Greg Biffle won the pole Thursday night for Saturday night's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the first NASCAR Cup race without an Earnhardt in 33 years.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will sit out the next two races after sustaining his second concussion this year during a 25-car car pileup Sunday at Talladega. Regan Smith, who'll drive Earnhardt's No. 88 Chevrolet, qualified 26th.
"It's incredibly sad anytime you have to have something like this happen, especially with how hard Dale has worked to get into the Chase and become a contender," said Mark Martin, who'll start on the front row alongside Biffle.
"I saw his commitment to get there and I feel really bad for him."
The 53-year-old Martin will make his 850th career start Saturday night.
"There were Earnhardts in the races before I got here and there have been ever since," Martin said.
"It's a tough one for our sport. On the positive side, he'll be back in two weeks. And I prefer to look at the positive side."
