Cup qualifying at Bristol canceled due to rain
Sunday's Food City 500 field set by last year's owner points
NASCAR.COM
March 24, 2006
04:28 PM EST (21:28 GMT)


Persistent light rain and wet conditions forced the cancellation of Friday's activities at Bristol Motor Speedway, including qualifying for the Food City 500.

The starting lineup for Sunday's race (1:30 p.m. ET, FOX) was officially set at 3:40 p.m. ET per the NASCAR rulebook -- or last year's owner points.

Defending Cup champion Tony Stewart will be on the pole, with Greg Biffle sharing the outside of the front row. Carl Edwards will start third, followed by Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson.

Matt Kenseth is seventh, followed in eighth by Jamie McMurray in the No. 26 Ford, formerly the No. 97. Kurt Busch will start ninth based on Rusty Wallace's ranking a year ago in the No. 2 Dodge. Jeremy Mayfield rounds out the top 10.

Saturday's schedule, weather permitting, includes a Busch Series practice from 8-9:30 a.m. ET, followed by a couple of Cup practices (9:30-10:30 a.m. ET and 11:05-11:50 a.m. ET).

Busch Series qualifying for Saturday's Sharpie Mini 300 is set for noon ET, followed by the race at 3 p.m. ET (FOX).