Rain cancels Cup qualifying again at Watkins Glen

JIM UTTER

The Charlotte Observer

Friday, Aug. 08, 2008

• Final Cup speeds | Johnson, Robby Gordon fast in final round
• Early Cup practice | Ambrose at top of chart in Saturday's first session
• Sunday's lineup | Rain, rules set field
• Video | Watkins Glen preview
• David Poole's blog | The road course debate rages on
• Winless in August? | Stewart and Gordon glad to see Wtakins Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - There's an easy way for Kyle Busch to end his "mini-skid" in the Sprint Cup Series: Have NASCAR and the weather do it for him.

Thanks to NASCAR's decision Friday to cancel Sprint Cup Series qualifying because of inclement weather, Busch got an assist in halting his recent slump in starting positions. With the field set by the NASCAR rulebook, Busch will start from the pole in Sunday's Centurion Boats at the Glen at Watkins Glen International (2 p.m. Eastern, ESPN).

In his past two races, Busch - the series points leader - hasn't started better than 19th and hasn't finished better than 15th, although he still maintains a 176-point advantage over second-place Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the standings.

Busch leads the series with seven wins and could clinch the No. 1 position in the Chase for the Sprint Cup with a victory Sunday.

Busch, however, said he is not focused on any such advantage.

"You go out there and run as hard as you can in practice, qualifying and the race, and see what you've got.

"Whether you win or run out of gas and finish 36th, it doesn't matter at this point," Busch said. "Second through 36th don't really matter, but a win would be nice."

Despite the recent "slump" no team in the Cup series has better capitalized on opportunities to win this season than Busch's No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team. Just ask his competitors.

"We are excited about the way the year has been going. It's been a pretty phenomenal season for us," Busch said.

"We've also had a couple bad runs. Hopefully, we can just keep it going in the right direction and try to get everything we can possible for the Chase."

There is a distinct advantage in a rainout for the drivers already in the top 12 of points as they all get to start up front. Earnhardt Jr. starts second, Carl Edwards third, Jimmie Johnson fourth and Jeff Burton rounding out the top five.

Boris Said and Brian Simo were the only drivers who did not make the field for Sunday's race. However, Dodge was able to complete a deal late Friday to have Said - a road racing ace - replace Kyle Petty in the No. 45 Dodge on Sunday.

The driver change requires Said to start from the rear of the field.

"Boris is known around the world as one of the premier road course racers," said Robbie Loomis, a Petty vice president. "He will give us another great opportunity to assess our program."

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