In Sunday's qualifying session at Daytona International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. edged Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon for the top starting spot in next Sunday's season-opening Daytona 500.
Turning a lap in 48.364 seconds (at the average speed of 186.089 mph), Earnhardt claimed the 10th Coors Light pole award of his career and his first at a restrictor-plate superspeedway. Earnhardt will try to win NASCAR's most prestigious race for the second time in the 400th start of his Cup career.
The rest of the field for the 53rd running of the Great American Race won't be set until the Duels are completed Thursday.
Gaining a slight edge through Turn 1, Earnhardt narrowly beat Gordon (48.396 seconds, 185.966 mph) for the top spot on the grid. It was the third Daytona 500 front-row sweep for Hendrick Motorsports.
Rookie Trevor Bayne (185.445) was third fastest in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, followed by Richard Childress Racing teammates Paul Menard (185.422), Clint Bowyer (185.223) and Jeff Burton (185.071).
Turning a lap in 48.364 seconds (at the average speed of 186.089 mph), Earnhardt claimed the 10th Coors Light pole award of his career and his first at a restrictor-plate superspeedway. Earnhardt will try to win NASCAR's most prestigious race for the second time in the 400th start of his Cup career.
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| Photo: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR |
The rest of the field for the 53rd running of the Great American Race won't be set until the Duels are completed Thursday.
Gaining a slight edge through Turn 1, Earnhardt narrowly beat Gordon (48.396 seconds, 185.966 mph) for the top spot on the grid. It was the third Daytona 500 front-row sweep for Hendrick Motorsports.
Rookie Trevor Bayne (185.445) was third fastest in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford, followed by Richard Childress Racing teammates Paul Menard (185.422), Clint Bowyer (185.223) and Jeff Burton (185.071).
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