GMAC Racing Qualifies Sixth At Homestead

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 13, 2003) – The GMAC Racing team started out this weekend on the right foot at Homestead-Miami Speedway. With the NASCAR Busch Series championship hanging in the balance for the No. 5 team, Brian Vickers and company qualified sixth for the circuit’s season finale. The qualifying effort marks the 17th time in the last 18 races in which GMAC Racing will start from within the top 10. Currently sitting atop the point standings by 22 markers over second-place David Green, the 20-year-old Vickers posted a lap of 176.465 mph and will start on the outside of Row 3, next to Jamie McMurray for Saturday’s 300-mile event. “That lap will give us a good starting spot for Saturday,” Vickers said. “We slowed down a little bit from the practice session earlier in the day, but so did everyone else. Now we’ll turn our focus to getting ready for Saturday.” The top six contenders for the 2003 championship are separated by a mere 89 points, making this year’s title chase the closest in Busch Series history. All six team have a mathematical shot at claiming this season’s prized hardware. NASCAR Winston Cup Series regular Greg Biffle earned the pole for the event with a lap of 177.416 mph. Saturday’s Busch Series finale will be broadcast live on NBC and MRN Radio beginning at 12 p.m. ET.