Johnson Leads Hendrick in Dover ‘Happy Hour’

DOVER, Del. (June 5, 2004) – Jimmie Johnson and Team Lowe’s Racing were quickest among the Hendrick Motorsports contingent at Dover International Speedway on Saturday, posting the seventh-best lap in the final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series practice before Sunday’s 400-lap event. Johnson toured the “Monster Mile” at 154.110 mph (23.360 seconds) in his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. Four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon was 12th in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, followed by 17th-place Terry Labonte in the No. 5 Kellogg’s Monte Carlo. Driving the No. 25 GMAC Financial Services Chevy, Brian Vickers was 30th in the session. Kurt Busch led “Happy Hour” at 155.474 mph and 23.155 seconds. Saturday morning’s two practices were postponed due to rain before being condensed into a single hour-long session after track officials dried the racing surface. Sunday’s NEXTEL Cup event will be broadcast live from Dover International Speedway by FX (1 p.m. ET) and MRN Radio (12:30 p.m. ET).