On Saturday, NASCAR veterans Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr posted the two fastest qualifying times for this weekend’s Daytona 500, guaranteeing them both front row starting spots in the 43-car field.
Martin, who is the oldest driver to win the pole at Daytona, was the only competitor to turn in a lap topping 191 miles per hour. His number 5 Chevrolet will start alongside the 88 Chevy of Earnhardt Jr, who had a disastrous 2009 when he did not win a race. He finished 25th in the points race and failed to qualify for the season-ending championship playoff, according to the LA Times.
“Hopefully we can get the ball rolling,” said the 2004 Daytona 500 champion after his qualifying run.
Martin and Earnhardt Jr are the only drivers to have solidified their starting positions in Sunday’s race. Although the top 35 drivers from last season’s points race are guaranteed positions, their starting spots will not be decided until Thursday’s 150-mile qualifying races, the Mercury News reports.
The final eight spots in the field will also be handed out on Thursday.