DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Chase Elliott will become the youngest driver to start on the pole for the Daytona 500 in his first race in the No. 24 car.
Jeff Gordon, the car's former driver and now a Fox Sports analyst, spoke to Elliott from the television booth shortly after Elliott's monster lap of 196.314 mph, which bested Joe Gibbs Racing's Matt Kenseth (196.036 mph).
"This is a very, very cool day," Elliott said. "I don't know that this opportunity has sunk in yet, much less sitting on the pole for the Daytona 500."
Elliott's Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a favorite for the pole but qualified third. His starting spot is not guaranteed, as his finishing position in Thursday night's Duel races will determine the lineup.
Elliott is 20 years, 2 months and 17 days old. He bested the mark set by Austin Dillon in 2014, who won the pole in the return of the iconic No. 3 made famous by Dale Earnhardt Sr. at the age of 23 years, nine months and 27 days.
Elliott also joins his father Bill, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, as the fourth father-son duo to start from the front. The others are: Richard and Kyle Petty; Bobby and Davey Allison; and Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Kyle Busch was fourth-fastest, followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Jimmie Johnson and rookie Ryan Blaney.
Austin Dillon, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin rounded out the 10 fastest cars.
Blaney, one of eight non-charter teams vying for four open Daytona 500 spots, locked himself into the 40-car field along with BK Racing's Matt DiBenedetto.
Martin Truex Jr. was not allowed to make a qualifying lap after NASCAR found a problem with his No. 78 car's roof flap. He will start Thursday's Duel race from the rear of the field.
PHOTOS: History of the Daytona 500
