NASCAR veteran Mark Martin has scored his 50th career pole position during qualifying for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona.
Martin (Chevrolet) will share the front row with Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne (Ford).
Martin is only the eighth driver to reach the 50-pole mark.
“It’s awesome – kudos to everyone at Hendrick Motorsports,” said Martin.
“We had a good run at Talladega and can’t wait to running tomorrow night.”
After setting the fastest time in Friday practice, Australia’s Marcos Ambrose qualified 15th.
Importantly for the Tasmanian, who will make his 100th Sprint Cup start, his race pace should be good after he worked together with Richard Petty Motorsports teammate A.J. Allmendinger during the practice in the two-car draft. Allmendinger was second fastest in practice and will start the race ninth.
Like Talladega, working in two-car drafts at Daytona in crucial to running towards the front on the carburettor restrictor plate track.
“We’re lined up pretty close and just about as good as anyone can,” said Ambrose of his draft with Allmendinger.
“We’re actually even in the same lane, so I feel good about it. He’ll just drop back to me and we’ll get after it.”
The race gets underway Sunday morning Australian time from 9am.
RESULTS: Qualifying Coke Zero 400 – Daytona
| Pos | Driver | Speed MPH | Time |
| 1 | Mark Martin | 182.065 | 49.43 |
| 2 | Trevor Bayne | 182.002 | 49.45 |
| 3 | Clint Bowyer | 181.624 | 49.55 |
| 4 | Jeff Gordon | 181.583 | 49.56 |
| 5 | David Ragan | 181.320 | 49.64 |
| 6 | Dale Earnhardt Jr. | 181.240 | 49.66 |
| 7 | Andy Lally | 181.039 | 49.71 |
| 8 | Jimmie Johnson | 180.995 | 49.72 |
| 9 | A.J. Allmendinger | 180.948 | 49.74 |
| 10 | Paul Menard | 180.934 | 49.74 |
| 11 | Ryan Newman | 180.894 | 49.75 |
| 12 | Jeff Burton | 180.781 | 49.78 |
| 13 | Kasey Kahne | 180.752 | 49.79 |
| 14 | Carl Edwards | 180.748 | 49.79 |
| 15 | Marcos Ambrose | 180.745 | 49.79 |
| 16 | Matt Kenseth | 180.661 | 49.82 |
| 17 | Greg Biffle | 180.581 | 49.84 |
| 18 | Jamie McMurray | 180.571 | 49.84 |
| 19 | Tony Stewart | 180.549 | 49.85 |
| 20 | Brian Vickers | 180.469 | 49.87 |
| 21 | Landon Cassill | 180.343 | 49.90 |
| 22 | Kevin Conway | 180.310 | 49.91 |
| 23 | David Reutimann | 180.296 | 49.92 |
| 24 | Bobby Labonte | 180.242 | 49.93 |
| 25 | Kurt Busch | 180.173 | 49.95 |
| 26 | Brad Keselowski | 180.040 | 49.99 |
| 27 | Travis Kvapil | 179.856 | 50.04 |
| 28 | Regan Smith | 179.853 | 50.04 |
| 29 | Mike Skinner | 179.784 | 50.06 |
| 30 | Juan Pablo Montoya | 179.734 | 50.07 |
| 31 | Kevin Harvick | 179.651 | 50.10 |
| 32 | Casey Mears | 179.616 | 50.11 |
| 33 | Michael McDowell | 179.605 | 50.11 |
| 34 | Martin Truex Jr. | 179.433 | 50.16 |
| 35 | Geoffrey Bodine | 179.261 | 50.21 |
| 36 | Denny Hamlin | 179.229 | 50.22 |
| 37 | Joey Logano | 179.083 | 50.26 |
| 38 | Kyle Busch | 178.855 | 50.32 |
| 39 | David Gilliland | 178.646 | 50.38 |
| 40 | Dave Blaney | 178.618 | 50.39 |
| 41 | Terry Labonte | 178.586 | 50.40 |
| 42 | Mike Bliss | 177.904 | 50.59 |
| 43 | Joe Nemechek | 179.087 | 50.26 |
| 44 | Tony Raines | 178.363 | 50.46 |
| 45 | J.J. Yeley | 175.750 | 51.21 |
For more of the latest NASCAR news and analysis, visit Speedcafe US
