Earnhardt Jr. Wins Daytona 500 Pole Position

Topics:  Dale Earnhardt Jr., Daytona 500

VOA Breaking News
Voice of America
February 13, 2011 at 10:15 pm

NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has qualified for the pole position for next Sunday's Daytona 500 race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

In an ironic twist, it is the 10th anniversary running of the same race where Earnhardt's father was killed in a crash at the same track.

The younger Earnhardt, who is currently one of the sport's most popular drivers, clocked a speed of just under 300 kilometers per hour to take the pole position. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon qualified second.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. died on February 18, 2001 when his car was bumped by another driver on the final lap of the race, sending him crashing into the Turn 4 wall at high speed. The 49-year-old driver was transported to a nearby hospital, where a trauma team was unable to resuscitate him.