Burton wins Daytona 500 pole; Elliott to start ninth in twin 150 races

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - 'Awesome Bill' Elliott posted the ninth fastest time Sunday in prequalifying for next Sunday's Daytona 500. Elliott, who is attempting to make the field for the first time since 2003, posted a top lap of 187.715 mph and will start ninth in Thursday's twin 150 races to determine qualifying positions.

Meanwhile, Jeff Burton has won the pole next Sunday's race.

Burton did it by winning Sunday's qualifier with a fast lap of 189.151 mph. It's the fastest qualifying run since Dale Jarrett grabbed the 2001 Daytona 500.

Burton's last pole came at Richmond in the fall of 2000.

Defending Daytona 500 champ Jeff Gordon almost knocked Burton off the pole with a lap of 188.877 mph. Gordon and Burton will make up the front row for the season-opening race.

Only the top two qualifiers locked in starting positions for next Sunday's race. The rest of qualifying results were used to set the lineups for Thursday's two 150-mile qualifying races.

Daytona 500 qualifying results
NASCAR-Nextel-Daytona 500 Lineup
After Sunday's qualifying; race Sunday, Feb. 19
At Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Fla.
Lap length: 2.5 miles
(Car number in parentheses)

1. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 189.151 mph.

2. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 188.877.

3. (88) Dale Jarrett, Ford, 188.849.

4. (38) Elliott Sadler, Ford, 188.810.

5. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 188.762.

6. (43) Bobby Labonte, Dodge, 187.935.

7. (07) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 187.786.

8. (26) Jamie McMurray, Ford, 187.743.

9. (36) Bill Elliott, Chevrolet, 187.715.

10. (5) Kyle Busch, Chevrolet, 187.570.

11. (2) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 187.539.

12. (11) Denny Hamlin, Chevrolet, 187.488.

13. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 187.406.

14. (01) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, 187.402.

15. (14) Sterling Marlin, Chevrolet, 187.274.

16. (25) Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 187.239.

17. (18) J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet, 187.207.

18. (20) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 187.196.

19. (32) Travis Kvapil, Chevrolet, 187.106.

20. (00) Hermie Sadler, Ford, 187.025.

21. (66) Jeff Green, Chevrolet, 186.990.

22. (19) Jeremy Mayfield, Dodge, 186.908.

23. (7) Robby Gordon, Chevrolet, 186.850.

24. (9) Kasey Kahne, Dodge, 186.691.

25. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 186.672.

26. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 186.614.

27. (6) Mark Martin, Ford, 186.436.

28. (96) Terry Labonte, Chevrolet, 186.382.

29. (41) Reed Sorenson, Dodge, 186.289.

30. (42) Casey Mears, Dodge, 186.127.

31. (61) Kevin Lepage, Ford, 186.097.

32. (21) Ken Schrader, Ford, 186.043.

33. (12) Ryan Newman, Dodge, 185.774.

34. (27) Kirk Shelmerdine, Chevrolet, 185.361.

35. (1) Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet, 185.242.

36. (8) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 185.124.

37. (45) Kyle Petty, Dodge, 184.794.

38. (22) Dave Blaney, Dodge, 184.566.

39. (40) David Stremme, Dodge, 184.543.

40. (55) Michael Waltrip, Dodge, 183.411.

41. (49) Brent Sherman, Dodge, 182.142.

42. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford,

43. (15) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 185.334.

44. (95) Stanton Barrett, Chevrolet, 185.322.

45. (50) Larry Foyt, Dodge, 185.128.

46. (4) Scott Wimmer, Chevrolet, 184.854.

47. (64) Randy LaJoie, Chevrolet, 184.540.

48. (89) Morgan Shepherd, Dodge, 183.576.

49. (74) Derrike Cope, Dodge, 183.333.

50. (09) Mike Wallace, Dodge, 182.953.

51. (23) Mike Skinner, Dodge, 182.771.

52. (37) Chad Blount, Dodge, 181.906.

53. (92) Chad Chaffin, Chevrolet, 181.763.

54. (78) Kenny Wallace, Chevrolet, 181.594.

55. (52) Larry Gunselman, Dodge, 181.214.

56. (10) Scott Riggs, Dodge, 180.890.

57. (59) Andy Belmont, Chevrolet, 179.960.

58. (80) Carl Long, Ford, 176.935.