Byron earns pole position for Sunday’s Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — William Byron, at 21 years old, earned the pole position for next Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Driving the No. 24 car made famous by Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, Byron turned a lap at 194.304 mph to edge teammate and 2018 pole sitter Alex Bowman by fewer than two-tenths of a second. Bowman came in at 194.153 mph. Byson and Bowman locked in the 1-2 positions on the front row for the Great American Race. The other positions will be determined Thursday.

Byron’s strong showing on an overcast, misty Sunday at Daytona International Speedway secured the pole position for Hendricks Motorsports for a record fifth straight year.