Nemechek Paces HMS in Lowe’s Happy Hour

CONCORD, N.C. (Oct. 12, 2002) -- Joe Nemechek was the quickest Hendrick Motorsports driver in both 45-minute NASCAR Winston Cup Series practices at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s UAW-GM Quality 500. Driving the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet, Nemechek posted a lap of 30.415 seconds and 177.544 mph in the final “Happy Hour” session, good for third overall behind leader Ricky Craven and Dale Earnhardt Jr. In the final practice, Jimmie Johnson was fifth in the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy, with Jeff Gordon 10th in the No. 24 DuPont Monte Carlo and Terry Labonte 32nd in the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet. Nemechek was fourth overall in the morning session, followed by Johnson in fifth, Labonte in seventh and Gordon in 10th. Ryan Newman led the early practice, followed by Tony Stewart and Rusty Wallace. Sunday’s UAW-GM Quality 500 is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. ET green flag at the 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C.