Daytona 500: Alex Bowman snags pole position over Denny Hamlin

There will be no avoiding “The Showman” nickname for Alex Bowman now.

Bowman captured the pole for next Sunday’s Daytona 500 after knocking off Denny Hamlin from the top spot in the final round of Sunday’s knockout qualifying at Daytona International Speedway.

Bowman, in his first full season replacing Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 88 Chevrolet, earned the second pole of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career.

Bowman and Hamlin have locked in the front row for next weekend’s Daytona 500. The lineup for the remainder of the field will be determined in Thursday night’s 150-mile qualifying races.

“It was a little nerve-wracking. You know, our Nationwide Camaro ZL1 has been great since we unloaded,” Bowman said. “All the guys back at the chassis shop, the body shop, the Hendrick engine shop – they all work so hard.

“We knew were going for the pole. That’s what we were here to do.”

Asked what it felt like to be in this position, Bowman called it "a little surreal."

"It’s a dream come true to get to drive for Hendrick Motorsports. I never thought it would have happened after the path my career took. I’m so thankful to be able to do this," he said. "I’m very blessed to be able to call driving a race car my job, and now to get to drive what I think is the best race car in the business.

"It’s a dream come true.”

Said Hamlin about his front row start: “Great teamwork. This is a testament to everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing to give us a race car that is very fast.”

Jimmie Johnson ended up third-fastest, Kyle Busch fourth and rookie William Byron completed the top-five.

The remainder of the top 12: Daniel Suarez, Kevin Harvick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and Paul Menard.

Hendrick Motorsports has now won four consecutive Daytona 500 poles and six of the past nine.

Round 1

Hendrick Motorsports dominated the first round of qualifying as all four of its drivers advanced to the final round.

Bomwan led the way with an average lap speed of 194.885 mph, just holding off a late-session run by Hamlin (194.801 mph).

Stenhouse was third-fastest, Byron fourth and Kyle Busch completed the top-five.

“We’ve been really happy with our Nationwide Camaro ZL1. It was fast off the track,” Bowman said after his first round qualifying run. “I’m very thankful for this opportunity. The Hendrick engine shop is the best in the business.

“I’m having a blast.”

Also advancing to the final round were Suarez, Harvick, Johnson, Logano, Menard, Jones and Elliott.

“I feel like we could possibly get on the front row,” Menard said. “We got a shot – that’s all you can ask for.”

Aric Almirola, who moved from Richard Petty Motorsports to Stewart-Haas Racing this season, just missed the cut, posting the 13th-fastest lap.

“It’s a lot more fun coming to the race track when you know you have a shot to win every week,” he said. “Our car was OK in drafting – it was a little more dicey than I’ve been used to. I’m ready to go race.”

Among those who also failed to advance to the final round were Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, last year’s 500 winner Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson and reigning Cup series champion Martin Truex Jr.

“It was actually a little slower than we ran in practice. I don’t know, speed-wise we’ve been off a bit here, especially single car runs,” Truex said. “I don’t know, new rules package and all, we’re just trying to figure that out.

“Looking forward to racing today just to see what these things will do in the draft.”

Danica Patrick, planning to make her final start in the Cup Series in next Sunday’s 500, qualified 28th-fastest and failed to advance to the final round.

David Ragan failed to take a speed in the first round as he developed a problem just as he was taking the green-flag and pulled off the track. Ragan said he believed his brakes were dragging and there was some indication of a possible engine problem.

Before the first round began only two cars had not yet cleared inspection – those of Jamie McMurray and Gray Gaulding.

Gaulding’s No. 23 BK Racing Toyota failed to make a qualifying attempt and will start Thursday night’s qualifying races from the rear of the field.

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