Earnhardt sets record, takes pole

Dale Earnhardt Jr. clocked a lap at 183.636 mph to wrest the qualifying record for Kentucky Speedway at Sparta from Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson and capture the pole for Saturday night’s race, which starts at 6:30 (TNT). Earnhardt’s speed was nearly 2 mph faster than Johnson’s 181.818 mph last June.

Carl Edwards (183.306 mph) took the outside front. Johnson was third at 183.144, with Kyle Busch (182.593) fourth.