After prequalifying tech inspection, Alex Bowman and Tyler Reddick failed a total of two times, meaning penalties are in order. Both NASCAR drivers will lose their pit stall selection and a crew member. The crew members should be able to return after the Duels.
Alex Bowman won his third Daytona 500 pole award last year. He has spent six years now starting on the front row for NASCAR’s biggest race of the season. 23XI Racing driver, Tyler Reddick, will join Bowman as the only two cars to fail twice.
Had the two cars failed tech again, they would not have been able to qualify at all! Meaning Bowman’s historic streak would be broken before he could even attempt to extend it to seven years.
Daytona 500 qualifying is a big deal. Putting your car on the pole and leading the field to green is not only a huge honor as a driver, but it gives you a great chance to win the race itself. Alex Bowman has not gotten his win yet, but he’s earned the right to be considered a favorite.
Coming off a bad season that was plagued with a back injury, Bowman is hoping to get 2024 started off on the right foot. He needs a few good runs to get into the groove of things. Soon, he’ll be competing for wins again. Maybe even this Sunday.
Alex Bowman looking to extend history
For six years, no one has been able to get Alex Bowman off of the front row of the Daytona 500. His teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron believe he gets through the gears better than anyone, even at Hendrick.
Whatever the reason, he knows what he is doing when he’s out on the track Daytona brings something out in him that makes him lay down fast laps. Six years, he’s made the front row. A record. Now, he’ll try to make it seven years in a row.
Hendrick Motorsports in general is great at Daytona qualifying. Mr. H makes a point to highlight that fact every year. All four active Hendrick drivers have at least one pole award to their name. Those engines and those cars are just so fast every year.
Tonight, it could be another pole award for Alex Bowman. He will at least try and make the front row if at all possible. He has a new paint scheme, it’s a new season, he has recovered from his injury – now it’s time to lay down a fast lap and win the Daytona 500 on Sunday.
More must-reads: