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Bowman, No. 88 on pole

 
Published Feb. 11, 2018

DAYTONA BEACH — Alex Bowman put a familiar car atop the Daytona 500 leaderboard on Sunday.

Bowman won the pole for "The Great American Race" in his debut as the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet, piloted until last season by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Six of Earnhardt's 17 career victories at Daytona International Speedway came in that car, including one of his Daytona 500 victories.

Earnhardt was a seven-time pole winner at Daytona, too.

With Earnhardt retired, the empty seat in the No. 88 went to Bowman, and he wasted little time making the Camaro his own. Bowman turned a lap at 195.644 mph to earn the top starting spot.

"I think it's still a little surreal," said Bowman, who will race in his second Daytona 500. "It's a dream come true just to drive for Hendrick Motorsports. I never would have thought it would happen after the path my career took."

Earnhardt tweeted congratulations to Bowman, who downplayed his role.

"I just held the steering wheel. It's Daytona," he said. "This really come down to the crew.''

Hendrick put Chevrolet on the pole for the sixth straight year.

Denny Hamlin, the 2016 winner, qualified second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing with a lap at 195.092. Only the top two cars locked in spots for next Sunday's season-opening race in this round of qualifying. The remainder of the field will be set by a pair of qualifying races Thursday.

THE CLASH: Brad Keselowski led a 1-2 Team Penske sweep in the exhibition The Clash at Daytona International Speedway. The race marks the opening of Speedweeks and is the first chance for teams to show their offseason work. "I have never won anything here during Speedweeks and I feel like I have choked them away to be quite honest," Keselowski said. "You need one to break through. Hopefully, this is our breakthrough." The 17-car field was set by a draw and Keselowski started last. He had 75 laps to get to the front, which was easy enough for the three-car Penske contingent. Keselowski had the race in control, and Kyle Larson made contact with Jimmie Johnson on the final lap to trigger an accident that allowed Keselowski an easier route to victory lane.

BRITTANY FORCE OKAY AFTER CRASH: Brittany Force escaped serious injury in a wall-banging crash in the season-opening NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, Calif. John Force Racing said the Top Fuel driver, the daughter of Funny Car great John Force, sustained no major internal injuries and was hospitalized overnight as a precaution. Matt Hagan beat defending season champ Robert Hight in the Funny Car final with a 3.823-second pass at 335.90 mph.