Rookie Chase Elliott becomes youngest on Daytona 500 pole
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Chase Elliott kept the No. 24 Chevrolet on the pole for the second straight Daytona 500, becoming the youngest driver to start first in the race.
Elliott took the seat from retired four-time champion Jeff Gordon at Hendrick Motorsports. The 20-year-old is the son of Hall of Fame driver and two-time Daytona 500 champion Bill Elliott.
Gordon was in the broadcast booth Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, calling the shots as the No. 24 went around the track without him for the first time since 1992. Elliott's top speed was 196.314 mph.
Matt Kenseth locked down the front row and will start second, keeping Joe Gibbs Racing's roll going. Teammate Denny Hamlin won the kickoff Sprint Unlimited on Saturday night.
The rest of the field will be set in Thursday's two qualifying races.
