Race Weekend Central

Austin Dillon wins Daytona 500 Pole

18 years after it last occured, and 13 years since the number was last on the track, Austin Dillon put the No. 3 of Richard Childress Racing on the top of the speed charts during Daytona 500 qualifying to grab the pole for the 56th Annual Daytona 500. Dillon posted a time of 45.914 seconds at a speed of 196.019 MPH. His time was .039 seconds faster than Martin Truex Jr., who will start outside of the front row for next Sunday’s race. Those two cars are the only cars locked into their starting positions for the race. The remainder of the field will be set by the Budweiser 150 mile qualifying races on Thursday night.

The remainder of the top 5 in qualifying were Greg Biffle at 45.961, Carl Edwards with a 45.986 second lap and Ryan Newman who crossed the line in 45.987 seconds. The top 43 cars ran within one second of each other. Josh Wise crossed the line 43rd fastest at 46.860 seconds.

About the author

What is it that Mike Neff doesn’t do? The writer, radio contributor and racetrack announcer coordinates the site’s local short track coverage, hitting up Saturday Night Specials across the country while tracking the sport’s future racing stars. The writer for our signature Cup post-race column, Thinkin’ Out Loud (Mondays) also sits down with Cup crew chiefs to talk shop every Friday with Tech Talk. Mike announces several shows each year for the Good Guys Rod and Custom Association. He also pops up everywhere from PRN Pit Reporters and the Press Box with Alan Smothers to SIRIUS XM Radio. He has announced at tracks all over the Southeast, starting at Millbridge Speedway. He's also announced at East Lincoln Speedway, Concord Speedway, Tri-County Speedway, Caraway Speedway, and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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