Biffle loses Daytona pole

Under procedure, Biffle will yield the number one position before the green flag Sunday and drop towards the back of the pack. That will move the inside row up, with number three starter Dale Earnhardt Jr taking over the pole at the start. Elliott Sadler will remain in his outside-front row slot.

"We had a weak cylinder," said his crew chief Doug Richert. "It had too much valve lash in it, so we decided to change it. It'll run from the rear. It's no big deal."

Biffle will start from the 39th position as three other drivers have also changed engines and will start behind him: Ryan Newman, Ricky Craven and Derrike Cope. Scott Riggs will start from the back of the pack, due to wrecking his primary car in the Gatorade Twin 125 race one, forcing him to start in the back-up car.

Starting spots are less important at tracks where restrictor plates are used than elsewhere, as the draft and correct pit strategy early in the race will dictate who gets to the front for the crucial dash to the flag. Yet, the 500 has seldom been won from outside the top-20, with only five winners starting 21st or lower.

In the final 'Happy Hour' practice session, Dave Blaney was the surprise pacesetter in his Bill Davis-run Dodge. His team-mate Scott Wimmer, Jeremy Mayfield, Jimmie Johnson and Ricky Rudd complete the top five fastest times.