Centurion Boats at The Glen Qualifying Update

Watkins Glen International -- 08/10/08

Author: Becca Gladden

Published: Sunday Aug 10 2008 2:34am

For what seems like the umpteenth time this season, NASCAR Cup qualifying and practice have been affected by rain.

The schedule at Watkins Glen called for one practice on Friday preceding qualifying, with two subsequent practices on Saturday.

Friday was a rainout, so the Cup cars were not able to qualify and didn't hit the track for practice until Saturday.

The cancellation of qualifying means teams will once again line up by owner's points, putting Kyle Busch (+750) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (+2000) side by side on row one, with Carl Edwards (+1500) and Jimmie Johnson (+1000) behind them in row two.

Rounding out the top 10 on the starting grid are Jeff Burton (+4000), Jeff Gordon (+400), Kasey Kahne (+7500), Greg Biffle (+3000), Tony Stewart (+325) and Denny Hamlin (+1200).

Starting position has traditionally been very important on the road courses because of the difficulty in passing - which will be at an even greater premium this year in the COT.

In fact, only 28% of the 25 Cup races at the Glen have been won from a starting spot outside the top 10 - meaning, statistically, Sunday's race winner will be one of the 10 drivers listed above.

The deepest starting position for a winner was 18th by Steve Park in 2001, while 32% of races here have been won from the pole position itself.

Kyle Busch, starting on the pole, might have a little extra motivation to do well this weekend - not that he really needs any. Busch has already won on two road courses this season - the Nationwide race in Mexico City in April, and the Cup race at Infineon in June.

If Busch wins on Sunday, he will not only be the first driver in NASCAR history to win three road course races in one season, but will also secure his spot in this year's Chase - still five races away.

Some critics have indicated this week that they believe Busch's team has lost a bit of its edge the last two races, finishing 15th at the Brickyard and 36th last week in Pocono. Busch ran 13th and 15th in Saturday's two practice sessions.

Saturday's first practice was led by Marcos Ambrose - who won the Nationwide race on Saturday - with a 121.491 mph practice lap. Following Ambrose (+1300) were Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya (+1200), Denny Hamlin, and Ryan Newman (+2000).

There were a few notable incidents in first practice, including Kyle Busch running off course, though his car sustained no visible damage. Jamie McMurray (+3000) and Patrick Carpentier (+4000) had similar incidents.

In Happy Hour, the top five consisted of Jimmie Johnson, Robby Gordon (+1800), Marcos Ambrose, Kevin Harvick (+1000), and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

David Ragan had a crash in Happy Hour and will be going to a backup car, thereby starting at the rear of the field on Sunday; he otherwise would have started 14th. Kyle Busch reportedly thought he had an engine problem in Happy Hour, but nothing further is known at press time.

Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon, frequently mentioned as road course favorites, will both be starting in the top 10. Stewart was 11th and 7th in practice, while Gordon was 23rd and 6th.

Last week's winner at Pocono, Carl Edwards, practiced 21st and 12th.
Boris Said (+5000) and Brian Simo, two road course "ringers," missed the starting field because of the qualifying rainout, but Said picked up a ride substituting for Kyle Petty in the No. 45 car on Sunday.