Earnhardt- Ganassi Teammates on Front Row for Auto Club 500

After an unexpected win in the 2010 Daytona 500, Jamie McMurray finds himself on the pole for the second race of the season. With a qualifying time of 39.185 (183.74 MPH) McMurray beat out his Earnhardt-Ganassi teammate Juan Pablo Montoya for the first starting spot in Sunday’s Auto Club 500 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.

Defending race winner Matt Kenseth will start in 20th position. Kenseth will be working with veteran crew chief Todd Parrott beginning this weekend after Parrott was called in to replace Drew Blickensderfer.

The full starting grid for Sunday’s race will be as follows:

1. Jamie McMurray
2. Juan Pablo Montoya
3. Clint Bowyer
4. Kasey Kahne
5. Dave Blaney *
6. Kevin Harvick
7. Jimmie Johnson
8. Sam Hornish Jr.
9. Kyle Busch
10. Mark Martin
11. David Reutimann
12. Kurt Busch
13. Scott Speed *
14. Jeff Burton
15. David Ragan
16. Tony Stewart
17. Mike Bliss *
18. Ryan Newman
19. Joey Logano
20. Matt Kenseth
21. Brad Keselowski
22. Regan Smith
23. Brian Vickers
24. Aric Almirola *
25. Denny Hamlin
26. Marcos Ambrose
27. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
28. Jeff Gordon
29. AJ Allmendigner
30. Michael McDowell *
31. Carl Edwards
32. Joe Nemechek *
33. Bobby Labonte *
34. Martin Truex Jr.
35. Max Papis *
36. Greg Biffle
37. Paul Menard
38. Elliott Sadler
39. Casey Mears *
40. Kevin Conway #
41. Travis Kvapil
42. Johnny Sauter *
43. Terry Cook * #

*Required to qualify on time
# Rookie of the Year contender
Failed to qualify – Robby Gordon, David Gilliland, Boris Said