- JGR Newcomer Runs Quickest Speed in No. 19 Camry XSE to Earn Top Starting Spot
Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) newcomer Chase Briscoe scored Toyota’s first Daytona 500 pole position at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday evening. Briscoe’s JGR No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Camry was the quickest in both qualifying sessions and ran a time of 49.249 in the second round to secure the top starting spot in the ‘Great American Race.’
“It’s a great way to start our season,” said Briscoe. “What an unbelievable way to start off the year. It’s unbelievable to start off with Toyota and be able to deliver them the first of anything when they’ve already accomplished so much, it’s pretty cool. To think that I’m going to start on the pole of the ‘Great American Race’ with honestly the ultimate great American brand in Bass Pro Shops is unbelievable. I just can’t thank Coach Gibbs (Joe Gibbs, founder and owner, Joe Gibbs Racing) enough and the entire Joe Gibbs Racing organization.
“The whole offseason everybody kept telling me the focus was trying to qualify better at superspeedways,” added Briscoe. “That’s something they really struggled at last year and for our No. 19 group to start the year and to sit on the pole in the biggest race of the year is pretty special. I can’t believe it. Just super appreciative for this opportunity with Bass Pro, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. It’s an unbelievable way to start the season. Hopefully we can carry it on.”
Briscoe will lead the field to the green flag in Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500 race. A total of 11 Toyota Camry XSE drivers will compete in Thursday night’s Duels at Daytona to determine the remainder of the starting grid for Sunday’s race, marking the most TRD, U.S.A. engines in a single Daytona 500.
