Daytona 500 Grid: Full Field Of 40 Cars For 65th Edition Of The Great American Race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After a time trial qualifying session and two 150-mile qualifying races, the field is set for the 65th running of the Daytona 500. Alex Bowman will start on pole for the third time of the race and will be flanked on the front row by Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson.

Joey Logano and Aric Almirola will start third and fourth after winning their duel qualifying races on Thursday night, and defending Daytona 500 champion Austin Cindric will start seventh as he attempts to go back-to-back. Kevin Harvick, who is driving his 22nd and final Daytona 500, will start 13th.

Four drivers whose teams were not licensed for the NASCAR Cup Series were able to earn their way into the field. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson, who returned to the Cup on a part-time basis after retiring at the end of the 2020 season, was the fastest qualifying open car in the #84 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet. The second fastest Open car belonged to action sports star Travis Pastrana, who will make his Cup debut at the wheel of the No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing.

Defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Zane Smith qualified for the Daytona 500 through his duel qualifying race, and he was joined by IndyCar veteran Conor Daly, who made the 500 in an unlikely manner after his car suffered major mechanical and handling issues was plagued. Chandler Smith and Austin Hill did not make the starting grid after problems in their respective duel qualifying races.

Daytona 500 starting grid

#48 – Alex Bowman

#5 – Kyle Larson

#22 – Joey Logano

#10 – Aric Almirola

#20 – Christopher Bell

#2 – Austin Cindric

#12 – Ryan Blaney

#9 – Follow Elliott

#17 – Chris Busher

#6 – Brad Keselowski

#34 – Michael McDowell

#7 – Corey LaJoie

#4 – Kevin Harvick

#38 – Todd Gilliland

#23 – Bubba Wallace

#19 – Martin Truex Jr

#36 – Zane Smith

#11 – Denny Hamlin

No. 21 – Harrison Burton

#41 – Ryan Preece

No. 24 – William Byron

#42 – Noah Gragson (R)

#1 – Ross Chastain

#99 – Daniel Suarez

#43 – Eric Jones

#45 – Tyler Reddick

#3 – Austin Dillon

#31 – Justin Haley

#16 – AJ Allmendinger

#14 – Hunt Briscoe

#47 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

#78 – BJ McLeod

#54 – Ty Gibbs (R)

#50 – Conor Daly

No. 51 – CodyWare

#8 – Kyle Busch

#77 – Ty Dillon

#15 – Riley Fall

#84 – Jimmie Johnson

#67 – Travis Pastrana

Not qualified: Austin Hill, Chandler Smith