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Menard traveled two and a half miles around the Daytona International Speedway in 48.409 seconds, or 185.916 mph. His first pole came in his 57th race. Menard had never qualified better than 13th in his career.

It is the second straight event on the Sprint Cup circuit in which a driver has won his first career pole. Patrick Carpentier did the same thing last week in New Hampshire.

Qualifying second was veteran Mark Martin, who earlier in the day announced he would drive a full schedule next year for Hendrick Motorsports. He had announced his retirement from full-time racing two years ago.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Joe Nemechek will make up the second row for Saturday night's race.

Points leader Kyle Busch qualified ninth.

 BREAKING STORIES

Kyle Busch wins Nationwide race

Rain wipes out NASCAR qualifying

Report: Edwards, Harvick in incident

Canada dropped from 2009 F1 schedule

Stewart declared winner at Talladega

Kvapil gets first Sprint pole at Talladega

NASCAR practice crash wrecks five cars

Castroneves pleads not guilty in tax case

National Guard sponsors NASCAR truck racer

Report: 'Dancing' winner Helio indicted

Bank of America raises auto event purses

Jimmie Johnson wins Kansas Sprint Cup race

Alonso wins F1 race in Singapore

Denny Hamlin wins Nationwide auto race

Johnson declared Sprint Cup pole winner

Officials boost NASCAR Hall of Fame budget

Biffle wins second straight Sprint race

NASCAR amends drug-testing plan

Busch gets 8th Nationwide race this year

Jeff Gordon wins Delaware pole position