Junior Wins Pole for Atlanta Race

Published March 6, 2010 at 9:23 a.m.

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) Dale Earnhardt Jr. captured the pole for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a blistering speed of 192.761 mph.

Earnhardt's lap on a cool Friday night was faster than any pole-winning speed for a Sprint Cup race in 2009. Mark Martin was the pole-sitter last year in the spring race with a speed of 187.045.

Martin went much faster this time (191.814) but it was only good enough for fourth. Kyle Busch will start from the outside of the front row Sunday, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya. Jeff Gordon was fifth, giving Hendrick Motorsports three of the top five spots.

The fourth Hendrick driver, Jimmie Johnson, managed only the 16th-best speed on the 1.54-mile trioval.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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