The 2025 NASCAR season has officially begun at Daytona International Speedway, with 45 drivers competing for a coveted spot in the prestigious Daytona 500. Among them was Justin Allgaier, piloting the No. 40 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, marking the team’s debut in the Cup Series. Having already built a strong reputation in the Xfinity Series, expectations were high for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team as they stepped onto this larger stage.
However, their journey got off to a challenging start. Allgaier was unable to secure a spot in the race through Qualifying, meaning his last chance to make the Daytona 500 would come in the Duels. Reacting to the setback, Earnhardt Jr. took to social media, expressing his disappointment but remaining optimistic:
“Damn, it would’ve been nice to lock in tonight… But we get to come back tomorrow and race our way into the Daytona 500 in a Duel. Living the dream.”
Meanwhile, Chase Briscoe claimed the pole position for the Daytona 500 in the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, giving Joe Gibbs Racing a strong start to the season. Briscoe acknowledged the significance of the achievement, particularly as Toyota had made improving superspeedway performance a priority during the offseason.
“It’s an incredible way to kick off the year with Toyota,” Briscoe said. “To be the one to give them their first pole at Daytona, considering everything they’ve already accomplished, is pretty special. And to be starting the Great American Race with a brand like Bass Pro Shops makes it even more unbelievable.
“All offseason, the focus was on improving our qualifying results at superspeedways, which was a weak point last year. To come here and take the pole for the biggest race of the season is an amazing feeling. Hopefully, we can keep this momentum going.”
Lining up alongside Briscoe on the front row will be Austin Cindric, who secured the second starting spot in his No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Expressing his pride in the team’s effort, Cindric highlighted the significance of this strong qualifying performance.
“I’m really proud of the work that’s gone into this car. Starting on the front row of the Daytona 500, especially next to one of my closest friends, is really special,” he said. “We’ve had speed at superspeedways before, but this is a huge step for us. Now, we just need to focus on executing well in the Duels and learning more about how our car handles for the race.”
