DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Jeff Gordon will start from the pole in the final Daytona 500 of his career.
Gordon announced last month this will be his final full-time season, and he’s been adamant next Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500 will be the last of his career.
The four-time NASCAR champion is a three-time winner of “The Great American Race.”
Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson locked down the front row in Sunday’s qualifying session, which was done in knockout rounds for the first time in 57 years.
The qualifying was blasted by most of the drivers. Clint Bowyer called it a “cute show” after he wrecked in the first round. Reigning champion Kevin Harvick grumbled Daytona’s tradition had been ruined, while three-time champion Tony Stewart called it “a complete embarrassment for our series.”
Junior, Hamlin fail inspections
The cars of NASCAR drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin have failed post-qualifying inspection for the Daytona 500 pole.
Earnhardt and Hamlin will have to start at the rear of their respective qualifying races Thursday.
Earnhardt’s No. 88 Chevrolet did not meet NASCAR’s minimum height requirement. Earnhardt responded to the penalties on Twitter, saying it was an eighth of an inch too low. “That’s a shame. The boys will figure out why. Makes the duels a lot more interesting,” Earnhardt tweeted.
The track bar in Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota did not meet specifications. He also took to Twitter to jokingly explain what went wrong. He wrote: “Crash damage.. It was the wreck I say!!! Lol.”
Earnhardt posted the 10th-fastest time in the final qualifying round. Hamlin was third fastest in the session.
