Junior hopes Atlanta pole start of something good

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) -Dale Earnhardt Jr. is doing his best to forget 2009.

Not a bad way to start.

Junior will be on the pole for the first time in nearly two years when the green flag drops Sunday for NASCAR's Sprint Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, giving the popular, second-generation driver another reason to believe that he's left behind the most dismal season of his career.

“It's definitely a step in the right direction,” he said.

Then again, Earnhardt has more in mind than just starting races out front.

He wants to be there at the end, too.