Due to threatening weather, qualifying for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway was cancelled Saturday evening. However, Dale Earnhardt Jr is probably the only driver that is happy that this parade was rained on, as the No. 88 Nationwide Insurance Chevrolet will start on the pole.
With qualifying being cancelled, the race lineup is set based on speeds from the first practice session putting Earnhardt Jr on the pole with a speed in practice of 202. 284 mph.
Austin Dillon will start second with a practice time best average speed of 202.066 mph. Clint Bowyer will start third, followed by Paul Menard and 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne.
David Gilliland, who won the pole for this race last year when rained ended qualifying early, posted the sixth fastest time in first practice and will star sixth in the race. AJ Allmendinger, looking to rebound from a disappointing showing in Sonoma, will start seventh. 2011 July Daytona winner David Ragan will start eighth, followed by Jamie McMurray in ninth and Kasey Kahne in 10th.
Several fast cars, including Tony Stewart, defending race winner Aric Almirola and Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano will start the 400-mile, 160-lap race from outside the top 30 on Sunday night. With qualifying being cancelled, Ryan Blaney, in the No. 21 for Wood Brothers Racing, and Michael McDowell will miss the 17th race of the NSCS season due to having the least amount of qualifying attempts in the field.
The Coke Zero 400 can be seen Sunday, July 5th at 7:00 p.m. ET on NBC.