Michigan Qualifying Report NASCAR Sprint Cup Series No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge 2-mile Michigan International Speedway August 15, 2008 QUALIFYING RESULTS: 1. Brian Vickers, Toyota 2. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet 3. Elliot Sadler, Dodge 4. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Chevrolet 5. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet 17. Terry Labonte, No. 45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge 35. Bobby Labonte, No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is making its second stop of the year at the Michigan International Speedway. Brian Vickers picked up his first pole of the season in Friday’s qualifying session, punching his ticket for the all-star race at the beginning of the 2009 season. Terry Labonte and the No. 45 Marathon American Spirit Motor Oil Dodge team qualified 17th for Sunday’s event. T. Labonte picked up .9 seconds from his practice time, which was easily the biggest pickup of anyone in the field. He was on the ‘loose’ side during practice, but crew chief Stewart Cooper made exactly the right changes to the chassis of the No. 45 Dodge. T. Labonte was especially good off of turn two and down the backstretch of the 2-mile, D-shaped oval. “I was able to get to the throttle and stay in it. That was the difference from practice to qualifying,” stated T. Labonte. “It felt really good and I think that showed in the time that we ran. Stewart threw a lot of stuff at the No.45 Marathon Dodge and it was right on. Sometimes you have to do that. You have to swing big and see what happens. Everyone did a great job.” Bobby Labonte and the No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team will start the event form the 35th position. B. Labonte was 27th in practice and happy with his chassis, but he drew the first spot in qualifying order. The sun was bright and beating down on the track at the time he took his qualifying lap. B. Labonte and crew chief Jeff Meendering have a positive attitude about the rest of the weekend. “We were tight in practice, but it was much better in qualifying,” sounded B. Labonte. “It turned really well getting into turn one. I had to feather the throttle a little bit coming off of turn 4, but overall it was pretty good. There is nothing that we can do about the qualifying draw. We’ll just go to work tomorrow during the practice sessions.” Sunday’s race will be televised live on ESPN. It will be broadcast live on the Motor Radio Network (MRN) and Sirius Channel 128. Pre-race coverage is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. (EST).