Kurt Busch and David Reutimann appeared fast enough to challenge for the pole Friday at New Hampshire International Speedway.
That, however, will go to Sprint Cup Series points leader Tony Stewart — and not based on speed.
For the third time this season, qualifying was canceled because of rain and the field for Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 301 was set by the series rulebook, which relies primarily on owners’ points.
Stewart will have to use a backup car Sunday after wrecking during Friday’s practice. He will not have to start at the rear since qualifying had not taken place and his team put the original engine in the backup car. SunJournal.com
“I just got loose going in the corner,” Stewart said. “Goodyear came down and was worried, but it wasn’t a tire problem. I just got loose and once out of the groove I was staying right with it—I just needed another 50 feet to finish getting gathered up. I just ran out of race track.”
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: New Hampshire Motor Speedway - Race Line-Up
The difference between this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and three weeks ago at Pocono is that Stewart will maintain his starting position from the pole after qualifying for the Lenox Industrial Tools 301 was rained out.
Stewart’s team put the engine from his primary car into the backup, apparently believing that was necessary to conform to NASCAR’s one-engine rule. However, Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said the engine change was not required since the accident occurred before rain hit the track and washed out the scheduled qualifying session. NASCAR.com
Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson will start second and third. Kurt Busch, who was fastest in Friday’s practice, will start fourth.
Reigning Whelen Modified Tour champion Ted Christopher, who entered the Sprint Cup event in a car owned by Kirk Shelmerdine, did not make the field. Christopher, of Plainville, was the slowest of 46 cars in practice. Hartford Courant
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