Dover Qualifying Report

No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge
September 19, 2008
1-mile Dover (Del.) International Speedway

QUALIFYING RESULTS:
1. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
2. Mark Martin, Chevrolet
3. Denny Hamlin, Toyota
4. Kurt Busch, Dodge
5. Greg Biffle, Ford
38. Kyle Petty, No. 45 Wells Fargo Dodge
42. Bobby Labonte, No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge

Jeff Gordon, trying to jump back into the “Chase for the Sprint Cup,” won the pole for Sunday’s Camping World RV 400 at the Dover International Speedway. Mark Martin and Kurt Busch were the non-Chase contenders to crash the top-5 party as they were interspersed between “Chasers” Denny Hamlin and Greg Biffle. Each manufacturer placed a car inside the top-5.

Bobby Labonte and the No. 43 Cheerios/Betty Crocker Dodge team qualified 42nd for Sunday’s event. Labonte, who won the ‘spring’ race at Dover in 1999, had to deal with a car that was ‘loose’ during the practice sessions. Crew chief Jeff Meendering made adjustments to ‘tighten’ the chassis for qualifying, but they were a bit too much.

“We fought loose, loose, loose all practice, so we had to try something to tighten the car up,” said Labonte. “The adjustments were just a little too strong and the car was really tight. But at least we know that we went in the right direction and we have two practices tomorrow to find that middle ground.”

Sunday’s race will be televised live on ABC. It will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius Channel 128. Pre-race coverage is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM on ABC.