CONCORD, N.C. – Thursday evening at Charlotte Motor Speedway, William Byron captured the pole position for Sunday’s 600-mile race.
He becomes the youngest driver ever to sit on the pole for the 600.
“That’s awesome,” Byron said. “Obviously, I grew up in Charlotte, so I came to this race every year. It’s a dream come true to qualify on the pole. Thanks to Hendrick Motorsports just across the street over there, all the hard work there and everybody at Chevrolet for giving us fast race cars.”
It marked Byron’s second pole of the season, joining his Daytona 500 pole from the start of the year.
Hendrick Motorsports now owns five poles in 2019, which leads the NASCAR Cup Series. It's the first time since 2007 that Hendrick Motorsports drivers have captured five poles in the first 13 races of the season.
The organization has now amassed 220 poles all-time, and its 12 poles for the 600-mile race at Charlotte are the most of all teams.
“This is pretty cool,” Byron said. “Can’t think of a better way to start the weekend.”
Chase Elliott was the next highest qualifier of the Hendrick Motorsports teammates, earning a 12th-place starting position. Alex Bowman was next in 13th followed by Jimmie Johnson, who qualified 15th.
Sunday’s race is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on FOX.