Bell Sponsored driver Carl Edwards will start the 2012 NASCAR season in the front of the field by taking the top spot in qualifying Sunday at Daytona International Speedway for the 54th running of the Daytona 500. Edwards lap of 194.738 is the fastest at Daytona since 1999. "This is a very, very speedy Fastnal (Ford) Fusion, and I appreciate (crew chief) Bob Osborne and all the work he's done," Edwards, said. (Engine builder) Doug Yates - the engines are so important in this. It's neat to come down here and to be so fast and to really have fun qualifying here. We've struggled so much in the past, and so many guys have put so much effort in this offseason."

With the pole, Edwards one his 11th Coors Light pole award of his career and is the first qualifier for the 2013 Budweiser Shootout.