Want to know even more about Jimmie Johnson and Team 48? See what journalists from around the country are saying about Team Lowe's Racing.
Rain canceled today’s qualifying session for the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. As a result, the 43-car field for Saturday night’s 500-lap race around the .533-mile concrete oval was set by taking the fastest lap each driver posted during Friday’s practice session, per the NASCAR rulebook.
Jimmie Johnson will start 37th after his fast lap in practice was 16.032 seconds at 119.686 mph.
Casey Mears will start first as he posted the fastest speed in Friday’s practice session with a lap of 15.701 seconds at 122.209 mph. Joining him on the outside of row one is Brad Keselowski, who clocked in at 15.707 seconds at 122.162 mph. Greg Biffle (15.712 seconds at 122.123 mph), Joey Logano (15.728 seconds at 121.999 mph) and Aric Almirola (15.728 seconds at 121.999 mph) comprise the remainder of the top-five. While Logano and Almirola both ran the exact same time, Logano’s 18th-place point standing gives him the tiebreaker, as Almirola is 21st in points.
Forty-seven drivers were slated to qualify for the 43-car field. The four drivers who will not start the event are Scott Speed, Kelly Bires, Reed Sorenson and J.J. Yeley.
The Irwin Tools Night Race gets underway at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday with live coverage provided by ABC beginning with a pre-race show at 7 p.m.