 Daytona qualifying rained out, Harvick on pole
2010-07-02 20:15:00
Daytona Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Persistent rain forced NASCAR officials to cancel Friday's Sprint Cup Series qualifying at Daytona International Speedway. Therefore, the starting lineup for the Coke Zero 400 has been set by the current owner points. Twelve teams made their qualifying run before precipitation fell on the 2.5 mile tri-oval speedway. Track officials had hoped to dry the track and finish the remainder of qualifying before preparations began for the 250-mile Nationwide Series race later in the evening.
Qualifying for the July Sprint Cup race at Daytona has been rained out three out of the last four times.
Kevin Harvick will start on the pole since he is atop the point standings. Harvick enters the race with a 105-point lead over Jimmie Johnson, who will start on the outside pole.
"For us, obviously, we did not have enough speed in our car for qualifying trim, and we had already qualified," Harvick said. "Obviously, that will make things a little bit easier at the beginning of the race to get going."
Johnson, the four-time defending series champion, has won the last two races (Sonoma, CA and New Hampshire).
Kyle Busch will start third, followed by Denny Hamlin and Jeff Gordon.
Kurt Busch, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton, Tony Stewart and Greg Biffle will roll off sixth through 10th, respectively. Stewart has won three of the last five July races at Daytona, including last year's event.
Sam Hornish Jr. had the fastest speed in qualifying before it started raining. Hornish Jr. will start 30th.
Michael McDowell and Todd Bodine did not make the field.
Saturday's 400-mile race at Daytona is scheduled to start just after 7:30 p.m. (et). According to the National Weather Service, the forecast in the Daytona Beach area tomorrow evening calls for a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
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