Biffle on the Daytona 500 pole

Greg Biffle on the pole for Daytona 500.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., - Seven months later, Greg Biffle is still out front. Biffle, who posted a fast lap of 188.387 mph, 47.774 seconds around Daytona International Speedway, captured the Budweiser Pole for one of the world's most prestigious events, the Daytona 500. It's a position that he's getting familiar with, having won the Pepsi 400 here last July.

"The more you talk about leading the field to green for the Daytona 500, it's kind of coming to be real," said Biffle. "This pole means a lot. Winning this pole here is more prestigious than anywhere else throughout the season."

The second and final driver to lock in his starting position for the 46th Daytona 500 is Elliott Sadler, lapping the 2.45-mile tri-oval in 47.782 seconds, 188.355 mph, in the No. 38 M&M's Ford.

"I think everybody wants to get the pole, but I am ecstatic with my team," said Sadler. "To get a position locked in already for Sunday's 500, it just seems like a load is already off my shoulders."

Biffle will also start on the pole for the first Gatorade 125 qualifying race on Thursday. Sadler will start on the pole for the second 125-mile qualifying race.

Drivers qualified in odd-number positions for the Daytona 500 will duel in the first race, while drivers that qualified in even-number positions duke it out in the second race. The top-14 finishers will line up behind Biffle, while the top-14 finishers in the second 125-mile qualifying race will line up behind Sadler.

The remaining starting positions will be set based on qualifying speed and provisionals.

Tickets for Speedweeks 2004 and the 46th annual Daytona 500 are available online or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

-DIS-