NASCAR canceled qualifying for both the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series on Saturday at Dover International Speedway, due to persistent rain.
Jimmie Johnson will start on the pole for the FedEx 400 Sprint Cup race at Dover. Johnson, the five-time defending series champion, earned the pole, since he was fastest overall in Friday’s practice sessions here.
This is the first Cup qualifying session to be called off this season. Earlier this year, NASCAR revised its rules for qualifying. If inclement weather cancels the session, the starting lineup will be determined by practice speeds. The old rule had the starting field determined by owner points. Los Angeles Times
Johnson, who has won three of his past four Dover starts and two of the last three poles, topped the speed charts at 158.604 mph after Friday’s first practice in the No. 48 Chevy. A.J. Allmendinger will start second in the No. 43 Ford after clocking 158.562 mph in that session, with Dale Earnhardt Jr. third (158.493 mph) in the No. 88 Chevy and Kasey Kahne fourth in a Toyota.
Saturday’s rainout proved how much practice matters.
“Well, this new system definitely requires some thinking coming into the race weekend and paying close attention to the weather,” said Johnson, seeking his first Dover spring win in two years. “We elected to start in race trim yesterday and the first run on the track was really strong.
“I think it had us third at the time and ended up being fifth overall with guys in qualifying trim. So when we saw that speed and the threat of weather, we, at that point, switched into qualifying trim and worked really hard to outrun this guy (Allmendinger). He put up a huge lap time. It took me two or three tries to finally get it.” USA Today
Joey Logano, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. round out the top eight.
“I don’t understand,” Allmendinger said, turning toward Johnson with a smile. “The system is the same for you. You’re either fastest, or they used to do it by points, so you started on the pole. Not sure how much different that is for you.”
Allmendinger continued to needle Johnson. After Johnson said he only cared about leading the final lap, not the first one, Allmendinger asked for an early free pass.
“I don’t start up front a lot and I can lead a lap, or two or three, it looks good on my stats,” Allmendinger said. “So are you just going to let me have the start or what?”
“I’m not going to let you have it,” Johnson said, “But go for it.” ESPN
Click Here to Read More:
| 
|