TALLADEGA, Al.— Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will start from the pole in Sunday’s Geico 500 from Talladega Superspeedway. Stenhouse Jr. was able to pick up two tenths of a second over his first round speed. Stenhouse Jr. posted the winning speed at 191.547 mph.

“It’ll be nice to lead the field to green here. The Fifth Third guys worked really, really hard on these cars. Like I said earlier, Jimmy Fennig has done a great job on these speedway cars. This is cool. Doug Yates builds awesome horsepower,” said Stenhouse Jr. “With his dad, Robert, not doing as well as we would like, it would be cool to dedicate this one to him and all the hard work that the engine shop does. Man, it’s  a cool way to start the weekend. I’m ready to get to Sunday.:

This is his first pole of 2017. Stenhouse Jr. scored his last pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2013.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start from the second place position on Sunday.  Earnhardt Jr. picked up one tenth of a second over his first round speed. This is also his first front row start at Talladega Superspeedway. Earnhardt, Jr. posted a speed of 190.780 mph to score the second place starting position.

“We would have loved to have got the pole. (Ricky) Stenhouse and those guys had a really fast car, so congratulations to them and Roush/Yates Engines and all those guys had great power.  Pretty happy with our car.  The Hendrick guys have been doing a great job.  We always kind of come down here and find ourselves with an opportunity for the pole.  Hopefully, we will get one before the year is out at one of these plate tracks.  I know the guys have been so close at Daytona and Talladega for so many years, so it would be great to do it this last season together.  Just came up a little short today, but the car is fast and it will be good for Sunday,” said Earnhardt Jr.

Brad Keselowski qualified third at 190.427 mph, Matt Kenseth qualified fourth at 190.177 mph, and Trevor Bayne rounded out the top-five at 190.155 mph.

DJ Kennington was the sole driver to not make it into the field on Sunday.

The GEICO 500 will be broadcasted on FOX and Motor Racing Network at 1:00 p.m. EST.

Caleb Whisler
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