For the critics out there wondering if Dale Earnhardt Jr. can still drive a race car, he made an attempt to prove them wrong on Saturday during Nationwide Series qualifying. Carrying the Degree V12 colors this weekend, Junior surprised many when he shot to the top of the leaderboard after taking the checkered flag on his qualifying lap. Making only his seventh Nationwide Series start of the year, Dale Jr. was able to score his first pole of the season and first since 2004. Junior was the only driver of the session to hit the 174 mph mark with his lap of 31.840 seconds.

Earnhardt Jr.’s pole run knocked Kevin Harvick’s No. 33 Jimmy John’s Chevrolet back to the second spot after his lap of 31.873 seconds at 173.940 mph. One of the strongest cars in both practices, Harvick came up 0.033 seconds short on what would have been his third pole of the year.

Roush Fenway Racing’s David Ragan was third fastest of the forty-eight cars to make a qualifying run. The No. 6 Discount Tire Ford posted a time of 31.929 seconds at a speed of 173.940 mph. Reed Sorenson is back behind the wheel of the No. 1 Miccosukee Indian Gaming & Resort Chevrolet this weekend and was able to put it fourth on the starting grid for tonight’s race. Kasey Kahne rounded out the top-5 in the No. 10 Fritos Toyota.

Points leader Kyle Busch will roll off eighth, while Carl Edwards will start tonight’s event from the twelfth spot. In a not so surprising move, John Wes Townley wrecked his car when he tagged the wall coming off the Fourth Turn.

Tonight’s Degree V12 300 is scheduled to start at 7pm E.T. with coverage on ESPN2. Be sure to check back to HardcoreRaceFans.com to follow all the latest from the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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