He wrote the first chapter of what could be a great story Saturday afternoon, winning the pole for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race ahead of his final start as a full-time driver at Talladega. A six-time winner at the 2.66-mile track, Earnhardt’s pole brought a roar from the crowd.

Surprisingly, it was Earnhardt’s first pole at Talladega in his 18th full season. He has 15 career poles in his career.

Junior’s No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott will start on the front row alongside Earnhardt. After praising his own team, Earnhardt noted Elliott and the No. 24 team have battled all year in restrictor-plate qualifying.

“It’s been a lot of fun how these two teams have pushed each other,” Earnhardt Jr. told NBCSN.

But can Earnhardt go out and score a win in his final full-time run at Talladega?

“You think about that (winning) every time you suit up and get in the car,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “But this would be a real important win to get.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., a two-time restrictor plate winner this season, will start fifth.

Starting lineup for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Alabama 500 at Talladega

  1. Dale Earnhardt Jr2. Chase Elliott3. Joey Logano4. Kurt Busch5. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.6. Brad Keselowski 7. Clint Bowyer8. Jimmie Johnson9. Ryan Blaney10. Trevor Bayne11. Kasey Kahne12. Kyle Larson13. Danica Patrick14. Daniel Suarez15. Denny Hamlin16. Kyle Busch17. Jamie McMurray18. Austin Dillon19. Matt Kenseth20. Paul Menard21. Martin Truex Jr.22. Kevin Harvick23. Erik Jones24. AJ Allmendinger25. Ty Dillon26. Aric Almirola27. Ryan Newman28. Chris Buescher29. Michael McDowell30. Landon Cassill31. Justin Marks32. Matt DiBenedetto33. David Ragan34. Jeffrey Earnhardt35. Brendan Gaughan36. Mark Thompson37. Joey Gase38. Cole Whitt39. Gray Gaulding40. D.J. Kennington

Playoff standings entering Sunday’s Alabama 500

  1. Martin Truex Jr., 3,106 points 2. Kyle Larson, -343. Kevin Harvick, -374. Chase Elliott, -475. Denny Hamlin, -506. Kyle Busch, -517. Jimmie Johnson, -558. Jamie McMurray, -629. 9. Matt Kenseth, -6310. Brad Keselowski, -6411. Ryan Blaney, -6712. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., -72

0 votes