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Daytona 500 starting grid: How field lines up for rain-delayed race
Forty cars are set to kick off the highly-anticipated NASCAR Cup Series season-opener in the United States on Monday afternoon, after the event was postponed due to rain from Sunday. Joey Logano of Team Penske claimed the first-ever pole position for the team with a time of 49.465s, ending a Chevrolet dominance in time trials at the Daytona 500. Notably, both B.J. McLeod and J.J. Yeley narrowly missed qualifying during Thursday’s Duel races, won by Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell. Drivers like Jimmie Johnson and Kaz Grala battled fiercely in the Duels to secure their spots in the Daytona 500.
Several drivers, including Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch, will be starting from the back of the field in backup cars following qualifying races. Kaz Grala also faces a rear start due to an engine change after mis-shifting during qualifying. Meanwhile, Chris Buescher briefly left the track to witness the birth of his second child and will return for the race on Monday. Despite initial rain delays, the forecast for Monday’s races looks more favorable, with a slight chance of rain and sunny spells predicted for the Daytona 500 start at 4pm. A light northerly breeze may impact the racing conditions throughout the day.
