Texas Speedzone - Jarrett Wins Daytona Bud Pole With A Texas Connection

Jarrett Wins Daytona Bud Pole With A Texas Connection
Bobby Chaffee, texasspeedzone.com

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Jarrett and the No. 88 UPS Ford had the fastest speed during Bud Pole Qualifying for the Daytona 500 on Sunday in an engine with a Texas connection. Jarrett captured his third pole for Sunday’s Daytona 500 race. The race is also known as "The Great American Race". The last time Jarrett sat on the pole for the “Great American Race”, won the Daytona 500 for a third time in 2000.

Jarrett turned the fast lap of 188.312 mph around the legendary 2.5-mile tri-oval. Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Home Improvement Chevrolet, will start beside Jarrett on the outside pole with a lap of 188.170 mph.

"This is really good race car. These guys have been working on this race car since last October. It's been in the wind tunnel a lot and we had a good test back here in January. The engine room has been working night and day in making these engines even better than what we've had on this day and I think we've got a really good race car." Jarrett stated after his pole winning lap.

Jarrett and his Robert Yates Racing Ford also have a special connection to Texas racing fans. The pole winning engine was built at the Yates Engine shop that employs Texas native Colt James. James was a mainstay on the Texas racing map while still in high school. Colt is a two time All Star Race Trucks Lone Star regional champion as well as national champion of that series. He now lives in Mooresville, North Carolina and attends the NASCAR Technical School in Mooresville. Colt occasionally comes back to Texas and races. His last visit resulted in a win on the Texas Motor Speedway road course in Fort Worth, Texas.

Only the front row starting spots were secured on Sunday during qualifying. The Gatorade Duel at Daytona on Thursday will set the rest of the starting lineup along with eight provisional spots.