Atlanta qualifying rained out

Report from Motorsport News International

Thanks to NASCAR Online

Busch Pole Qualifying rescheduled

The final weekend of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series season is here, and while Busch Pole Qualifying for the NAPA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway was postponed until Saturday by rain, drivers were able to get in an initial practice session on the reconfigured 1.54-mile circuit. Saturday they will do it for real, as Busch Pole Qualifying has been reset for 10:30 a.m. EST. ESPN2 will carry qualifying live.

The predictions of speed held true for the "new" track, as 10 drivers topped the 193 mph mark Friday. Terry Labonte and the No. 5 Kellogg's Chevrolet topped them all, at 195.163 mph. He was followed closely by Ward Burton, whose No. 22 Pontiac hit 194.178 mph, and Todd Bodine, whose Team Tabasco Pontiac peaked at 193.717. The title contenders, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jarrett, and Mark Martin were fifth, 11th and eighth- fastest, respectively.

This weekend, all eyes will be on the championship points race, where Gordon holds a narrow advantage. But the pressure is on the DuPont Chevrolet crew, as Jarrett and Martin are pushing hard. Gordon leads Jarrett by only 77 points heading into Sunday's season finale, and he has an 87-point cushion over Martin. Check out the championship scenario.