DAYTONA POLE CAPS BIG DAY FOR BOWMAN
Alex Bowman has a new contract and a familiar spot as he chases his first Daytona 500 victory.
Bowman received a threeyear extension from Hendrick Motorsports on Wednesday that will keep the driver — who won his third career Daytona 500 pole later that night — with the team through 2026. Hendrick also locked in Bowman’s sponsor, Ally, to a five-year extension through 2028.
“We have a lot to accomplish, and it all starts this week in Daytona,” Bowman said.
Bowman, who missed five races late last season because of a concussion, is on the Daytona 500 front row for the the sixth straight time, and the Hendrick organization has produced a pole winner in eight of the last nine years.
Jimmie Johnson made a triumphant return to NASCAR on Wednesday night and qualified for the Daytona 500, a tremendous start for the the seven-time champion as he heads into his first Cup race since 2020.
The 47-year-old Johnson, an El Cajon native, returned from a two-year dalliance in IndyCar for an ownership stake in Legacy Motor Club — and he quickly added to his own, joining the 40-driver field Wednesday evening in his No. 84 Chevrolet.
Yes, a reverse of the No. 48 he ran when he won two Daytona 500s. Bowman now has No. 48.
“I think I really have a shot to win,” Johnson said before he qualified. “If I survive and get through the first two stages, there’s really a shot that I have to win this race.”
Johnson will be joined Sunday by another 40-something in former X Games thrillseeker Travis Pastrana. Pastrana said racing in the Daytona
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500 was one of his last motorsports goals and this was his last, best shot to get there. He landed a ride for Daytona in the No. 67 Toyota as a third entry for the team owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin.
With 36 drivers already locked into the 40-car field based on NASCAR’s charter system, Johnson and Pastrana were among six others competing for the final four starting spots at Daytona International Speedway.
Johnson and Pastrana embraced on pit row after they locked themselves in the race. They can rest easy for a night.
Commanding start
NASCAR will celebrate the start of its 75th season with nine winners of both the Daytona 500 and a Cup Series championship giving the command for drivers to start their engines at the Daytona 500.
NASCAR Hall of Famers
Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, Bill Elliott, Jeff Gordon and
Dale Jarrett will be joined by Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch and Joey Logano.
Petty and Johnson are both seven-time Cup Series champions.
Petty also has a record seven Daytona 500 victories and
Johnson has a pair of Daytona 500 wins. Allison, Jarrett and Gordon are three-time Daytona 500 champions, Elliott won it twice, and Harvick, Busch and Logano each have one Daytona 500 victory.
Notable
Daniel Suarez has signed a second extension in six months with Trackhouse Racing, getting a multiyear deal done after landing a one-year contract last August. The 31-year-old Mexican will stay behind the wheel for a third season and beyond for co-owners Justin Marks and Pitbull.
Tony Kanaan, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 champ, says he will compete again in IndyCar’s biggest race this May before retiring. The 48-year-old Brazilian made the announcement on Twitter 100 days before the May 28 race.