DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The starting grid is set for Sunday's Daytona 500.
And it will feature two Hendrick Motorsports teammates in the first two rows.
Chase Elliott will lead the way from the pole position, and thanks to a win in the first Duel Thursday evening, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start right behind him in third.
"This is a special, special race car," Earnhardt said. "We are going to give it all we’ve got on Sunday.”
Elliott said the Duels were key for him, as he was able to take away "a lot of things learned."
Kasey Kahne will roll off the grid 13th, and Jimmie Johnson was awarded a 26th-place starting position, though the No. 48 team will move to the rear of the field after going to a backup car.
“The guys were real confident about our backup selection, so I feel good about it," Johnson said.
With the green flag just two days away, excitement is high throughout the organization for the Great American Race.
“Everybody at Hendrick Motorsports does a great job of working together," No. 88 team crew chief Greg Ives said. "Everybody at the engine shop and chassis shop -- the 5, 24, 48 and 88 (teams) are working great together. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone at Hendrick Motorsports to give me this opportunity to bring such a fast race car.
"You can tell by Dale’s enthusiasm that he’s happy, too.”
Sunday's race is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on FOX and on the radio via MRN and SiriusXM.