Long Pond, PA (Best E Casino) - Dale Earnhardt Jr. waited out a short 45- minute rain delay then went out and captured the pole for Sunday's Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway. Going out as the first qualifier after the track was dried, the No.8 Budweiser Chevrolet driver circled the 2.5-mile, tri-oval in 52.949 seconds (169.975 m.p.h.).
The pole victory was Junior's first of the season and seventh of his Nextel Cup career. His last pole win was in 2002 at Kansas.
"The rain cooled the track down and the track dried fast so they didn't have to run the blowers too much," said Earnhardt Jr. "We kind of stole one today. We had a pretty good car, we were going to be about 10th or so, maybe 15th, so we have to credit the weather and Mother Nature for this one."
Starting alongside Earnhardt Jr. will be Kurt Busch, who posted a time of 52.984 seconds.
"Each corner the car felt comfortable," said Busch. "I drove it in really hard into each of the corners and I was able to get back in the gas soon. That comes from a good setup in the car. The crew did an awesome job."
Kyle Busch (53.009) and Ryan Newman (53.023) will make up row two.
Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Kasey Kahne (fifth), Denny Hamlin (sixth), Jimmie Johnson (seventh), Jeff Gordon (11th), Kevin Harvick (23rd) and Tony Stewart (24th).
Stewart has won the last two events - at Chicagoland and Indianapolis.
With just six races before the beginning of the "Chase for the Nextel Cup," we are getting a better view as to the makeup of the 12 drivers who will compete for the title.
The top nine in the standings, headed by four-time Nextel Cup champion Gordon, appear to be solidly in and can prepare for the "playoffs." The group also includes Hamlin, 2003 Nextel Cup champion Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton, two-time series champion Stewart, Carl Edwards, Daytona 500 winner Harvick, lame duck Hendrick Motorsports driver Kyle Busch and 2006 series champion Johnson.
Johnson is the lowest ranked of the group, but still holds a 265-point lead over the 13th-place driver Kurt Busch. Barring a complete collapse he is in the "Chase." He will also get his crew chief, Chad Knaus, back from suspension shortly which should boost his performances.
The final three spots should be a fun battle to watch over the next month and a half. Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr. and Earnhardt Jr. currently own positions 10 through 12, but Kurt Busch, Newman, Jamie McMurray and Greg Biffle are still within striking distance. Even "rookie" Juan Pablo Montoya still has an outside chance to make it into the "Chase."
The race is scheduled to drop the green flag on Sunday at 2 p.m. (et).
