Team Lowe’s Fast in New Hampshire Happy Hour

LOUDON, N.H. (Sept. 14, 2002) -- Rookie Jimmie Johnson paced Hendrick Motorsports in the final “Happy Hour” practice at New Hampshire International Speedway on Saturday, posting the eighth-fastest time of the day’s second session. Johnson had a quick time of 29.654 seconds and a speed of 128.441 mph, putting 43 laps on the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet in preparation for Sunday’s New Hampshire 300. Four-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon was 18th overall in the No. 24 DuPont Chevy, with Joe Nemechek 26th in the No. 25 UAW-Delphi Monte Carlo and Terry Labonte 33rd in the No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevrolet. In the day’s first practice, Gordon led all HMS teams with the 18th-best time, followed by Johnson in 19th, Nemechek in 31st and Labonte in 34th. Greg Biffle was fastest in Happy Hour, posting a lap of 29.350 seconds and 129.772 mph, while Ward Burton paced the early practice at 29.421 seconds and 129.459 mph.