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Mark Martin Takes Pole for Daytona 500, Dale Jr Outside Front Row

Daytona Beach, Fla., Feb. 6, 2010 - Team Chevy driver Mark Martin, No. 5 GoDaddy.com Impala started the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) season off in great style by winning the pole for the Feb. 14th 52nd annual Daytona 500. It is the 51-year old driver's 49th career pole, but his first for the Great American race.

With today's accomplishment, Martin becomes the oldest driver in NASCAR history to capture the number one starting position for the season-opening race.

It is the 19th time Chevrolet has captured the Daytona 500 pole, more than any other manufacturer.

Also locked in to the February 14th Daytona 500 is Dale Earnhardt, Jr., No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Impala, with his second place qualifying effort today.

The one-two effort by the Hendrick Motorsports drivers will put each of them on the pole for one of the two Gatorade Duel at Daytona 150-mile races on Thursday, February 11, 2010. Martin will start on the pole of race number one with Earnhardt, Jr. on the pole of the second qualifying race. The remainder of the 43-car field will be set based on the results of the Thursday events.

Four of the top-five and seven of the top-10 qualifiers are Chevy Impala drivers. Ryan Newman, No. 39 US Army Impala, qualified third with Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Impala, setting the fifth fastest time.

Defending and four-time NSCS champion Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Lowe's Impala, posted the sixth quickest time. Clint Bowyer, No. 33 Cheerios/Hamburger Helper Impala, qualified eighth and four-time NSCS champion Jeff Gordon, No. 24 DuPont Impala, was the 10th fastest in qualifying.

A total of 54 cars made qualifying runs in an attempt to make the Daytona 500 starting field.

The Gatorade Duel at Daytona Qualifying Races are scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. Thursday with live coverage on Speed TV, MRN Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. (Team Chevy)