As predicted, the weather got the advantage on qualifying and with Gordon leading, the pole position was his. The cars and drivers did however get a chance to practice on track and Denny Hamlin was fastest in the first session with Harvick second and finally Gordon was third fastest in his DuPont Chevrolet.
The weather may be a factor the entire weekend with storms coming up from the gulf coast bringing vast amounts of rain and possibly flooding in the forcast.
The losers in the weather situation will be those cars not in the top 35 in points and many are expected to pack up and head back to their prospective homes. “It’s a real shame”, said Sterlin Marlin, “We had a really fast car and had a good chance to make a good showing in the field”. Marlin was 13th fastest in practice with his Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Dodge which probably would have easily made the starting lineup for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 at the famous Martinsville Speedway.
Others heading home from the list include drivers Tony Raines, Dennis Setzer, and Derrick Cope. They were at the bottom of the speed charts in practice and may have went home anyway.
So the field is set for Sundays race which will kick off at 1:30 p.m. on the Fox Network.
Photo by Steve Langley
