Hendrick Teams Fast on Saturday at Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (April 17, 2004) – Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte were all quick in Saturday’s final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series practice at Martinsville Speedway, as each posted one of the 10 fastest laps in the session. Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, was second overall at 91.753 mph, while Gordon, the pole-sitter for Sunday’s 500-lap race, was fourth in the No. 24 DuPont Chevy. Driving the No. 5 Kellogg’s Monte Carlo, Labonte was seventh, putting three Hendrick Motorsports teams in the top 10. Brian Vickers was 22nd-fastest in the No. 25 GMAC Financial Services Chevrolet. Sunday will mark the rookie’s first NEXTEL Cup start at Martinsville. Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove his No. 8 Chevrolet to the quickest lap in “Happy Hour” at 92.012 mph. With a lap of 91.963 mph, Labonte was third in the first of two practices on Saturday. The two-time Cup Series champion was followed by Gordon in seventh, Johnson in ninth and Vickers in 14th. Mark Martin posted the fastest lap in the early practice at 92.097 mph. Sunday’s event will be broadcast live by FOX (1 p.m. ET) and MRN Radio (12:30 p.m. ET).