Gordon Leads HMS in Atlanta Happy Hour

HAMPTON, Ga. (Oct. 26, 2002) -- Four-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon was the quickest Hendrick Motorsports driver in Saturday’s final “Happy Hour” practice at Atlanta Motor Speedway with the fourth fastest lap of the day’s second session. Driving the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, Gordon posted a 30.015-second time and a speed of 184.708 mph on the third of 27 practice laps around the 1.54-mile oval. Jimmie Johnson was eighth in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy, followed by Joe Nemechek in 18th and Terry Labonte in 33rd. Tony Stewart was fastest in Happy Hour. Gordon paced the early practice, posting the quickest lap in either of Saturday’s two sessions. Jimmie Johnson was third, with Labonte 18th in the No. 5 Kellogg’s Monte Carlo and Nemechek 23rd in the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevy. Sunday’s NAPA 500 is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. ET green flag at Atlanta Motor Speedway.