Darlington Qualifying Canceled

Darlington Qualifying Canceled DARLINGTON, S.C. (Aug. 30, 2002) -- NASCAR Winston Cup Series practice and qualifying were canceled at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Friday due to inclement weather after steady rain fell throughout the morning and afternoon. The starting grid for Sunday’s Mountain Dew Southern 500 will be determined by owner points, putting two Hendrick Motorsports teams in the top five. Defending Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon will start third in the No. 24 Dupont Chevy, with rookie Jimmie Johnson fifth in the No. 48 Lowe’s Monte Carlo. Two-time champion Terry Labonte will start 19th in the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet and Joe Nemechek 37th in the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Chevy. Series leader Sterling Marlin will start on the pole Sunday. Friday’s NASCAR Busch Series schedule also fell victim to the weather as practice and qualifying were canceled, leaving Saturday’s Gatorade 200 lineup subject to owner points as well. Jack Sprague will start third in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 NetZero Chevy, while teammate Ricky Hendrick will be 21st on the grid in the No. 5 GMAC Monte Carlo. Saturday’s schedule, including the Busch Series event and two 45-minute Winston Cup practices, remains unchanged, although more inclement weather is in the forecast.