Dale Earnhardt Jr. turned in the fastest lap at 48.364 seconds (186.089 mph), to claim the pole for next weekend’s Daytona 500. Jeff Gordon is second and each will lead the pack in the two dual races on Thursday at the restrictor-plate superspeedway as the rest of the qualifying field is set.
2010 Daytona 500 winner Jamie McMurray did not qualify well and will start 12th in the 2nd Dual. Columbia native Carl Edwards will also race in the second, starting in 7th in the 125 mile race, or 50 laps.
