Dale Jr. Wins Talladega Pole

Getty Images

TALLADEGA, AL - RIS - NASCAR's Most Popular driver sits on the pole at his favorite track. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the pole for Sunday's Alabama 500 in what will be his final start at Talladega Superspeedway, a track where he has won six times in his career.  Earnhardt  won his second pole of the season and first career at Talladega. He toured the 2.66-mile track with a lap of 190.544 mph to capture the top spot.

 “Really, all the credit for getting a pole at a place like this goes to the team and goes to the car and the guys that work on it, the engine, the body men; we’ve got an amazing staff back at Charlotte that builds some awesome stuff,” Earnhardt Jr. said.“I just hold the wheel straight and try not to bounce into the apron, but get as close to it as you can and make sure you run a clean lap. But there ain’t much to it as a driver. This place has meant a lot to me. It’s awesome to hear those fans happy for us and hopefully we’re going to give them a lot more to cheer about before this weekend is over.”
 
Earnhardt Jr.’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott will start outside the front row.
 
Joey Logano, Kurt Busch and spring Talladega race winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top five.
 
“We’ve always raced well, but we haven’t really qualified well here in a long time, so it’s cool to see the speed in our car,” said Logano, who is shooting for his third straight fall Talladega race win.
 
“That’s a good sign.  That’s something we’ve never really had in qualifying, so that makes me feel good about the race and maybe we can make some bold moves and do some things with some speed in the car and keep ourselves up there and win this thing.”
 
Brad Keselowski, Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney and Trevor Bayne completed the first ten qualifiers. Seven of the top ten were piloting Fords.
 
"I thought we had decent speed,” Blaney said.  “We're wide open. Drivers don't do much here. (Crew chief) Jeremy (Bullins) and everybody on the team sets its up. I thought we had a good car. We'll see what we do Sunday."  
 
Other playoff drivers in Sunday’s starting lineup include Kyle Larson (12th), Denny Hamlin (15th), Kyle Busch (16th), Jamie McMurray (17th), Matt Kenseth (19th), Martin Truex Jr. (21st) and Kevin Harvick (22nd).

Time Trial Results 49th Annual Alabama 500

Qualifying Round: 1
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Mountain Dew Chevrolet, 50.299, 190.382, 2, 2, 0.000, 0.000
2) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 50.354, 190.174, 2, 2, 0.055, 0.055
3) Chase Elliott (P), No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet, 50.356, 190.166, 2, 2, 0.057, 0.002
4) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 50.376, 190.091, 2, 2, 0.077, 0.020
5) Brad Keselowski (P), No. 2 Miller Lite Ford, 50.410, 189.962, 2, 2, 0.111, 0.034
6) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. No. 17 SunnyD Ford, 50.447, 189.823, 2, 2, 0.148, 0.037
7) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Haas Automation Ford, 50.461, 189.770, 2, 2, 0.162, 0.014
8) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 21 Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 50.486, 189.676, 2, 2, 0.187, 0.025
9) Trevor Bayne, No. 6 Liberty National Ford, 50.501, 189.620, 2, 2, 0.202, 0.015
10) Jimmie Johnson (P), No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, 50.514, 189.571, 2, 2, 0.215, 0.013
11) Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, 50.570, 189.361, 2, 2, 0.271, 0.056
12) Kyle Larson (P), No. 42 First Data Chevrolet, 50.621, 189.171, 2, 2, 0.322, 0.051
13) Danica Patrick, No. 10 Aspen Dental Ford, 50.640, 189.100, 2, 2, 0.341, 0.019
14) Daniel Suarez #, No. 19 Camping World Toyota, 50.678, 188.958, 2, 2, 0.379, 0.038
15) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota, 50.715, 188.820, 2, 2, 0.416, 0.037
16) Kyle Busch (P), No. 18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, 50.725, 188.783, 2, 2, 0.426, 0.010
17) Jamie McMurray (P), No. 1 Cessna Chevrolet, 50.725, 188.783, 2, 2, 0.426, 0.000
18) Austin Dillon, No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet, 50.746, 188.705, 2, 2, 0.447, 0.021
19) Matt Kenseth (P), No. 20 DEWALT FLEXVOLT Toyota, 50.757, 188.664, 2, 2, 0.458, 0.011
20) Paul Menard, No. 27 Knauf/Menards Chevrolet, 50.767, 188.626, 2, 2, 0.468, 0.010
21) Martin Truex Jr. (P), No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, 50.788, 188.548, 2, 2, 0.489, 0.021
22) Kevin Harvick (P), No. 4 Busch Light Outdoors Ford, 50.828, 188.400, 2, 2, 0.529, 0.040
23) Erik Jones #, No. 77 5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota, 50.863, 188.270, 2, 2, 0.564, 0.035
24) AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, 50.875, 188.226, 2, 2, 0.576, 0.012
25) Ty Dillon #, No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet, 50.877, 188.219, 2, 2, 0.578, 0.002
26) Aric Almirola, No. 43 Smithfield Ford, 50.932, 188.015, 2, 2, 0.633, 0.055
27) Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, 50.957, 187.923, 2, 2, 0.658, 0.025
28) Chris Buescher, No. 37 Bush's Chili Beans Chevrolet, 50.966, 187.890, 2, 2, 0.667, 0.009
29) Michael McDowell, No. 95 K-Love Radio Chevrolet, 51.040, 187.618, 2, 2, 0.741, 0.074
30) Landon Cassill, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops/CSX Play It Safe Ford, 51.098, 187.405, 2, 2, 0.799, 0.058
31) *Justin Marks(i), No. 7 Golden Corral/Katerra Chevrolet, 51.101, 187.394, 2, 2, 0.802, 0.003
32) Matt DiBenedetto, No. 32 Can-Am/Kappa Ford, 51.168, 187.148, 2, 2, 0.869, 0.067
33) David Ragan, No. 38 Juice Batteries Ford, 51.321, 186.590, 2, 2, 1.022, 0.153
34) Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 33 Hulu Chevrolet, 51.434, 186.180, 2, 2, 1.135, 0.113
35) *Brendan Gaughan(i), No. 75 Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet, 51.652, 185.395, 2, 2, 1.353, 0.218
36) Mark Thompson(i), No. 15 Phoenix Air Chevrolet, 51.787, 184.911, 2, 2, 1.488, 0.135
37) Joey Gase(i), No. 23 Dr Pepper Toyota, 51.928, 184.409, 2, 2, 1.629, 0.141
38) Cole Whitt, No. 72 RTIC Chevrolet, 51.935, 184.384, 2, 2, 1.636, 0.007
39) *Gray Gaulding #, No. 83 Dustless Blasting Toyota, 52.379, 182.821, 2, 2, 2.080, 0.444
40) *DJ Kennington, No. 55 Dirt and Rock Toyota, 52.484, 182.456, 2, 2, 2.185, 0.105

Qualifying Round: 2
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Mountain Dew Chevrolet, 50.256, 190.544, 2, 2, 0.000, 0.000
2) Chase Elliott (P), No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet, 50.291, 190.412, 2, 2, 0.035, 0.035
3) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 50.301, 190.374, 2, 2, 0.045, 0.010
4) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 50.329, 190.268, 2, 2, 0.073, 0.028
5) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. No. 17 SunnyD Ford, 50.355, 190.170, 2, 2, 0.099, 0.026
6) Brad Keselowski (P), No. 2 Miller Lite Ford, 50.360, 190.151, 2, 2, 0.104, 0.005
7) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Haas Automation Ford, 50.459, 189.778, 2, 2, 0.203, 0.099
8) Jimmie Johnson (P), No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, 50.460, 189.774, 2, 2, 0.204, 0.001
9) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 21 Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 50.488, 189.669, 2, 2, 0.232, 0.028
10) Trevor Bayne, No. 6 Liberty National Ford, 50.491, 189.658, 2, 2, 0.235, 0.003
11) Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, 50.501, 189.620, 2, 2, 0.245, 0.010
12) Kyle Larson (P), No. 42 First Data Chevrolet, 50.602, 189.242, 2, 2, 0.346, 0.101

Starting Line Up 49th Annual Alabama 500, Talladega Superspeedway
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Dale Earnhardt Jr., No. 88 Mountain Dew Chevrolet, 50.256, 190.544
2) Chase Elliott (P), No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet, 50.291, 190.412
3) Joey Logano, No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, 50.301, 190.374
4) Kurt Busch, No. 41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, 50.329, 190.268
5) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (P), No. 17 SunnyD Ford, 50.355, 190.170
6) Brad Keselowski (P), No. 2 Miller Lite Ford, 50.360, 190.151
7) Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Haas Automation Ford, 50.459, 189.778
8) Jimmie Johnson (P), No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, 50.460, 189.774
9) Ryan Blaney (P), No. 21 Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford, 50.488, 189.669
10) Trevor Bayne, No. 6 Liberty National Ford, 50.491, 189.658
11) Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, 50.501, 189.620
12) Kyle Larson (P), No. 42 First Data Chevrolet, 50.602, 189.242
13) Danica Patrick, No. 10 Aspen Dental Ford, 50.640, 189.100
14) Daniel Suarez #, No. 19 Camping World Toyota, 50.678, 188.958
15) Denny Hamlin (P), No. 11 FedEx Ground Toyota, 50.715, 188.820
16) Kyle Busch (P), No. 18 M&M's Caramel Toyota, 50.725, 188.783
17) Jamie McMurray (P), No. 1 Cessna Chevrolet, 50.725, 188.783
18) Austin Dillon, No. 3 American Ethanol Chevrolet, 50.746, 188.705
19) Matt Kenseth (P), No. 20 DEWALT FLEXVOLT Toyota, 50.757, 188.664
20) Paul Menard, No. 27 Knauf/Menards Chevrolet, 50.767, 188.626
21) Martin Truex Jr. (P), No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota, 50.788, 188.548
22) Kevin Harvick (P), No. 4 Busch Light Outdoors Ford, 50.828, 188.400
23) Erik Jones #, No. 77 5-hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota, 50.863, 188.270
24) AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet, 50.875, 188.226
25) Ty Dillon #, No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet, 50.877, 188.219
26) Aric Almirola, No. 43 Smithfield Ford, 50.932, 188.015
27) Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet, 50.957, 187.923
28) Chris Buescher, No. 37 Bush's Chili Beans Chevrolet, 50.966, 187.890
29) Michael McDowell, No. 95 K-Love Radio Chevrolet, 51.040, 187.618
30) Landon Cassill, No. 34 Love's Travel Stops/CSX Play It Safe Ford, 51.098, 187.405
31) Justin Marks(i), No. 7 Golden Corral/Katerra Chevrolet, 51.101, 187.394
32) Matt DiBenedetto, No. 32 Can-Am/Kappa Ford, 51.168, 187.148
33) David Ragan, No. 38 Juice Batteries Ford, 51.321, 186.590
34) Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 33 Hulu Chevrolet, 51.434, 186.180
35) Brendan Gaughan(i), No. 75 Beard Oil Distributing Chevrolet, 51.652, 185.395
36) Mark Thompson(i), No. 15 Phoenix Air Chevrolet, 51.787, 184.911
37) Joey Gase(i), No. 23 Dr Pepper Toyota, 51.928, 184.409
38) Cole Whitt, No. 72 RTIC Chevrolet, 51.935, 184.384
39) Gray Gaulding #, No. 83 Dustless Blasting Toyota, 52.379, 182.821
40) DJ Kennington, No. 55 Dirt and Rock Toyota, 52.484, 182.456
i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) Rookie, (*) non-charter tea

Ron Fleshman with John Davison

RIS NASCAR Editor.  Has been with RIS since the middle 90's. Writes on each of the three main series of NASCAR.

Read More on Cup / XFINITY / Truck news
Volume 2017, Issue 10, Posted 10:22 PM, 10.14.2017