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Written by:
Tom Jensen
04/04/2008 - 06:48 PM
Fort Worth, Tex.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) ยป More Photos
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s first season with Hendrick Motorsports continues to pay huge dividends, both on the track for the team and in terms of Earnhardt’s peace of mind.
Earnhardt claimed the poll for Sunday’s Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, turning a lap of 190.907 miles per hour around the 1.5-mile oval.
It was Earnhardt’s eighth career NASCAR Sprint Cup pole and the first since he joined the team, a move the driver continues to enjoy more with each passing race. “I knew that Rick (team owner Hendrick) and his employees had an awesome organization, but they do surprise you with the things they do and the things they’re capable of doing. They’re always working on stuff and always working to improve.”
So far this season, Earnhardt’s performance has eclipsed his teammates Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears, something Earnhardt said he did not expect. “I’m surprised that we were able to do as good as we did when we raced against them,” said Earnhardt, who won both his first NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at TMS. “But it sure is fun to be part of it, you know what I mean?”
Qualifying second behind Earnhardt was the Roush Fenway Racing Ford of Carl Edwards, who lapped the track at 189.487 mph. With two victories on high-speed ovals already this season, Edwards will be one of the favorites on Sunday.
Starting Sunday’s race on Row 2 will be the Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry of Kyle Busch, 189.069 mph and Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman, 189.043 mph in a Penske Racing Dodge. Completing the top five was Jimmie Johnson, who ran 188.772 mph in a second Hendrick Chevy.
The second five consisted of David Reutimann, David Ragan, Matt Kenseth, Mike Skinner and Kasey Kahne. The three drivers who failed to qualify were Burney Lamar, Chad McCumbee and Dario Franchitti.
Qualifying was delayed for 72 minutes, while track workers repaired the SAFER barrier in Turn 1, where Michael McDowell had a vicious head-on crash that he was fortunate to walk away from.
CUP: McDowell Walks Away from Hellish Crash
SAMSUNG 500 QUALIFYING RESULTS
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