By Tim Packman, Contributing Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. is adjusting to his new team and car manufacturer just fine. When qualifying ended under sunny skies on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, the No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro of JTG Daugherty Racing clocked a lap of 46.252 sec/194.582 mph to claim the Busch Pole Award.
The second fastest to lock in the front row, for the third consecutive time, was Alex Bowman in the No. 88 Chevrolet of Hendrick Motorsports. His lap was 46.305 sec/194.582 mph around the 2.5-mile superspeedway.
Stenhouse, who moved to JTG after years at Roush-Fenway Racing driving Fords, was pleased with the results of his new ride.
“It’s pretty cool to keep the streak going for Chevrolet (regarding consecutive Daytona 500 poles),” Stenhouse said. “When Mr. Hendrick shows up in Victory Lane knowing we’re running his engine package and me showing up at their engine shop a few weeks ago to meet the guys is pretty special.
“Being on the pole is also pretty cool because all the guys at JTG have been working really hard this offseason. It makes it pretty special to me knowing they put in the work and knowing exactly what to do for here.
“It’s a good way to start our season together.”
After it was announced last year that Roush wasn’t renewing Stenhouse’s contract, it left the two-time Xfinity Series Champion looking for a new home. He was quickly signed by JTG starting another chapter in his career.
New team, new car and new overall surroundings does, indeed, leave him feeling he has something to prove after the way 2019 ended.
“Yeah, there’s a handful of us that feel like we have something to prove,” Stenhouse said. “Two of those are in my corner with me at JTG, one being my crew chief, Brian (Pattie.) I feel I can still get the job done and win races like we did before.
“I know Brian believes in what JTG has back at the shop, the engines we have and resources available. I feel pretty confident we can both show what we can do together.”
Stenhouse has been successful at Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway earning prior wins.
Bowman was followed by fellow HMS teammates Chase Elliott, third fastest, and Jimmie Johnson fourth. Denny Hamlin rounded out the top-five qualifiers in the No. 11 Toyota.
“Everyone at HMS puts so much effort into these superspeedway cars,” Bowman said. “As a race car driver there isn’t much you can do to make these cars go faster, but you can sure screw them up. So, thankfully I didn’t do that.
“I’m very thankful for all the guys in the engine shop, fab shop and testing shop. I think we’re going to have a pretty good car for the race.”
Of the 43 cars that made a single-car run, left to qualify in through their respective Duel 150 on Thursday are Justin Haley, Brendan Gaughan, Reed Sorenson Timmy Hill, Danial Suarez, JJ Yeley and Chad Finchum. With a 40-car field, that means three drivers will be freed up from racing on Sunday.
Next on-track action are the Duel 150s on Thursday evening to determine the 62nd annual Daytona 500 starting line up.