NASCAR Cup Daytona starting lineup: Ross Chastain wins pole position
The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season kicked off with a thrilling qualifying session at Daytona International Speedway. Ross Chastain, driving the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, dominated the session with a lap time of 48.809s (184.396mph), securing the pole position. Chastain's performance was a testament to his team's strategic approach and the car's capabilities.
Chastain's pole position is a significant achievement, especially considering the team's recent engine issues. He shared the front row with Chris Buescher in the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford, who trailed Chastain by 0.051s. Buescher's performance was also impressive, showcasing the competitiveness of the Ford team.
The top ten starting lineup included several notable drivers and teams. Austin Hill, driving the No. 33 Chevrolet, secured the third position, while Chase hopeful Ryan Preece started fourth in his No. 60 Ford. Riley Herbst, another strong contender, began the race in fifth place.
Shane van Gisbergen, who is in the Chase, started sixth, followed by Connor Zilisch in seventh. The Trackhouse cars dominated the top ten, with Austin Cindric in eighth, Joey Logano in ninth, and Kyle Larson in tenth. These results highlighted the team's recent success and the drivers' skill.
The qualifying session also saw some surprises, with Casey Mears, Daniel Dye, Joey Gase, and Corey Heim making the show. Gase was the last to qualify, making it by 0.125s. Gray Gaulding, unfortunately, failed to qualify, missing his first Cup start in three years due to a heavily bottomed-out car.
The second round of qualifying saw the field go from tenth to first. Preece was the final driver on the track, and the laptimes picked up for most cars. Logano went P1 with a 49.074s, but it didn't last long as Van Gisbergen took the top spot with a 49.019s. Buescher then blew SVG's time away with a 48.859s, but Chastain's 48.808s proved to be the fastest time.
The starting lineup for the NASCAR Cup Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona is as follows:
- Ross Chastain - Chevrolet
- Chris Buescher - Ford
- Austin Hill - Chevrolet
- Ryan Preece - Ford
- Riley Herbst - Toyota
- Shane van Gisbergen - Chevrolet
- Connor Zilisch - Chevrolet
- Austin Cindric - Ford
- Joey Logano - Ford
- Kyle Larson - Chevrolet
The race promises to be an exciting spectacle, with Chastain's pole position setting the tone for a competitive and thrilling season.
