Nemechek Fast in Pocono Pre-Qualifying Practice

LONG POND, Pa. (July 26, 2002) -– Joe Nemechek was the quickest HMS driver, fourth overall, in Friday’s Pennsylvania 500 pre-qualifying practice at Pocono Speedway. Driving the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevrolet, Nemechek posted a lap time of 53.137 seconds and a top speed of 169.374 mph. Jeff Gordon was the second-best Hendrick Motorsports performer, posting a time of 53.464 seconds and a speed of 168.338 mph in the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, putting him 15th in the session. The No. 48 Lowe’s Monte Carlo of Jimmie Johnson was the 24th-quickest car in practice with a speed of 53.614 mph and a time of 167.867 seconds. Terry Labonte was 30th in the pre-qualifying practice session, driving the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet to a 53.851-second time and a speed of 167.128 mph.