Daytona qualifying a wash, Hendrick drivers in top 13

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 2, 2010) -- Hendrick Motorsports drivers will line up in the top 13 for Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Daytona International Speedway after Friday's qualifying session was canceled because of inclement weather. Roughly 12 drivers were able to qualify on Friday before thunderstorms halted activity at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. Eventually, NASCAR officials decided to cancel qualifying and the starting lineup was set according to the owner points. Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's/KOBALT Tools Chevrolet, will start from the outside pole position. This is the first time Johnson has started from the front row in the July event. Jeff Gordon will line up his No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet in fifth. Gordon, along with teammate Johnson, leads all drivers this season with eight top-five finishes. Mark Martin, driver of the No. 5 CARQUEST Auto Parts/GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, will start 11th, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will roll off the grid in 13th in his No. 88 National Guard '8 Soldiers 8 Missions'/AMP Energy Chevrolet. Saturday's race will be televised on TNT at 7:30 p.m. ET.