NASCAR Daytona qualifying results 2017: Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins Coke Zero 400 pole

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was supposed to make his final start Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway, but a pole-winning run during qualifying on Friday means NASCAR’s most popular driver might’ve added another Daytona race to his calendar.

Earnhardt captured the Coke Zero 400 pole with a 190.973 mph lap around the 2.5 mile track, edging Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott (190.795 mph). That effort guarantees Earnhardt a spot in the 2018 The Clash exhibition race next February, which features a select field of drivers including pole winners from the year before.

When asked afterward about the idea of racing in The Clash, Earnhardt responded favorably.

“I’m going to talk to my boss and see what he’s got in the shed,” he said.

It was Earnhardt’s second career pole at Daytona and 14th overall. His last pole came September 2013 at Dover International Speedway.

“I won’t say he has a chip on his shoulder, but I do think he has been very, very determined this weekend on making sure his car is driving exactly like he wants it,” Elliott said. “It doesn’t want it good. He doesn’t want it great. He wants it perfect, and I think he has made that very apparent in our post practice meetings.”

Earnhardt announced in April he would retire from full-time Cup Series competition at the end of the current season. While the 42-year-old said he would continue to make limited Xfinity Series starts, he’s been noncommittal about any additional Cup races, though he’s hinted about the possibility.

Earnhardt’s final full season has been a struggle. Through 16 races he’s winless and ranks 22nd in the points standings -- 134 points behind the provisional cut line to qualify — placing him in a scenario where he likely needs a victory in the remaining 10 regular season races to earn a postseason berth. His best chance to get that win is at Daytona, where he’s a four-time winner and regarded as one of the best in the draft and managing the nuances associated with restrictor-plate racing.

”I try to look at it as a good opportunity to go out there and get a win,” Earnhardt said. “I know what I need to do on the racetrack, and I’ll try to go out there and do that and do the best I can and drive the race that I need to drive.

“Hopefully, we can get the job done. There’s a lot of things to do still before we see the checkered flag.”

Defending race winner Brad Keselowski qualified third (190.287 mph), followed by Kasey Kahne (190.050) and Kevin Harvick (190.046). Completing the top 10 were Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (190.006), Joey Logano (189.921), Jamie McMurray (189.849), Ryan Blaney (189.785) and Danica Patrick (189.633).

All 40 drivers entered qualified for the Coke Zero 400.