While 21-year old Hendrick Motorsports driver William Byron is justifiably optimistic for his second Daytona 500 start, having earned the celebrated pole position in his No. 24 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, it’s actually been 19 years since a pole winner won the race. Dale Jarrett won the pole and the Daytona 500 in 2000.
In fact, starting first has not been a promising indicator, in recent times, of where a driver would finish. The last top-five finish in the race for a pole-winner was Bill Elliott back in 2001 when he finished fifth. (NASCAR PR)