Austin Dillon became just the fifth rookie of the year candidate to win the pole for the “Great American Race” on Sunday afternoon at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in the long awaited return of the No. 3 to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition.
Dillon, 23, edged fellow Chevrolet teammate Martin Truex Jr. for the top-spot in his second Daytona 500 after maneuvering a lap of 45.914 seconds at 196.019 miles per hour. The reigning NASCAR Nationwide Series champion is beginning his rookie season at NASCAR’s highest level driving the No. 3 DOW Chevrolet SS. The No. 3 returns to Sprint Cup Series competition in 2014 for the first time since 2001, when Dale Earnhardt Sr. tragically lost his life in the last lap of the Daytona 500.
“This is awesome. It is all for our guys, and Danny Lawrence, (head engine builder at ECR), it is his birthday,” offered Dillon. “So we got him a one-two start at Daytona! That is pretty awesome.
“It is very cool. I was just happy to get inside that car. Another big thing was just holding the wheel straight and going through the gears correct. It was a good run, man. The ECR guys did great this weekend. Our fab shop, back at home at RCR, just so proud of them. Got the thank Dow, Cheerios for all their support. It’s been great coming into this sport so far. We really have to finish it off. Hopefully Thursday then Sunday go as well.”
Martin Truex Jr., in his new gig with Furniture Row Racing will start alongside in the No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet SS. His Denver, Colorado-based team elected not to participate in preseason testing and only turned two laps in practice yesterday. Still, the Richard Childress Racing-affiliated bunch, managed to bust off an impressive lap for the single car operation.
“Yeah front row that is what we are here for today,” sounded Truex. “Obviously can’t say enough about this team. What a great job I think we have got about seven miles on this car. One run yesterday, no testing down here, just an amazing job by Todd (Berrier, crew chief) and Cole (team engineer) and everybody on the team. Obviously pretty lucky guy to get to hold the wheel. ECR engines front row, we are lucky to have them under the hood and just have to thank everyone for the hard work. Really excited about the rest of Speedweeks.”
Greg Biffle led the blue oval brigade with the third quickest lap in his No. 16 Ford Fusion. Roush Fenway Racing teammate Carl Edwards was fourth with Ryan Newman officially debuting in his new opportunity with Richard Childress Racing rounding out the top-five in his No. 31 CAT Chevrolet SS.
2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski chimed in sixth quickest ahead of early provisional pole sitter Dale Earnhardt Jr in eighth. Three-time Daytona 500 champion Jeff Gordon was ninth with Paul Menard comprising the top-10.
Brian Scott in his bid for his first Daytona 500 sat on the outside pole for a while, but fell to 12th overall.
Other notables inside the top-20 included: Aric Almirola (13th), Jimmie Johnson (14th), Casey Mears (16th), Matt Kenseth (17th), Michael Annett (18th), Kasey Kahne (19th) and Clint Bowyer (20th).
Just two Toyotas qualified inside the top-20, both coming from the JGR fleet.
Stewart Haas Racing struggled in time trials with Kevin Harvick leading that team with the 21st quickest time. Defending Daytona 500 pole sitter Danica Patrick only managed 25th, but was ahead of Kurt Busch in his newest endeavor (28th) and Tony Stewart (35th).
Some other mentions include: Kyle Busch (21st), Kyle Larson (24th), 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne (26th), AJ Allmendinger (27th), Justin Allgaier (30th), Michael Waltrip (34th), Eric McClure (36th), Jamie McMurray (38th), Bobby Labonte (44th) and Alex Bowman (47th).
Morgan Shepherd in his effort to become the oldest driver to compete in the Daytona 500, not to mention the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was the slowest entry in qualifications, posting the 48th quickest lap. Dave Blaney did not turn a time in his Randy Humphries entry. He was last in 49th in the No. 77 Plinker Arms Ford Fusion.
At this point, Biffle, Edwards, Newman and Keselowski earn a spot into the 2014 season-opener based on their qualifying speed. Jimmie Johnson, Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Earnhardt Jr., Gordon and Bowyer have earned their way into the field based on their point’s position from last season.
No matter how he finishes in Thursday’s Budweiser Duel at Daytona, Dillon will roll from the top spot in just his 14th career NSCS race.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will remain dormant from on-track activity until Wednesday, when practice resumes for the Budweiser Duel which is set for primetime television on Thursday night.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.[table=2078]
2014 Budweiser Duel 150’s Race No. 1 Starting Lineup
Pos. No. Driver Make 1 3 Austin Dillon # Chv 2 16 Greg Biffle Frd 3 31 Ryan Newman Chv 4 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Chv 5 17 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Frd 6 9 Marcos Ambrose Frd 7 43 Aric Almirola Frd 8 22 Joey Logano Frd 9 20 Matt Kenseth Tyt 10 5 Kasey Kahne Chv 11 18 Kyle Busch Tyt 12 4 Kevin Harvick Chv 13 10 Danica Patrick Chv 14 47 AJ Allmendinger Chv 15 36 Reed Sorenson Chv 16 38 David Gilliland Frd 17 30 Parker Kligerman # Tyt 18 14 Tony Stewart Chv 19 55 Brian Vickers Tyt 20 26 Cole Whitt # Tyt 21 95 Michael McDowell Frd 22 98 Josh Wise Frd 23 87 Joe Nemechek(i) Tyt 24 23 Alex Bowman # Tyt 25 77 Dave Blaney Arms
2014 Budweiser Duel 150’s Race No. 2 Starting Lineup
Pos. No. Driver Make 1 78 Martin Truex, Jr. Chv 2 99 Carl Edwards Frd 3 2 Brad Keselowski Frd 4 24 Jeff Gordon Chv 5 27 Paul Menard Chv 6 33 Brian Scott(i) Chv 7 48 Jimmie Johnson Chv 8 13 Casey Mears Chv 9 7 Michael Annett # Chv 10 15 Clint Bowyer Tyt 11 11 Denny Hamlin Tyt 12 42 Kyle Larson # Chv 13 21 Trevor Bayne(i) Frd 14 41 Kurt Busch Chv 15 51 Justin Allgaier # Chv 16 40 Landon Cassill(i) Chv 17 66 Michael Waltrip Tyt 18 35 Eric McClure(i) Frd 19 1 Jamie McMurray Chv 20 34 David Ragan Frd 21 32 Terry Labonte Frd 22 52 Bobby Labonte Chv 23 83 Ryan Truex # Tyt 24 93 Morgan Shepherd(i) Tyt
(i) I eligible for Driver Points in this Series
# Denotes Rookie
* Required to Qualify on Time
Source: Timing and Scoring Provided by NASCARMedia/NASCAR Statistics
