Chevrolet SS Makes History at Daytona

Chevrolet kicked off the Daytona 500 with outstanding performances from Team Chevy race teams and the all-new Chevrolet SS race car.  Five of the six top pole positions will be racing Chevrolet SSs for the Great American Race set for Sunday, Feb. 24.

Danica Patrick made history on Sunday behind the wheel of the No. 10 GODADDY Chevrolet SS, winning the pole for the 55th running of the Daytona 500. Four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) champion Jeff Gordon powered the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS to second in the final order, giving the all-new Chevrolet SS the front row.

“We are so proud of Danica Patrick, Tony Gibson and the entire Stewart-Haas team on putting the No. 10 Chevrolet SS on the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500," said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Danica was focused and drove a great line to secure the pole. She gave tremendous credit to her entire No. 10 team for this accomplishment. She is a determined racer, a team player and we're proud to have her on Team Chevy.

“It is also great that three-time Daytona 500 champion Jeff Gordon will be on the outside front row with his No. 24 Chevrolet SS. It was a proud moment for us yesterday when Jeff drove the all new Chevrolet SS production car into the Daytona Fan Zone for its public reveal. And, today he qualified on the front row of the Daytona 500 for the fourth time in his career.

The new Chevrolet SS production car will pace the Daytona 500, leading an all-Chevrolet front row to the green flag.

Patrick's accomplishment marks the first time in the 64-year history of the NSCS that a woman will lead the field to the start of the Great American Race. Patrick’s lap of 45.817 seconds – 196.434 – proved to have staying power as the remaining of the cars made their qualifying runs.

Team Chevy drivers who captured five of the top six qualifying positions were: Ryan Newman, No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS (fourth); Tony Stewart, No. 14 Bass Pro Shops/Mobil 1 Chevrolet SS (fifth), and Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet SS (sixth), giving each excellent starting positions for Thursday's Budweiser Duel at Daytona Qualifying Races.

Other Chevrolet SS drivers in the Top 20 qualifiers were: Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet SS – 11th; Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS – 13th; Paul Menard, No. 27 Menards/Peak Chevrolet SS – 14^th ; Austin Dillon, No. 33 Honey Nut Cheerios Chevrolet SS – 16^th,  and Jeff Burton, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS – 20^th.

The first of the two ‘Budweiser Duel at Daytona Qualifying Races,’ which will determine order for the Daytona 500, is scheduled to start on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m. EST. Live coverage will be provided SPEED TV, MRN Radio and NASCAR Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 90.

The 2014 Chevrolet SS production sedan will be available in the fourth quarter of 2013, with prices set closer to the on-sale date.  When it arrives in showrooms, the SS will join the Corvette and Camaro, whose combined sales have made Chevrolet America’s favorite performance brand for the last two years.

Courtesy of media.gm.com