Earnhardt captures Food City 250 pole

BRISTOL, Tenn., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. captured the pole Thursday for Friday night's Food City 250 Busch Series race at the Bristol Motor Speedway.

Earnhardt circled the 0.533-mile short track in a record 15.160 seconds (126.570 m.p.h.). David Green held the track record at BMS with a time of 15.169 seconds set in March 2003.

The pole victory was Earnhardt's first of the season and ninth of his Busch career.

Despite breaking the track record, Earnhardt Jr. had to hold his breath as the final driver, Tony Raines, ran the second-best time of the day (25.164) and will start on the outside of row one.

Kenny Wallace (15.220) and Kevin Harvick (15.224) will start in row two.