Bowyer captures NASCAR pole

DARLINGTON, S.C., May 11 (UPI) -- Clint Bowyer won the first pole of his Nextel Cup career Friday, grabbing the No. 1 starting position for Saturday night's Dodge Avenger 500.

Bowyer turned a lap at the 1.366-mile Darlington Raceway in 29.806 seconds.

Greg Biffle will start on the outside of the first row with a time of 29.826, followed by Jamie McMurray and Carl Edwards. Jeff Gordon, who leads the season-long points race, will start 10th.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who announced Thursday that at the end of the year he will leave the team his father founded, qualified 21st.