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Earnhardt Captures First Daytona 500 Pole

Daytona Beach, Fl

Daytona 500 Qualifying Results
Daytona 500 Qualifying Rules

Dale Earnhardt has accomplished one of the few things at Daytona that he had not done previously. Under perfect conditions for qualifying, Earnhardt earned the pole for Sunday's 38th Annual Daytona 500. In the last 17 years, Earnhardt leads all drivers with combined victories at Daytona. Adding up his victories at Daytona id pretty impressive:

• Busch Clash (5), 1980, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995
• IROC (3), most recently in 1995
• Twin-125 Qualifiers (8), including six straight (1990-1995)
• Goody's 300 (7), including 5 straight (1990-1994)

Now that he can add a pole to his record - only the Daytona 500 remains to be conquered. He will get his next chance on Sunday, February 18.

Earnhardt's speed of 189.510 is down from Dale Jarrett's 1995 speed of 193.498 due to the modifications that NASCAR' made to the restrictor plate that will be used this year at Daytona and Talladega.

Earnhardt commented, "I have to hand it to Richard Childress, David Smith and Bobby Hutchens and the guys. We worked real hard during the winter at the tests and that's where it was at -- the hard work they put up. Mike Skinner came with us to Daytona and helped test. He ran one car and I ran the other one. A lot of input went into this and hopefully it'll stand up. It's cooling off a little bit and we're worried about Ernie."

As significant as Earnhardt's news is, the qualifying effort by Ernie Irvan, driver of the Texaco Havoline Thunderbird is equally impressive. Irvan's life was in critical condition following a serious crash during practice at Michigan last June. Irvan's comeback has been short of miracle and his on track performance is proving it.

Irvan edge out Robert Yates Yates's teammate Dale Jarrett by .036 mph to gain the all important front row position. Only Earnhardt's and Irvan's positions are locked on based on the unique qualifying procedures for the Daytona 500. The balance of the field for the 500 will be determined by the Gatorade Twin-125 mile qualifiers to be run on Thursday.

"We worked awful hard. We didn't do it at Daytona; we did it all at Talladega. But the 28 car did what it always does here at Daytona -- it's right there on the front row", Irvan said.

It's interesting to note that last year the front row was also made up of a Robert Yates driver, Dale Jarrett and Richard Childress driver, Earnhardt, but in reverse order.

1995 Daytona 500 Recap