Jimmie Johnson speaks at a press conference at Daytona International Speedway on Friday. The six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champ will lead the field to the start of the Sprint Unlimited non-points event Saturday night. Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/NASCAR via Getty Images
Jimmie Johnson will lead the field to green in Saturday night’s Sprint Unlimited at Daytona International Speedway, a non-points event for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
The six-time series champion can thank his crew chief, Chad Knaus, for the prime starting spot after crew chiefs drew for their drivers starting positions on Friday.
It’s the first pole start in the traditional pre-season race for Johnson, who boasts just one win in 13 starts, that victory coming in 2005.
Brad Keselowski will roll off from the outside of the front row, with A.J. Allmendinger in third, Kyle Larson in fourth and Ryan Newman in fifth.
In all, 25 drivers will start the event, which is made up of 2015 Coors Light Pole winners, former event winners, former Daytona 500 pole winners, 2015 Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers and two drivers who are eligible based on their 2015 points finish.
The 75-lap event also has a special format, being split into two segments, separated by a competition caution on lap 25.
The event will also see the first outing for Brian Vickers in the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Chevrolet. Vickers will be driving in place of the injured Tony Stewart, who suffered back injuries almost two weeks ago. Stewart is expected to be out at least until the end of May.
The teams taking part in Saturday’s Sprint Unlimited saw practice time on Friday, with no incidents reported in either session.
Larson paced the first session with a lap at 199.344 mph. Kasey Kahne was second, with Denny Hamlin third, Paul Menard fourth and Carl Edwards fifth. Kurt Busch and Newman were the slowest of the session.
It was Hamlin, the 2014 Sprint Unlimited winner, who was fastest in the final session, turning a lap at 198.930 mph. Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola, Vickers and Kevin Harvick rounded out the top five. Edwards and Allmendinger were the slowest of the final practice session, while Casey Mears, Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Martin Truex, Jr. chose not to take part in the session.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, FL
Sprint Unlimited – Feb. 12, 2016
Saturday’s Starting Line Up
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3. 47 A.J. Allmendinger Kroger/Stouffer’s/Lean Cuisine Chevrolet
4. 42 Kyle Larson Target Chevrolet
5. 31 Ryan Newman Caterpillar Chevrolet
6. 13 Casey Mears GEICO Chevrolet
7. 78 Martin Truex, Jr. Furnitur Row/Denver Mattress Toyota
8. 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Chevrolet
9. 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s 75 Toyota
10. 3 Austin Dillon DOW Chevrolet
11. 17 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Fastenal Ford
12. 10 Danica Patrick Nature’s Bakery Chevrolet
13. 20 Matt Kenseth Dollar General Toyota
14. 27 Paul Menard Peak Antifreeze/Menard Chevrolet
15. 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota
16. 16 Greg Biffle KFC Nashville Hot Ford
17. 43 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford
18. 14 Brian Vickers Mobil 1 Chevrolet
19. 19 Carl Edwards ARRIS Toyota
20. 5 Kasey Kahne Great Clips Chevrolet
21. 41 Kurt Busch Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet
22. 4 Kevin Harvick Busch Beer Chevrolet
23. 88 Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Taxslayer.com Chevrolet
24. 1 Jamie McMurray McDonald’s Chevrolet
25. 22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford
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