Jimmie Johnson, looking for his first win this year, will start on the pole at Dover Speedway after NASCAR officials cancelled qualifying due to rain. And AJ Allmendinger looking for his first career Sprint Cup win will start alongside.
"It's not the first lap, it's that 400th lap that you want," Johnson said. "You've just got to get the race started, and I think we're both in position with fast cars. The long run is really the key here, especially during the middle part of the race.”
The was first time NASCAR’s new policy of setting the starting grid; based on fastest practice speeds - rather than points standings - was used.
"I don’t understand how it matters to Jimmie, the system is the same for you. You are either fastest, or they used to do it on points so you would always start on pole,” Allmendinger said. Then he added “starting second I am happy with. I feel like the Best Buy Ford is really good in race trim. Hopefully Jimmie and I will duel it out again."
Two weeks ago Johnson and Allmendinger raced each other at Darlington.
Jimmie Johnson, the five-time and defending Cup champion, had nothing but praise for AJ "I think he’s done a great job. I’ve watched him through his open-wheel days and thought that he brought a ton of excitement to open-wheel and the dominance he had there. In watching him before I ever met him, I’d tune in to watch him run a race in open-wheel. I commend him for coming to Cup and taking to it as he has. Over the years, he’s been probably the better car out of that organization and runs up front."
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will start third alongside Kasey Kahne in fourth at the concrete-paved track also known as the Monster Mile.
Scott Riggs failed to make the starting grid based on his practice times.
"It's not the first lap, it's that 400th lap that you want," Johnson said. "You've just got to get the race started, and I think we're both in position with fast cars. The long run is really the key here, especially during the middle part of the race.”
The was first time NASCAR’s new policy of setting the starting grid; based on fastest practice speeds - rather than points standings - was used.
"I don’t understand how it matters to Jimmie, the system is the same for you. You are either fastest, or they used to do it on points so you would always start on pole,” Allmendinger said. Then he added “starting second I am happy with. I feel like the Best Buy Ford is really good in race trim. Hopefully Jimmie and I will duel it out again."
Two weeks ago Johnson and Allmendinger raced each other at Darlington.
Jimmie Johnson, the five-time and defending Cup champion, had nothing but praise for AJ "I think he’s done a great job. I’ve watched him through his open-wheel days and thought that he brought a ton of excitement to open-wheel and the dominance he had there. In watching him before I ever met him, I’d tune in to watch him run a race in open-wheel. I commend him for coming to Cup and taking to it as he has. Over the years, he’s been probably the better car out of that organization and runs up front."
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will start third alongside Kasey Kahne in fourth at the concrete-paved track also known as the Monster Mile.
Scott Riggs failed to make the starting grid based on his practice times.