The front row is set for the Daytona 500.
Alex Bowman won the pole and Denny Hamlin locked in his second place starting spot for the Daytona 500 in qualifying. The two drivers will start first and second after finishing 1-2 in both rounds of qualifying.
In the second round, Jimmie Johnson looked like he had a chance to start on the front row, as he sat in first with only two drivers to go. Unfortunately for him, those last two were Bowman and Hamlin, so Johnson will need to perform at the Can Am duels on Thursday if he wants that third spot.
Alex Bowman put on a show for his first drive in the 88 car taking over for Dale Earnhardt Jr. after not even qualifying for the race in his last attempt. Winning the pole in the 88 has to have Junior nation buzzing about the chances of the car their favorite driver left behind.
Yeah, @AlexBowman88 is pumped. ?#DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/GqJeawdFWb
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 11, 2018
Seeing a Chevy qualify over a Toyota is also a good sign for those fans who were worried about Toyota's dominance continuing from last year.
The remaining qualifying spots will be determined Thursday at the Can-am duels, and the Daytona 500 is only one week away.
Related: Driver joins elite company by qualifying on the pole for Daytona