Another qualifying rainout gives Johnson pole at AMS

HAMPTON, Ga. -- For the third consecutive week, the fourth time in the Chase for the Sprint Cup and the 10th time this season, persistent rain forced cancelation of qualifying for a Cup event.

With the field set according to owner points, Jimmie Johnson will start from the pole in Sunday's Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the seventh race in the Chase. For the third consecutive week, Johnson not only will have the top starting spot but also will get the first pick of pit stalls -- ensuring he will pit in box No. 1, closest to the exit of pit road.

As was the case at Lowe's Motor Speedway (Oct. 11) and Martinsville (this past Sunday), the 12 Chase drivers will start from the top 12 positions. Greg Biffle, second in the standings and 149 points behind Johnson, starts on the outside of the front row. Jeff Burton occupies the third spot on the grid, followed by Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch.

Johnson considers the rainout a mixed blessing. He starts first, but the rest of the Chasers are bunched tightly behind him.

"I have mixed feelings about it," Johnson said (watch video). "It's great to have the guaranteed pit stall. The other side of things is that maybe I could have qualified in the top 10, and someone else might have been farther back.

"Track position is so important. If you start in the top five, it's easier to stay in the top five, rather than start 15th and have to work your way up into the top five."

When the rain abated late in the afternoon, the Cup cars began practice, but no car completed more than six laps before rain stopped the proceedings.

Notes
• Joey Logano and Bryan Clauson were rainout victims and will miss Sunday's race. Clauson has yet to make his Cup debut, having also lost his chance to a rainout at Lowe's.

• The field for the E-Z-Go 200 Craftsman Truck Series race also was set according to owner points, when NASCAR canceled Saturday's scheduled qualifying session to make room for practice before the race, which starts at 1:30 p.m. ET. Johnny Benson (pole) and Ron Hornaday are the front-row starters (race lineup).