Chase Briscoe is having a great weekend at Daytona after he secured pole position for the 500 with an impressive lap speed of 182.745 mph. This achievement makes this the first time Toyota has ever claimed a pole in the prestigious race, ending a long-standing wait since joining NASCAR’s Cup Series in 2007.
It also broke Ford‘s nine-year streak of dominance at drafting tracks.
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Briscoe’s move to Joe Gibbs Racing after Stewart-Haas Racing closed in 2024 appears to be paying off as he looks to convert this momentum into a win.
Toyota began its journey in NASCAR almost two decades ago, initially struggling to find its place amidst the established American manufacturers. However, the company quickly found its stride, racking up championships with drivers like Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. The Daytona 500 pole is a major milestone for Toyota, proving its growing competitiveness in superspeedway races traditionally ruled by Ford and Chevrolet.
Joe Gibbs Racing has a rich history at Daytona, with three prior wins, but had been without a pole in this race since Bobby Labonte in 1998. This recent success can be attributed to the team’s focus on aerodynamic improvements during the 2024-25 offseason, a factor that Briscoe noted as crucial in his pole result.
Chase Briscoe has forged an impressive path in NASCAR. His successes include winning the 2016 ARCA Menards Series Championship, being named the 2017 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Rookie of the Year, and earning the 2021 Cup Series Rookie of the Year title.
This pole position is the third pole of his Cup Series career, and he aims to leverage this achievement to secure his third Cup Series win, following his win at the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
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Briscoe acknowledged the nature of his starting position.
“Today. I mean, you still have to execute. I mean, you can still start 40s, you can still start on the pole, I mean, you still have to execute and put yourself in position all race long,” he told Bobo Pockrass (below).
Chase Briscoe will lead the Daytona 500 field to green from the pole today. Why that could be a good or bad thing. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/KtuQLJcDr1
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) February 16, 2025
“You know, I think there’s pros and cons to front row. I think the pro is definitely from a track position standpoint. It’s hard to get now, so starting out front definitely makes it easier. But the con is, you’re gonna burn more fuel starting on the front row, too. So there’s both, right?
“It definitely helps starting up front, but you still have to execute and put yourself there after 500 miles. And it’s easy to get jumbled up in track position here, so yeah, I just have to execute from other green flag pit stops, things like that. But certainly, starting up front is not a huge disadvantage by any means.”
Caution is advised given Daytona’s intense pack racing conditions. Austin Cindric, the 2022 Daytona winner, and the experienced Denny Hamlin, a three-time victor at this event could put up a strong challenge. Kyle Larson, 2021’s Cup Series champion, also joins the mix, after qualifying in tenth position.
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For Toyota, a win at the Daytona 500 would cement their progress in the Cup Series. But Daytona is infamous for its unpredictable races, so let’s not hold our breath just yet.
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