On a fast new surface, 41 of 44 drivers broke the qualifying record at Darlington Raceway. But it was Greg Biffle who set the pace, turning a blistering lap of 179.442 mph Friday night to win the pole at Darlington. He shattered the previous record of 173.797 mph set by Ward Burton in 1996.

“Everybody has talked about how the track is really fast, but it’s the same old Darlington,” Biffle said. “It will bite you as soon as you let your guard down, especially with the speeds now. You can get in trouble in a hurry, and I’ve been close to getting that (Darlington) stripe.”

Biffle’s lap in a Ford beat Hendrick Motorsports teammates Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson, who qualified second and third for Saturday night’s race in their Chevrolets. Earnhardt ran a lap at 179.357, while Johnson clocked in at 179.206.

It marked a comeback for the two-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion, who crashed two cars during Friday’s practice sessions. He wrecked his primary on the third lap of the first practice, then had to replace the splitter on his backup when he wrecked in the second practice.

“I’m just glad I didn’t hit anything on that last run,” Johnson joked. “I’m very proud of my guys. I worked them real hard on two cars, and almost needed a third.”

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