Truex and Martin lock up front row for Daytona 500

Daytona 500 pole sitter Martin Truex Jr. (right) and outside pole sitter Mark Martin celebrate their front row starting positions.

Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR

The newly-formed Earnhardt Ganassi Racing made quite an impression in the team's debut as Martin Truex, Jr. and Mark Martin locked up front row starting spots for next Sunday's 51st running of the Daytona 500 in Sunday's qualifying session at Daytona International Speedway.

Chevrolet drivers dominated, taking 8 of the 10 fastest qualifying positions. The first 4 are Chevy drivers.

Woe to the poor drivers in Dodges as most are mired in the back.

Truex earned the pole by turning a lap at 188.001 mph in a Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. The team is a merged effort of Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing, organizations that joined together in late November when sponsorship difficulties threatened their race teams.

"That was exciting for all of us," Truex said after the last of 56 cars made their qualifying attempt.

"This is the first time we've come down here and felt like we had a shot at the pole here. It's a big deal, the Daytona 500, starting on the pole. We've got a lot of hard work in front of us this week still, but I'm excited for all the guys. It's a great way to start out the season."

It's only the second pole of Truex's career.

Martin, meanwhile, turned a lap at 187.817 in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. The 50-year-old veteran is returning to full-time racing this season after running a partial schedule the past two years.

“Everybody on this race team is so charged up," Martin said. “It’s just so fun to go to work every day and I’m glad it’s just about ready to start."

Bill Elliott in the Wood Brothers No. 21 Ford was the fastest of the non Top 35 qualifiers with a lap of 187.739 mph.

“I think it says it on the board," Elliott said after the run. "We’re the fastest of the Fords and that was a very impressive run as far as we’re concerned. It’s kind of a double-edged sword being that we didn’t get the pole, but there again, we’re out of the top 35 in points and we needed a good, solid run, so that’s kind of where we need to be."

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