Daytona 500 Pole Winners – Last 4 Years
2013: Danica Patrick becomes 1st woman to win NASCAR Cup Series pole
2014: Austin Dillon wins pole in 1st race by driver in #3 since Dale Earnhardt’s death
2015: Jeff Gordon wins pole for final Daytona 500; fastest pole speed since 1987 (201.293 MPH)
2016: Chase Elliott wins the pole in the #24’s first race since Jeff Gordon’s retirement; youngest pole winner in Daytona 500 history
Could a rookie win a Daytona 500 pole? It’s happened 3 of the last 4 years, with Chase Elliott in 2016, Austin Dillon in 2014, Danica Patrick in 2013. Previously, rookies had only won 3 Daytona 500 poles (Jimmie Johnson in 2002, Mike Skinner in 1997, Loy Allen in 1994). This year: Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones and Ty Dillon are rookies attempting to qualify.(ESPN Stats)