Story By: JORDAN WOOD / WOOD BROTHERS RACING – DAYTONA BEACH, FL – Harrison Burton and the No. 21 Motorcraft/DEX Imaging team turned in a top-10 performance in Wednesday night’s pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 and are set to start fifth in the second Bluegreen Vacations Duel on Thursday night.
Burton was 10th fastest in the opening round of qualifying on Wednesday with a lap around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway at 180.350 miles per hour.
That advanced him to the second qualifying round where his Motorcraft/DEX Imaging Mustang Dark Horse was 10th fastest again with a lap at 180.328 mph.
“That’s a decent start for us,” Burton told reporters at the track. “It’s exciting to be in the hunt and make the top 10.”
Burton said the Mustang Dark Horses are fast so far at Daytona. (Joey Logano and Michael McDowell swept the front row and Austin Cindric joined Burton among the top-10 qualifiers.)
“I’m excited to get out and see how [the Mustang Dark Horse] drives in the race,” Burton said. “It’s going to be interesting to see who gave up what for handling versus speed.
“I don’t think we gave up too much, so I’m excited to race and excited to carry that speed into the race as well…
“I’m proud of our guys. They brought me a fast race car, and I’m ready to go drive it well.”
Only the top two qualifiers earned starting spots on Wednesday. The rest of the Daytona 500 line-up will be determined during the two 150-mile Duel races on Thursday.
The first 60-lap Duel is set to get the green flag at 7 p.m., with the second race rolling off at approximately 8:45 p.m.
Two practice sessions are scheduled, the first on Friday at 5:35 p.m. and the second on Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
The green flag for Sunday’s 200-lap Daytona 500 is set to fly just after 2:30 p.m., with Stage breaks planned for Laps 65 and 130.
FOX Sports 1 will televise the Duels and practices, with the coverage switching to FOX for the 500.