Home Sports 

Story

Daytona Qualifying Rained Out, Stewart Awarded Pole

Posted: 7:34 pm EDT July 3, 2009

(Sports Network) - Rain washed out Friday's qualifying session for the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.

A thundershower moved over the 2.5-mile track shortly before the start of qualifying. Track drying efforts could not be completed in time to fit the session in before Friday night's 250-mile Nationwide race at Daytona.

According to the rule book, the starting lineup for Saturday's 400-mile event will be set by owner points, which puts Tony Stewart on the pole for the second straight race. Last weekend, Stewart was awarded the pole at New Hampshire after qualifying was rained out there.

"Handling is always a big issue here at Daytona, and that's what makes racing here so much fun because it's a handling issue," Stewart said. "It's just not necessarily strategy of being in the right place at the right time, as much as you've got to have a good-balanced car to get to front and stay at the front."

Stewart currently holds a 69-point lead over Jeff Gordon, who will start on the outside pole.

Jimmie Johnson will start third, followed by Kurt Busch and Carl Edwards.

Denny Hamlin, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth will roll off sixth through 10th, respectively.

Biffle and Sam Hornish Jr. will have to start from the rear of the field after being involved in a crash during Thursday's practice. Both drivers were forced to use their backup cars.

"With the rainout, we've got to start in the back because we didn't make a lap with this car," Biffle said. "If we would've made one lap with this car, we could start in our starting spot of ninth."

Max Papis and Mike Wallace did not make the field.

Saturday's race is scheduled to start just after 8:00 p.m. (et).

Images

Manny Pacquiao
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
Philippine boxer Manny Pacquiao becomes the first boxer in history to win seven titles in seven different weight divisions, then celebrates the victory with his band. What's next? He might run for Congress in the Philippines. View Images ››

Long Hill Team Ski Jumping, Team – Roar Ljokelsoey, Norway
ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images
Winter Olympic athletes display astonishing and bewildering aerial artistry. View Images ››


Brock Lesnar
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar has gone from collegiate wrestling star to WWE standout to UFC champion. View Images ››


Zack Klein's Column

Zach Klein
Georgia and Georgia Tech at the Georgia Dome in 2011? It’s a strong possibility according to WSB-TV sports director Chuck Dowdle. Full Story ››