Youth over experience was the order of the day at Talladega Superspeedway Saturday. Chase Elliott, in his first trip to NASCAR’s biggest speedway in a Sprint Cup car, grabbed the pole Saturday and for the second time in his brief Sprint Cup career will lead the field to the green Sunday. Elliott’s first career pole came in the season opening Daytona 500.
“Like I said in Daytona, this is all team guys,” Elliott said. “This had nothing to do with me and they have brought a fast car back.”
Elliott went out 11th of 12 cars in final round of two rounds of qualifying and put down a lap of 49.70 seconds, 192.66 mph for his second career Sprint Cup pole in just 14 starts. Austin Dillon driving the iconic number 3 car for Richard Childress Racing came up just short as the last driver out in the final round and will roll off second Sunday. Dale Earnhardt Jr. wheeling the same car he won with here last year will start third followed by Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson.