Daytona 500 lineup 2018: Starting grid, drivers, and more
Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Alex Bowman has some big shoes to fill beginning Sunday, when he has the pole position in the 2018 Daytona 500, the official start of the NASCAR season at Daytona International Speedway.
Bowman earned the pole position with the top qualifying speed one week ago, and the No. 1 spot will feature a familiar No. 88 car. Bowman takes over for the retired Dale Earnhardt Jr., who won the Daytona 500 in 2004 and 2014.
“I think he’ll be the surprising young guy of this year, being that he does have the experience,” Denny Hamlin said of Bowman. “He’s just now in a car that will be contending for race wins week in and week out.”
Hamlin, the 2016 Daytona 500 winner, will start alongside Bowman in the front row in the second position, following a season that saw him win twice. Defending champ Kurt Busch starts 11th on Sunday.
Fox will televise the Daytona 500 beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET, with Mike Joy calling the race alongside Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip. Online streaming is available through Fox Sports Go.
2018 Daytona 500 starting lineup
Starting Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Bowman | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 2 | Denny Hamlin | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 3 | Ryan Blaney | Team Penske |
| 4 | Chase Elliott | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 5 | Joey Logano | Team Penske |
| 6 | Kevin Harvick | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 7 | Darrell Wallace Jr. | Richard Petty Motorsports |
| 8 | Erik Jones | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 9 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 10 | Clint Bowyer | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 11 | Kurt Busch | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 12 | Kyle Busch | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 13 | Ryan Newman | Richard Childress Racing |
| 14 | Austin Dillon | Richard Childress Racing |
| 15 | David Ragan | Front Row Motorsports |
| 16 | Paul Menard | Wood Brothers Racing |
| 17 | Daniel Suarez | Joe Gibbs Racing |
| 18 | Trevor Bayne | Roush Fenway Racing |
| 19 | Jamie McMurray | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 20 | AJ Allmendinger | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 21 | Chris Buescher | JTG Daugherty Racing |
| 22 | Michael McDowell | Front Row Motorsports |
| 23 | Ty Dillon | Germain Racing |
| 24 | Martin Truex Jr. | Furniture Row Racing |
| 25 | Brendan Gaughan | Beard Motorsports |
| 26 | Kasey Kahne | Leavine Family Racing |
| 27 | Jeffrey Earnhardt | StarCom Racing |
| 28 | Danica Patrick | Premium Motorsports |
| 29 | Justin Marks | Rick Ware Racing |
| 30 | DJ Kennington | Gaunt Brothers Racing |
| 31 | Brad Keselowski | Team Penske |
| 32 | Corey LaJoie | TriStar Motorsports |
| 33 | William Byron | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 34 | Gray Gaulding | BK Racing |
| 35 | Jimmie Johnson | Hendrick Motorsports |
| 36 | Matt DiBenedetto | Go Fas Racing |
| 37 | Aric Almirola | Stewart-Haas Racing |
| 38 | Kyle Larson | Chip Ganassi Racing |
| 39 | David Gilliland | RBR Enterprises |
| 40 | Mark Thompson | Phoenix Air Racing |
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