DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Due to inclement weather, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series officials cancelled today’s Sprint Cup qualifying at Daytona International Speedway. The field for Sunday’s race has been determined by the driver’s lap times in yesterday’s first practice session with the fastest lap time starting from the pole position.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 Nationwide Stars and Stripes Chevrolet SS claimed the top lap time with a lap speed of 202.284 mph and will lead his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, along with the rest of the field, to the green flag on Sunday.
" I asked [crew chief] Greg [Ives] before we went out to practice what we were trying to accomplish in that first practice and that [a fast lap] was the first thing he mentioned-- to try and go out that first run and put a lap down because the weather wasn't looking real good for today," Earnhardt said. "That was his decision and it ended up working out for us."
Teammate Kasey Kahne, piloting the No. 5 Great Clips/Shark Week Chevrolet SS, will round off the top 10 in 10th place.
Jimmie Johnson, competing in the No. 48 Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet SS, and Jeff Gordon, driving the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS, roll off the grid 12th and 24th, respectively.
Tune in to NBC at 7:45 p.m. ET to catch the green flag wave this holiday weekend.