Elliott on the Daytona 500 pole again, alongside Earnhardt

February 26, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. | Updated February 26, 2017 at 10:20 a.m.

by Associated Press

Chase Elliott waits in his car during practice for Sunday's NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Chase Elliott waits in his car during practice for Sunday's NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - It's Daytona Day!

The 59th running of the Daytona 500 begins Sunday afternoon, with Chase Elliott on the pole for the second consecutive year. Although Elliott had the fastest car in qualifying, Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. is getting most of the attention. Earnhardt is returning from his fifth documented concussion, the latest costing him half of last season.

Earnhardt will start alongside Elliott on the front row of "The Great American Race."

Elliott won one of two qualifying races Thursday. Joe Gibbs Racing's Denny Hamlin, the defending Daytona 500 winner, won the other.

Others to watch in the season opener - NASCAR's most prestigious race - include Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano. The Team Penske teammates won three of four restrictor-plate races last season.

___

More AP auto racing: www.racing.ap.org

Upcoming Events