Countdown to Daytona: Jimmie Johnson Wins Pole Position

Defending Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson will head up the pack when the green flag flies over Daytona next weekend, starting the season-opening race from the pole position for the second time in his career. Michael Waltrip, who was burned big-time last season after his Toyota team was caught cheating with an unauthorized fuel additive, earned a second-place start during the qualifying session earlier today. He’ll be starting the race in the first row, alongside Johnson in the outside position. Check out the rest of the qualifiying lap times at NASCAR.com, and stay tuned for the Gatorade Duels on Thursday, which will determine the rest of the Daytona starting positions!