What Is A Pole Sitter In Racing?

The horse starting there would be right next to the pole, per BBC, hence the name "pole sitter." The name stuck around after car racing grew in popularity during the early 1900s, when automobiles began to reach speeds of up to 80 miles per hour (per Britannica).

According to BBC, the pole sitter is the absolute best position. But the racer doesn't just get the pole-sitting spot — they have to earn it. At most professional races today, there are qualifying rounds before the official race. Whoever clocks the fastest time during a qualification race will take the pole spot.

According to How Stuff Works, there are actually two coveted pole positions, inner and outer. At some races, like the Daytona 500, the fastest racer takes the inside pole position, while the second fastest takes the outer pole spot. The other drivers are then assigned spots according to how fast they raced in qualifying events or in the last season's races, depending on the event.

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