Rookie Chase Elliott Becomes Youngest To Land Top Spot in Daytona 500

Rookie NASCAR driver Chase Elliott kept the No. 24 Chevrolet on the pole for the second straight Daytona 500, thus becoming the youngest to earn the top spot in NASCAR’s biggest race.

Rookie Chase Elliott Becomes Youngest To Land Top Spot in Daytona 500

Elliott snatched the seat from retired four-time champion Jeff Gordon at Hendrick Motorsports, and outran 43 others on Sunday to qualify for the front row.

Elliott, 20, is the son of Hall of Fame driver and two-time Daytona 500 champion Bill Elliott. 

Gordon sat in the broadcast booth at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, calling the shots as the No. 24 went around the track for the first time since 1992. Gordon was a three-time Daytona 500 winner and won a pair of poles in the 24. Elliott reached a top speed of 196.314 mph, which earned team owner Rick Hendrick his 10th overall pole in the Daytona 500.

“I don’t know if this opportunity has sunk in yet, much less sitting on the pole for the Daytona 500,” Elliott said.

Elliott won the pole at 20 years, 2 months and 17 days, besting 2014 pole-sitter Austin Dillon’s mark of 23 years, 9 months and 27 days. The rest of the Daytona 500 field will be set in Thursday’s two qualifying races.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kenseth, Elliott, Kyle Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch and Joey Logano advanced.

Caption: DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 14: Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, poses with his car after winning the Pole Award during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2016 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images

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Article by Pablo Mena