DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the first of two Thursday night qualifying races to set up a 1-2-3 start for Hendrick Motorsports in the Daytona 500.
Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson swept the front row Sunday in the first round of qualifying. Then Earnhardt, the defending Daytona 500 winner, won the first 150-mile Budweiser Duel to take the third starting spot in Sunday’s season-opening race.
“We’ve had a great car all week,” Earnhardt said. “I’m so glad to get through the duel in one piece because I know how good this car is. We’re going to have a fun day on Sunday.”
Gordon, the four-time NASCAR champion, finished second in the duel and was followed by Joey Logano, Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer.
Bowyer had wrecked during the first round of qualifying and had to race his way in to the Daytona 500.