Hendrick Teams Qualify at Bristol

BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 21, 2003) – Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevy, led all Hendrick Motorsports teams in Friday’s NASCAR Winston Cup Series qualifying session at Bristol Motor Speedway, posting a 127.343-mph lap. Terry Labonte will start 17th in the No. 5 Kellogg’s / got milk? Chevrolet, with Jimmie Johnson 23rd in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy and Joe Nemechek 25th in the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Monte Carlo. For the first time in two weeks, rain did not hamper qualifying the NASCAR Busch Series as Brian Vickers and GMAC Racing followed up their seventh-place finish at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway last week by qualifying 10th for tomorrow’s Channellock 250 at Bristol. Unfortunately, Vickers spun exiting Turn 2 and brushed the backstretch wall during Friday afternoon's "Happy Hour" practice, damaging the nose of the No. 5 GMAC Chevy and forcing the team to pull out their backup car. In accordance with NASCAR rules, he will start at the rear of the field on Saturday. David Green, driver of the No. 37, captured the pole for tomorrow’s race with a lap of 126.495 mph. Live coverage of tomorrow’s Channellock 250 can be seen on FX beginning at 12:30 p.m. EST.