Elliott, Yarborough Are Pole-Sitters for Qualifying Races at Daytona Today

Bill Elliott and Cale Yarborough occupy the pole positions today at Daytona International Speedway in the two 125-mile qualifying races designed to assign 38 more positions for Sunday’s $1.2-million Daytona 500-mile race.

Elliott established the speed record for a NASCAR lap when he registered a 205.114 m.p.h. last Saturday. Yarborough, seeking a third straight Daytona 500 win, also broke his track record with a speed of 203.814.

Elliott will be on the pole for the first race. Starting beside him will be Neil Bonnett. Others in the first qualifying race include Dick Brooks, defending Winston Cup champion Terry Labonte, Benny Parsons, Joe Ruttman, Geoff Bodine, Tim Richmond, Ricky Rudd, Ron Bouchard, Darrell Waltrip and Buddy Baker.

A.J. Foyt, the 1972 Daytona 500 winner and only an occasional performer on the Grand National circuit in recent years, will start next to Yarborough in the second qualifier.

Also in the second race are David Pearson, Phil Parsons, Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty and his son, Kyle, Lake Speed, Rusty Wallace, Harry Gant, Tom Sneva and Bobby Allison.