Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins pole in possible final Cup start at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The weekend focus on Dale Earnhardt Jr. got more intense — if that’s possible — Friday when the retiring driver won the pole for Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

Earnhardt, 42, has been in the center of things here this week as he prepares for what could be his final Cup race at Daytona, a track that has been a keystone in his driving career.

Earnhardt is retiring as a full-time driver at the end of this season, although he hasn’t ruled out competing in select races in future seasons.

He has not won this season, so a victory Saturday would be a landmark for the year and would push him toward the playoffs.

MORE NASCAR:

Daytona International Speedway gave Dale Earnhardt Jr. a painting fans will love

Martin Truex Jr. reels in NASCAR stage wins, but fish get away

Kurt Busch emphasizes playoff points from NASCAR stage wins as key to making title race

Richard Petty turns 80, still in NASCAR's fast lane

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s most compelling moments at Daytona

“It’s a great opportunity,” Earnhardt said. “I try to look at it as a good opportunity to go out there and get a win. I know what I need to do on the racetrack. I try to go out there and do that and do the best I can. Hopefully, that has me in position late in the race.”

Earnhardt turned in a top lap of 190.973 miles per hour. Following in the top five were Hendricck Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski, Kasey Kahne and Kevin Harvick.

Earnhardt said the team made a couple of changes after practice that improved his car.

“You can’t have your hands tied by the car being real tight,” he said. “You can’t create things or make things happen. The car, handling-wise, needs to be perfect to win the race.”

PHOTOS: DALE EARNHARDT JR. THROUGH THE YEARS

COKE ZERO 400 LINEUP

Friday's qualifying results from the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway (car number in parentheses):

1. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 190.973 mph.

2. (24) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 190.795.

3. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 190.287.

4. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 190.050.

5. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 190.046.

6. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 190.006.

7. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 189.921.

8. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 189.849.

9. (21) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 189.785.

10. (10) Danica Patrick, Ford, 189.633.

11. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 189.530.

12. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 189.450.

13. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 189.302.

14. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 189.223.

15. (41) Kurt Busch, Ford, 189.199.

16. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 189.060.

17. (77) Erik Jones, Toyota, 188.980.

18. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 188.885.

19. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 188.842.

20. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 188.561.

21. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 188.513.

22. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 188.458.

23. (95) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 188.419.

24. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 188.273.

25. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 188.225.

26. (34) Landon Cassill, Ford, 188.218.

27. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 187.758.

28. (32) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 187.668.

29. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 187.621.

30. (38) David Ragan, Ford, 187.340.

31. (43) Darrell Wallace Jr., Ford, 186.935.

32. (75) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, 186.726.

33. (7) Elliott Sadler, Chevrolet, 186.718.

34. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 186.158.

35. (72) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 185.628.

36. (23) Corey LaJoie, Toyota, 185.456.

37. (55) Reed Sorenson, Toyota, 184.627.

38. (83) Ryan Sieg, Toyota, 183.438.

39. (33) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 181.496.

40. (15) DJ Kennington, Toyota, 0.000.