For the second time in four races Coors Light Pole qualifying fell victim to the rain as the grid was set for Sunday's Food City 500 at the Bristol Motor Speedway without a wheel being turned.
The Sprint Cup contenders will have to wait until Saturday's pair of practice sessions at the earliest before they can fully gauge what kind of rubber under-fire tyre supplier Goodyear has brought to the concrete surfaced half-mile Bristol bullring this weekend after opening practice on Friday was curtailed by the weather and then qualifying itself was cancelled altogether.
As was the case three weeks ago in California the starting grid for Sunday's 500-lap marathon was set using the final 2007 owner standings for the first 35 starters followed by any past champions not currently in the top 35 and then the current owner points standings for the final half dozen slots.
The end result was a Hendrick Motorsports front row clean sweep with defending series champion Jimmie Johnson set to lead the field to the green flag followed by Atlanta polewinner Jeff Gordon. Clint Bowyer and Matt Kenseth will share row two with Casey Mears and Tony Stewart on row three.
Sam Hornish Jr will start seventh thanks to Kurt Busch's efforts in the #2 Penske Racing Dodge last season on what is a critical weekend for the triple Indycar Series champion as he fights to keep the re-numbered #77 team inside the top 35 while Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick complete the top ten starters.
Daytona 500 winner Ryan Newman will start 13th with Dale Earnhardt Jr 15th, Juan Montoya 21st, Atlanta winner Kyle Busch 22nd and Dario Franchitti 26th.
Dale Jarrett will make his final points paying start from 37th position as he tries to keep the #44 Michael Waltrip Racing team inside the top 35 before David Reutimann takes over next weekend while the rain also enabled other top 35 hopefuls Brian Vickers, David Reutimann and Michael Waltrip to safely make the field.
![Clint Bowyer and crew chief Gil Martin at Daytona. [Pic Credit Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/190200.jpg)
