Michael McDowell Wins Pole at Daytona Race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Michael McDowell has clinched the pole position for the upcoming 400-mile race at Daytona International Speedway, showcasing a remarkable qualifying performance. McDowell, driving for Front Row Motorsports, achieved a top speed of 183.165 mph, narrowly surpassing his teammate Todd Gilliland, who finished second. This qualifying session saw Ford dominate, claiming the top six spots and seven of the top ten overall. In addition to McDowell and Gilliland, Team Penske's Joey Logano secured third place, followed by Ryan Preece, Josh Berry, and Chase Briscoe from Stewart-Haas Racing. William Byron was the fastest Chevrolet, finishing seventh, while Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, and Chase Elliott rounded out the top ten qualifiers. This marks McDowell's fourth pole of the season, having previously started at Atlanta, Talladega, and Gateway, although he did not win those races. Despite his pole position, McDowell faces challenges in the Cup Series standings, currently sitting 21st and 157 points behind the playoff cutoff. To qualify for the playoffs for the third time in five years, he must secure a victory in one of the remaining regular-season races at Daytona or Darlington. Looking ahead, McDowell has signed with Spire Motorsports for the next season, following a decision by Front Row owner Bob Jenkins to pursue a different direction.