Dillon wins pole for Daytona 500, full qualifying results

Starting Lineup for Daytona 500

Austin Dillon claimed the pole for the Daytona 500 during Sunday’s qualifying session. The driver of he No. 3 Chevrolet SS posted the fastest lap around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. The Daytona 500 will be the first time since the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. in 2001 that the No. 3 has raced at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series level.

“I feel like our engines have been really good since we’ve been here (at Daytona). … I just had to get my shifts. And I knew that hopefully I could hold the wheel straight for two laps,” Dillon told Fox after his lap.

Drivers took two laps around the track aiming for the top spot. The top two speeds have ensured themselves a spot on the front row while the rest of the field will be set by Thursday’s Budweiser Duels. Martin Truex Jr. will start outside Dillon.

Dillon won the 2013 Nationwide Series title and will be competing in the Sprint Cup series full-time this season under Richard Childress Racing.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Austin. We wanted to come down here and put on a good show with the 3,” Childress told Fox.

The return of the No. 3 has left the NASCAR fan base divided, as many fans would rather of seen the No. 3 retired, instead of returning to the Sprint Cup this season. On the other hand, many other fans believe the number being active on the track helps to honor Earnhardt Sr.’s legacy.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. held the provisional pole until Greg Biffle notched a quicker lap late into qualifying. When Dillon ran his lap and claimed the pole from Biffle,  the crowd cheered.

Last years pole sitter Danica Patrick qualified 25th. Jimmie Johnson was last year’s Daytona 500 winner.

Full Qualifying Results for the Daytona 500

1. Austin Dillon
2. Martn Truex Jr.
3. Greg Biffle
4. Carl Edwards
5. Ryan Newman
6. Brad Keselowski
7. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
8. Jeff Gordon
9. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
10. Paul Menard
11. Marcos Ambrose
12. Brian Scott
13. Aric Almirola
14. Jimmie Johnson
15. Joey Logano
16. Casey Mears
17. Matt Kenseth
18. Michael Annett
19. Kasey Kahne
20. Clint Bowyer
21. Kyle Busch
22. Denny Hamlin
23. Kevin Harvick
24. Kyle Larson
25. Danica Patrick
26. Trevor Bayne
27. AJ Allmendinger
28. Kurt Busch
29. Reed Sorenson
30. Justin Allgaier
31. David Gilliland
32. Landon Cassill
33. Parker Kligerman
34. Michael Waltrip
35. Tony Stewart
36. Eric McClure
37. Brian Vickers
38. Jamie McMurray
39. Cole Whitt
40. David Ragan
41. Michael McDowell
42. Terry Labonte
43. Josh Wise
44. Bobby Labonte
45. Joe Nemechek
46. Ryan Truex
47. Alex Bowman
48. Morgan Shepherd
49. Dave Blaney – DNS