T. Bodine, Martin quickest in Happy Hour

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Todd Bodine turned the fastest lap in Winston Cup Happy Hour practice Saturday at North Carolina Speedway, picking up 29 positions from the morning session and proving that Friday's third-place qualifying effort was no fluke.

	Todd Bodine is searching for his fifth top-10 of the season. Credit: Autostock

Bodine rounded the gritty, 1.017-mile venue in 24.280 seconds (150.791 mph), nipping Mark Martin for top-billing on the speed chart by a miniscule seven-hundredths of a second.

This bodes well for Bodine, who desperately needs to finish the season strong in order to attract sponsorship. The Discover Card logo currently graces the hood of Bodine's No. 26 Ford, but they have chosen not to return to Haas-Carter Motorsports in 2003.

Martin, a two-time Rockingham winner and Friday's fifth-place qualifier, trails championship points leader Tony Stewart by 146 points heading into Sunday's Pop Secret 400.

Bobby Hamilton's Chevrolet was third quick Saturday, followed by Jimmie Johnson's Chevrolet and Jeff Burton's Ford. Mike Skinner, Friday's fourth-place qualifier, posted the sixth-best time, followed by Jeff Green, Greg Biffle, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Kenny Wallace.

Pop Secret 400  Happy Hour Speeds  Newman on Bud Pole  Lineup

Stewart's Pontiac ranked 20th in Happy Hour after posting the sixth-fastest time in the morning session, which was paced by Rusty Wallace at 24.201 seconds (151.283 mph).

Jeff Gordon's Chevrolet fell from 10th in the morning to 30th in Happy Hour. Likewise for Ryan Newman, who was had second-quickest car in the morning before falling to 35th in Happy Hour. Wallace? He fell from first to 42nd.

Dale Jarrett continues to struggle this weekend. Jarrett, who will start 37th after requiring a provisional to make Sunday's event, was 18th in the morning but fell to 43rd and last in Happy Hour.

Jarrett's time in the final practice session was some eight-tenths of a second off of Bodine's quick pace.