Daytona 500 Qualifying: Why Pole Position Isn't Everything

Carl Edwards owns the pole position for Daytona 500, but as recent history shows, that doesn't mean he is a lock for a solid finish. 

While there has been nine Daytona 500 winners that began the race in the top pole position, that trend is slowly dying. It hasn't happened since Dale Jarrett did it back in 2000. 

The majority of the time, the big race sees the winner come from outside of the front row. Sure, being up front increases the chances of winning, but it doesn't ensure that the driver will be finishing near the top. 

Since 2007, only one pole sitter was able to achieve a top-10 finish. In the last four years, those who won the pole position didn't fare as well as they would have liked. 

Jimmie Johnson finished 27th in 2008, Martin Truex Jr. finished 11th in 2009, Mark Martin finished 12th in 2010 and Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 24th in 2011. 

The top two spots for the Daytona 500 are claimed by those drivers who had the highest speed in the qualifying races. 

The rest of the field is determined by the Gatorade Duel. The fact that some of the drivers competing in the Gatorade Duel don't give it their all is perfect example of why the pole position isn't everything. 

Edwards may be pumped about being out in front of everyone to start, but as the past few years have shown, the pole sitter is in for some trouble.