 2017 spring Talladega race. It is also JTG Daugherty Racing’s 3rd career Pole with both previous occurrences coming with AJ Allmendinger sweeping the road course poles in 2015.

Seven unchartered teams are attempting to race in the Daytona 500, but only four will be able to. The highest finishing “open” team in each Bluegreens Vacations Duel (Thursday, February 13, 7p ET, FS1) will qualify along with the two fastest “open” teams in qualifying.

Justin Haley and Kaulig Racing, both making their Daytona 500 debuts, are locked into the Daytona 500 by putting down the 31st fastest qualifying time, fastest among all unchartered teams. Haley is coincidentally the most recent Cup race winner at Daytona, winning the rain-shortened Coke Zero 400 last summer in one of the biggest upsets in NASCAR history. He will be running full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing in 2020.

Qualifying 33rd and 2nd fastest among unchartered teams was the seasoned veteran Brendan Gaughan, who will be running his final Daytona 500 next week. Gaughan has ran the four Daytona/Talladega races in recent years in the Cup Series with Beard Oil Motorsports, and he will do the same in 2020 for one final time before retiring. Always high in spirits, Gaughan made news last fall with a wild ride at Talladega going upside down and flipping over, only to walk away smiling.

If one of those two happen to race their way in by being the highest finishing “open” car in their Duel race, then Reed Sorenson in the #27 Premium Motorsports entry will qualify for the 500 based on speed. If both race their way in, then Timmy Hill in the #66 MBM Motorsports Ford will be in the Daytona 500 on speed. Daniel Suarez, JJ Yeley, and Chad Finchum must race their way in through the Duels, unable to fall back on speed.

The cars are now impounded and teams cannot work n them until the Duels on Thursday night. Below are the qualifying results and Duel starting lineups as they become available.

Daytona 500 Qualifying Results

Bluegreen Vacations Duel 1 Starting Lineup

Bluegreen Vacations Duel 2 Starting Lineup