Earnhardt wins first qualifying race

Earnhardt led a race-high 25 laps out of 60, having started from the back of the field due to an engine problem during practice on Wednesday, which forced his team to change the unit on his No. 88 Chevrolet.

With eight laps remaining he overtook Ryan Newman, just before the second and last caution of the race came out.

On the last restart, with only two laps to go, Chip Ganassi's Reed Sorenson bump-drafted with the Hendrick driver, helping him claim his second win in as many races for his new employer.

"That was pretty fun," said Earnhardt. "But old tyres are tough, man. We were all running up there on top cause we would wreck down there on the bottom sliding around. I am really proud of my team, they built me a great car.

"The engine guys worked overnight to bring us replacements down here. They are great as we see."

Behind Sorenson, Ryan Newman, Casey Mears and Carl Edwards rounded up the top five, while Jimmie Johnson led the race for eight laps having started at the back, but was out of contention for victory following a late unscheduled pit stop.

Kenny Wallace from Furniture Row Racing and Brian Vickers from Team Red Bull were the two drivers who locked themselves in the field for the Daytona 500 through the Duel, having finished eighth and eleventh respectively.

Vickers had caused the first caution of the race after he spun at the exit of turn two, having made contact with Boris Said. Despite that, he recovered well to put himself back in contention and in the field for Sunday's race.

"This feels like a win," Vickers said. "We had to overcome an ignition box (problem) in qualifying, the spin at the beginning of the race, the right-rear tyre coming apart and pitting to get new tyres, but it all worked out."

AJ Allmendinger finished two places behind his Red Bull teammate and unfortunately missed the field for the Daytona 500 for the second year in a row. Also missing Sunday's race will be former Cup champion Bill Elliot, two-time Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marling and Carl Long.

Kurt Busch didn't finish the race due to an electrical problem but he has the last place of the starting grid guaranteed as the most recent NASCA Sprint Cup Series champion.

Pos  Driver             Make       Laps
 1.  Dale Earnhardt Jr  Chevrolet   60
 2.  Reed Sorenson      Dodge       60
 3.  Ryan Newman        Dodge       60
 4.  Casey Mears        Chevrolet   60
 5.  Carl Edwards       Ford        60
 6.  Bobby Labonte      Dodge       60
 7.  Juan Montoya       Dodge       60
 8.  Kenny Wallace      Chevrolet   60
 9.  Sam Hornish Jr     Dodge       60
10.  Paul Menard        Chevrolet   60
11.  Brian Vickers      Toyota      60
12.  Joe Nemechek       Chevrolet   60
13.  AJ Allmendinger    Toyota      60
14.  Martin Truex Jr    Chevrolet   60
15.  Scott Riggs        Chevrolet   60
16.  Bill Elliott       Ford        60
17.  Regan Smith        Chevrolet   60
18.  Clint Bowyer       Chevrolet   60
19.  Boris Said         Ford        60
20.  Jeremy Mayfield    Chevrolet   60
21.  Sterling Marlin    Chevrolet   60
22.  Elliott Sadler     Dodge       60
23.  Jimmie Johnson     Chevrolet   60
24.  Carl Long          Dodge       59
25.  JJ Yeley           Toyota      59
26.  Kyle Petty         Dodge       59
27.  Kurt Busch         Dodge        9