|
By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
March 22, 2003
12:35 PM EST (1735 GMT)
BRISTOL, Tenn. -- Kurt Busch paced Winston Cup Happy Hour practice Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway, serving notice that he is a contender to win a second consecutive Food City 500.
Busch, who ranked fourth in the day's first practice, rounded the half-mile bullring in 15.701 mph (122.209 mph) during Happy Hour to edge Tony Stewart for the top position on the speed chart.
Stewart's 15.722-second lap led the way for much of the session before Busch supplanted him late in the running.
Outside pole-sitter Jeff Gordon was third-quick in the weekend's final practice, followed by Dave Blaney and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the top five. Earnhardt Jr. picked up considerably from morning practice -- when he ranked 33rd -- to Happy Hour.
Meanwhile, pole-sitter Ryan Newman saw his car fall off quite a bit from one practice to the next. He ranked second to Matt Kenseth (15.683 seconds) in the morning's first session, but dropped to 33rd in Happy Hour.
During Bud Pole Qualifying Friday, Newman laid down a blistering 14.91-second lap -- the first sub-15 second effort in BMS history.
Dale Jarrett, who posted nine consecutive top-six finishes between 1995 and 1999, continues to struggle this weekend. After requiring a provisional starting position to make Sunday's field, he ranked 38th and 41st, respectively, in Saturday's practice sessions.
The lone stoppage Saturday came when Sterling Marlin spun during Happy Hour. He managed to save the car without hitting anything.
|
