Elliott Sadler (left) qualified third for the Brickyard 400. Credit: Autostock

Saturday Brickyard 400 Notebook

SPEEDWAY, Ind. -- They're dancing the streets of South Boston, Va. - population 8,491 - and Emporia, Va. - population 5,665.

The two towns, 85 miles apart in southern Virginia, are home to the second- and third-place qualifiers in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ward Burton, who starts second, is from South Boston, while third-place starter Elliott Sadler is from Emporia.

"I think it's great," Sadler said. "Ward and I grew up about an hour and 40 minutes apart and we both kind of cut our teeth at South Boston Speedway and Orange County (Speedway in Rougemont, N.C.) in the Late Model Stock Cars and kind of knew the same people growing up.

Brickyard 400 Happy Hour Speeds Lineup 1st Practice Speeds 2nd Practice Speeds

"I think we learned a lot racing at those tracks. South Boston was probably one of the toughest places to race and, instead of running 25 and 50-lap features, we were running 150 and 200-lap features, so you had to learn how to drive your car on old tires.

"A lot of great drivers have come from that area, and I remember watching Ward drive the 12 car there many times going to watch those guys race. It's just a great area to come from."

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While most Nextel Cup drivers live in the Charlotte, N.C. area, Sadler and Burton remain in southern Virginia. Burton said he and Sadler stayed in Virginia where their "heritage and roots feel true to ourselves."

"The chance of leaving ol' Virginia are very slim," Burton said. "I think Elliott's the same way."

Burton is right.

"I love being around my family," Sadler said. "I love being around where I was raised. We both like the outdoors so much. We're both pretty much outdoorsmen and do a lot of hunting and fishing and stuff during the wintertime, and you can't really do that in downtown Charlotte.

"I love my family a lot. I love being around my mom and dad. I love being around my brother and my sister, and my four nieces mean more to me than anything. If I live in Charlotte, that's time that I can't spend with them, so that's why I still live at home in Virginia."

Though Burton is 14 years older than Sadler, their careers aren't that far apart. Sadler came along about six or seven years after Burton, so the two had to battle the same drivers on the way up.

"My heroes are the Barry Beggarlys and the Maurice Hills of the world," Burton said. "I had the same folks back home, and I'm sure Elliott did, too. It means a lot to see Elliott and his brother and other folks that come from that area and do well."

Leffler comes up short

ALSO Leffler fastest in first practice

While Burton was happy about qualifying second, Haas CNC Racing teammate Jason Leffler was bummed about ending up 25th after he was fastest in Friday's practice.

"It sucked," Leffler said.

Leffler brushed the wall on his qualifying attempt but said that wasn't the reason he slowed from 184.460 to 181.980.

"The motor ran great. The car pulled good," Leffler said. "I just don't know why it was so slow. It's a little disappointing. I though we had something.

Andretti misses first Brickyard 400

John Andretti loves the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as much as anyone, but he won't be racing this weekend. Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't need him as a relief driver Sunday, so Andretti will be on the sidelines for the first time in the Brickyard 400.

"I think Junior is in good shape," Andretti said. "I haven't spoken to him, and nobody has said anything to me. They know that of they need me for anything, especially Junior, then I am more than willing to help if I can."

Andretti relieved Earnhardt Jr. last weekend at Pocono Raceway.

(Almost) Front Row Joe

Joe Nemechek has been a terror in qualifying this season, and he posted his second consecutive top-five qualifying spot with a fourth-place effort at the Brickyard. He was second last week at Pocono and has started ninth or better nine times year.

"I tried getting the pole but I got a little bit loose getting in (Turn) 4," Nemechek said. "I was trying to get everything I could get. The thing stepped out real bad and I had to come out of the gas all the way. It kind of hurt my exit speed a little bit off of 4.

"We struggled a little bit (Friday) in practice and just couldn't quite get the handle. Then we finally put what we thought was in it right and put a set of stickers on and it was incredible. The speed was fast."

Harvick and Stewart struggle

On the end of the spectrum were Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick. Stewart was 24th, while Harvick, the defending pole and race winner, was only 32nd Saturday.

Kevin Harvick Credit: Autostock

"That definitely wasn't the lap we wanted to put down," Harvick said. "The car was terribly tight in all four corners. I lost a bit too when I hit the wall between Turns 1 and 2 on my first lap. I really thought we might get some help with the clouds, but that didn't even help. I'm sure going out so late didn't help either."

Stewart went out early but couldn't find enough speed. That's his lowest qualifying effort in six Brickyard 400 starts, but Stewart took it in stride. He told crew chief Greg Zipadelli on Friday that "no matter what happens, we're going to have fun this weekend." Stewart said.

"This is a terrible day," Stewart said. "Last year I'd be pretty wound tight right now."

But 2004 has been different. Jay Drake, Stewart's USAC Silver Crown driver, won at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Thursday with Stewart in attendance, and Stewart went to Eldora Speedway in Ohio on Friday to watch his World of Outlaws driver, Danny Lasoski, finish sixth.

"I've had a fun week," Stewart said. "I'm doing things that I enjoy doing instead of doing things that people make us do. We've just not obligated ourselves to anything but having fun. I had fun seeing my mom yesterday. I'm about to see some friends of mine up in our suite in a minute when you guys get done grilling me. Whatever happens, if we finish 43rd or if I wreck on the last lap leading, we're going to have a fun weekend no matter what."

Pruett released from hospital

Scott Pruett used a provisional to make the Brickyard 400 after wrecking his Dodge on Friday. Credit: Autostock

Scott Pruett was released from Methodist Hospital on Friday afternoon and was cleared to qualify Saturday morning by the IMS track doctor, Dr. Henry Bock. Pruett had a grinding crash in Friday's practice and had X-rays done but is OK.

Pruett was the slowest of 49 cars that posted qualifying times but said he went so slow because he was making sure the backup "car was OK." He got a provisional and will start 42nd.

"I'm sore," Pruett said. "That was a backup car. The guys did a good job getting everything together. It's rough not come here and testing and having a big shot and then going in the fence (Friday). I can feel it. It's sore. It hurts today."

Pruett skipped Happy Hour to fly to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for a Grand-Am sports car race Saturday night.

"It's going to be close to get there right before the race," Pruett said. "Max (Papis) is going to start. We're on the pole there."