Alex Bowman captures Daytona 500 pole; sixth straight time starting in front row

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Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson will lead the charge in Sunday’s Daytona 500 to officially start the 2023 NASCAR season and put Hendrick Motorsports in a great position as well.

Bowman took his third career pole at the track with the quickest lap on Wednesday night. He will be driving the No. 48 Chevrolet come Sunday, and starting next to him will be his teammate, Larson, who is back in the No. 5 Chevrolet to start the season.

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Alex Bowman drives out of turn four during qualifying for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Bowman took the pole position for Sunday's race.  (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

It’s a good start to the year for Bowman, who missed several races of the 2022 season with a concussion.

"It may not be the big one," Bowman said. "But it's not a bad one to have."

Larson sat on the pole for last year’s start and Bowman was No. 2. Larson was the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion but was eliminated in the Round of 12 in 2022.

Bowman's been in the front row for each Daytona race in 2018. He has the record for most consecutive front-row starts at the race with six.

Jimmie Johnson was a familiar face back in the lineup. He returned to NASCAR after a two-year dalliance in IndyCar for an ownership stake in Legacy Motor Club. He joined the 40-car field with a quick-enough qualifying time in the No. 84 Chevrolet.

Alex Bowman climbs out of his car after qualifying for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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