February 16, 2022 | By Lee Spencer

Quick Time: Kyle Larson earns pole for the Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—Kyle Larson picked up where he left off last year—atop the scoring pylon with the pole for the Daytona 500.

Larson knocked teammate Alex Bowman from the provisional pole with a lap of 49.680-seconds—0.0031 faster than the No. 48 Chevy.

Crew chief Cliff Daniels told Larson, “Got it,” after William Byron failed to beat the time of the No. 5 Chevy.

“That’s awesome,” replied Larson.

The pole marks the eighth-straight for a Hendrick-powered Chevrolet and the second-straight for Larson at the 2.5-mile track.

“It’s really neat,” Larson said. “You’re always really proud of your team anytime you win a pole here because it has the littlest to do with us drivers. Just a huge thank you to the engine shop at Hendrick Motorsports; everybody who’s played a part in touching these vehicles, whether it be on the computer or hands-on.  

“It’s awesome, the speed in our Chevy. I believe it’s the beginning of a really good weekend.”  

Bowman set a qualifying record for his fifth consecutive start on the front row for the Great American Race.

“We’ve found every way to lose the Daytona 500, maybe we can win it on Sunday,” Bowman said.

Byron's time in the second round was third fastest. He will share the front row in the first qualifying race with Larson. Aric Almirola broke up the Hendrick Motorsports sweep of the top-four qualifiers—topping Chase Elliott by 0.059  seconds.

Byron posted the top time in Round 1 with a lap of 49.765 seconds (180.850 mph) followed by his Hendrick teammates Larson, Bowman and Elliott. Almirola, who plans to retire at year’s end, recorded the top speed in the Ford camp. Chastain, Truex, Burton, Hamlin and Suarez all advanced into the second round.

A tough task awaited six drivers who entered time trials for the Daytona 500 without points. Noah Gragson was the top driver to score a spot in the field with a lap of 50.689 seconds (177.553 mph). Former F1 and CART champion Jacques Villeneuve qualified for his fifth Cup race and his first 500 with a lap of 51.010 seconds (176.436 mph). He returns to NASCAR following a nine-year absence.

“When I’m in the race car, I don’t realize I’m 50,” says Villeneuve.

Greg Biffle, Kaz Grala, J.J. Yeley and Timmy Hill will have to advance through Thursday's Duels, a pair of 150-mile qualifying races.

Not long after Larson climbed from his car, team owner Rick Hendrick called to tell his driver how much he enjoyed seeing the HendrickCars.com Chevy on the pole.

“To have it on the pole at the Daytona 500 is really special,” Larson said. “It would be even more special to win the Duels tomorrow and go on to Sunday and win the 500.”