Logano lands Daytona pole after qualifying gets canceled

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Joey Logano will start Saturday night’s NASCAR Cup Series race on the pole after qualifying was canceled at Daytona International Speedway.

The session was called Friday after lightning was detected near the 2½-mile track, shutting down car inspections and other track activities. Even though the inclement weather passed, the delay was long enough that there wasn’t enough time to squeeze in Cup qualifying before second-tier Xfinity Series events.

Logano leads the Cup series in owner points, so the Team Penske driver was awarded the top starting spot. Only one driver since 2010 — Dale Earnhardt Jr. in July 2015 — has won a Cup Series race at Daytona from the pole.

Kyle Busch of Joe Gibbs Racing will start alongside Logano on the front row. Team Penske’s Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick of Stewart-Haas Racing will start right behind them.

William Byron would have started 12th based on points, but his team switched to a backup car following a practice incident with Keselowski on Thursday and will have to drop to the rear of the field before the green flag.