Sam Atwell

Hendrick Motorsports started where they left off last season, up front.  Mark Martin, who led the series in poles last season, picked up his first pole of the 2010 season for the season opening Daytona 500.  Martin turned a fast lap of 191.188 mph to get past teammate Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who had the second fastest lap of 190.913.  The rest of the field will be set on Thursday in the Gatorade Duel 150’s. 

For Martin the pole just continues the success he saw last season.  For Junior, this is a big day.  Junior is coming off a horrible year in 2009.  A change in philosophy at the #5 and #88 race shop has led to more cooperation between the two crews and it may have just paid off right out of the gate in 2010.  One good day doesn’t make a season, but this early success for Junior has got to help the attitude of the 88 team. 

Junior and crew have a chance to make it a really good day by having a great race in the Budweiser Shootout tonight in Daytona.  This is a real shot in the arm for the Junior Nation.

Tags: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona 500, Mark Martin, NASCAR