Forty-six cars were to contend for 43 starting spots. With qualifying rained out, the lowest three cars in
current owner points failed to make the field -- the No. 10 Gillett Evernham Motorsports Dodge driven by
Patrick Carpentier, the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Chevrolet driven by John Andretti and the No. 21 Wood
Brothers Ford driven by Jeff Green.
Both Kurt Busch and Dale Jarrett qualify for the race as past Cup champions. Among those required to make
the field on speed, Ken Schrader, Joe Nemechek, Mike Skinner, Michael Waltrip, Brian Vickers and David
Reutimann will race on Sunday, based on their standing in 2008 owner points.
Johnson was happy to claim the top starting position, even if he didn't win it on the track.
"This is one of the most important tracks for qualifying position and pit road pick," he said. "We worked
awfully hard last year to be where we are, and we'll take it."
It was another hard-luck day for the Wood Brothers, who had put Green, a previous pole winner at Bristol,
in the driver's seat this week. Bill Elliott had attempted to qualify for three of the previous four races
in the No. 21 car and would have qualified for the race as a past champion under rainout rules.
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