Mark Martin apparently didn’t get the memo about NASCAR’s youth initiative—or didn’t care.
With a lap at 182.065 mph (49.433 seconds), Martin, at 52 the fourth-oldest driver in the field, knocked the youngest, 20-year-old Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne, off the pole for Saturday’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
Bayne (182.002 mph) will start the race on the outside of the front row, followed by Clint Bowyer (181.624 mph) and resurgent Jeff Gordon (181.583 mph), who has more wins at restrictor-plate tracks (12) than any other active driver.
The pole was Martin’s first of the season and the 50th of his career, eighth most all-time. NASCAR.com
The 50th pole position of Martin’s career also is the third this season for Hendrick, and each has been at a restrictor-plate race. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the pole for the Daytona 500, and Jeff Gordon was first in qualifying at Talladega Superspeedway in April.
“This is really special, because I know how much work goes into the four restrictor-plate races,” said Martin, whose last pole was at the 2010 Daytona 500. ‘It’s amazing they’ve managed to sweep the poles. It’s been an engineering feat by the engine, chassis and aero departments. It’s really pretty cool to be part of that team. I was just the lucky guy who got to strap into it today.”
David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt, Andy Lally, Johnson, A.J. Allmendinger and Paul Menard rounding out the top 10.
With two-car tandems expected to be prevalent again Saturday night, Hendrick is well positioned to put its Chevrolets together in the same arrangement as at Daytona and Talladega (where Earnhardt pushed Johnson to the victory. Gordon will start a row behind Martin, and Earnhardt will start directly ahead of Johnson. USA Today
Bayne’s second starting position marked his best in his early Sprint Cup career. He is running a limited series schedule for Wood Brothers Racing this year.
“It stinks to be that close to a pole and not get it,” Bayne said. “I’m just really proud of the guys [No.21 team] for building another car, because the other one [Daytona 500-winning car] is sitting in the Daytona museum. They built me another one that’s just as good. We’re happy to show how fast it is. Hopefully, it will be that way in the race.”
“It was a great run for Mark and a really good run for us,” Gordon said. “I can’t wait to get on track tomorrow night and get hooked up with Mark. It’s an exciting race for a very exciting Fourth of July weekend. There will be plenty of fireworks at Daytona.” MiamiHerald.com
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NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Coke Zero 400 at Daytona - Race Line-Up
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