- (L-R) Greg Biffle, driver of the 16 3M Ford, and Carl Edwards, driver of the 99 Fastenal Ford, qualified 1–2 for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500. Edwards has the pole position. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images for NASCAR)
A pair of Roush-Fenway Ford drivers will lead the field to the green flag for NASCAR’s premier race, the Daytona 500, next Sunday. Carl Edwards captured the pole with a lap of 46.216 seconds at 194.738 mph and teammate Greg Biffle’s run was right behind him, lapping the 2.5-mile tri-oval at 194.087.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove the fastest Chevrolet to a lap of 194.028 mph, which earns him a front-row grid position in the twin Gatorade Duels at Daytona Thursday night.
Danica Patrick managed to make the field in her first attempt at the 500, coming in 30th despite her car overheating halfway through her second qualifying lap. She will be the third female driver to start the race.
Qualifying for the Daytona 500 is a complicated affair. Only Edwards and Biffle know where they will start the season’s biggest race. The rest of the field’s starting order will be based on their finishing positions in Thursday’s two Gatorade Duel heats.
