Nadeau out front during Happy Hour

HAMPTON, Ga. -- Jerry Nadeau, winner of the 2000 season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the race leader in Turn 4 of the final lap at the track last fall before running out of gas, headed up the Happy Hour speed chart Saturday afternoon.

Nadeau, who qualified 26th Friday, barely bested Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR Winston Cup Series points leader Sterling Marlin was third quick, while Matt Kenseth and Jimmy Spencer both ranked among the top-five during the weekend’s final practice session.

Pole-sitter Bill Elliott was eighth in the run-down, while last year’s race-winner Kevin Harvick registered 21st. Bobby Labonte, the beneficiary of Nadeau’s foul luck last November and winner of five of the past 11 races here, was 23rd in practice.

The MBNA America 500 gets underway Sunday at 1 p.m. (FOX TV, PRN Radio).