Sprint Cup qualifying rained out at Daytona; Tony Stewart on pole
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying for the Coke Zero 400 was rained out Friday afternoon at Daytona International Speedway, putting Stewart-Haas Racing’s Tony Stewart on the pole for Saturday night’s race.
Rain hit the Daytona area around 3:30 p.m. EDT, with Nationwide Series qualifying interrupted with two cars left to make attempts. NASCAR then canceled Cup qualifying at 5:15 p.m. but was trying to get Nationwide qualifying completed.
Joining Stewart on the front row for Saturday’s race is Hendrick Motorsports’ Jeff Gordon. Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick) starts third, with Kurt Busch (Penske Racing) fourth and Carl Edwards (Roush Fenway Racing) fifth, as the field was set according to the NASCAR rule book.
Sixth through 10th will be Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing), Ryan Newman (Stewart-Haas), Kyle Busch (JGR), Greg Biffle (Roush Fenway) and Matt Kenseth (Roush Fenway).
Friday’s rainout marks the fourth time weather has canceled qualifying in 2009. It was also washed out last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The two drivers who failed to make the race were Max Papis (Germain Racing) and Mike Wallace (Gunselman Motorsports).
