Bowyer Wins Nationwide Pole At Daytona

July 3, 2009 8:02 p.m. EST

Daytona Beach, FL (AHN) - Mother Nature threatened to take the pole away from Clint Bowyer, but the final qualifiers of the day got back on the track, giving the Richard Childress Racing driver the pole for Friday night's Subway Jalapeno 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

Bowyer turned a lap of 180.701 mph, but a passing rain made him wait nearly two hours -- while track officials dried the track - before the final three qualifiers got on the track and Bowyer held on for the pole position.

Had qualifying been rained out, the field would've been set by the NASCAR rulebook and points leader Kyle Busch would've been given the front starting spot.

Mike Wallace and Kerry and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were the final three drivers to take to the track, but Wallace couldn't get up to speed, while the Earnhardts secured the fourth starting row. Wallace, Terry Cook and Brian Keselowski all failed to qualify for the race even though Cook was 35th-fastest in time trials.

David Ragan, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and David Gilliland are also starting up front.