Hendrick Puts Trio in Top 10 at Dover

DOVER, Del. (May 30, 2003) – Jimmie Johnson, who swept both NASCAR Winston Cup Series events at Dover International Speedway last season, will start in the top five at the one-mile race track on Sunday after qualifying fifth during Friday’s time trials. Driving the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, Johnson posted a lap of 156.651 mph and 22.981 seconds in his bid to “three-peat” at DIS. Terry Labonte turned in another solid qualifying run in the No. 5 Kellogg’s / got milk? Chevy, posting the eighth-best time of the afternoon session. He will start on the outside of Row 4, next to seventh-place Kurt Busch. Labonte was the pole-sitter at Richmond (Va.) International Speedway earlier this month. Four-time Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon will join his teammates in the top 10 after qualifying ninth at Dover. Driving the No. 24 DuPont Monte Carlo, he will start to the inside of Steve Park on Row 5. After winning the NASCAR Busch Series pole position earlier in the day, Joe Nemechek will use a provisional to start 37th on Sunday in the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevy. Live coverage of Sunday’s Winston Cup event at Dover International Speedway will begin at 12:30 p.m. EDT on MRN Radio and the FOX television network.