Mark Martin seems to be enjoying his time Saturday at Dover...More pix at the bottom of this page...

Rain Postpones Race To Monday

DOVER, DE (June 3, 2007; posted at 3:30 p.m./AT) - Rain has postponed the Autism Speaks 400 until Monday at 1 p.m./AT, Noon/ET. The race will be broadcast on FOX.

Qualifying Notes

• Ryan Newman won the Bud Pole for the Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa with a lap of 23.541 seconds, 152.925 mph. This is his third top-10 start in 2007 – all Bud Poles.
• Newman, who also won the Bud Pole at Charlotte, posted his first back-to-back Bud Poles since Atlanta- Texas in November 2005.
• Jeremy Mayfield holds the track qualifying record with a lap of 22.288 seconds, 161.522 mph set on June 4, 2004.
• Dale Earnhardt Jr. qualified second with a lap of 23.624 seconds, 152.38 mph and will join Newman on the front row. It is his sixth top-10 start and best starting position of the season.
• Bobby Labonte (third) posted his best qualifying effort since he started third at Bristol in August 2006.
• Juan Pablo Montoya (16th) was the highest qualifying rookie.
• Scott Riggs (10th) was the fastest of the drivers required to make the field on time.
• Michael Waltrip will make his first start since the Daytona 500 February 18; Waltrip qaulified his No. 55 23rd on the field.
• This weeks DNQ (Did not Qualify) list includes: Dave Blaney; Paul Menard; Kenny Wallace; David Reutimann; Mike Bliss; and Kevin Lepage.

TV Schedule

Practice: Friday, June 1 (SPEED at 1 p.m./AT, Noon/ET)

Qualifying: Friday, June 1 (SPEED at 4 p.m./AT, 3 p.m./ET)

Practice: Saturday, June 2 (SPEED at 11 a.m./AT, 10 a.m./ET)

Final Practice: Saturday, June 2 (SPEED at 2 p.m./AT, 1 p.m./ET)

Pre-Race: Sunday, June 3 (SPEED at Noon/AT, 11 a.m./ET)

Race: Sunday, June 3 (FOX at 2 p.m./AT, 1 p.m./ET)

Related News

• 5/30: Storylines - Autism Speaks 400
• 5/30: Entry List (PDF)
• 6/1: Friday Practice (PDF)
• 6/1: Qualifying Order (PDF)
• 6/1: Qualifying Results (PDF)
• 6/1: Starting Lineup(PDF)
• 6/2: Saturday First Practice (PDF)
• 6/2: Saturday Final Practice (PDF)

Green Flag Fast Facts
The Race: Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa
The Place: Dover International Speedway, Dover, Del.
The Date: Sunday, June 3
The Time: 2:30 p.m./AT, 1:30 p.m./ET
TV: FOX, 2 p.m./AT, 1 p.m./ET
The Track: 1 mile oval
The Distance: 400 miles; 400 laps
The Purse: $5,781,700
2006 Winner: Matt Kenseth
2006 Pole: Ryan Newman
Pre-Race Schedule (local/ET time): Friday—Practice, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Qualifying—3:15 p.m. Saturday—Practice, 10-10:50 a.m. and 1:20-2:20 p.m.
Year-To-Date Standings: click here

Green Flag Notes...

• Sunday’s event features the Car of Tomorrow – NASCAR’s next-generation race car. It’s the sixth race this year for the new car, and it brings with it some unique challenges. Weather negated a scheduled Dover test three weeks ago, but crew chiefs likely will mine Bristol Motor Speedway data (Bristol was the first track to host the new car, which will compete fulltime in 2008). And any transference isn’t farfetched: Dover’s high-banked concrete surface mimics Bristol’s similar half-mile, providing an intriguing challenge for teams’ set-up abilities this weekend.
• Following Saturday’s NASCAR Busch Series event at Dover International Speedway, fans have the opportunity to tackle the Monster Mile themselves – all for a good cause. The fourth annual NASCAR Foundation Track Walk allows fans to walk Dover’s high-banked one-mile surface. It also kicks off the Foundation’s charity walk season, which raises funds via walks that benefit the organization and its Family of Charities. Participating fans won’t walk without some stars in their midst. Drivers Greg Biffle, Juan Pablo Montoya, J.J. Yeley (No. 18 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet), Ward Burton (No. 4 State Water Heaters Chevrolet) and Dale Jarrett (No. 44 UPS Toyota) will join in to support the Foundation and their own non-profit organizations. The Victory Junction Gang Camp, the Women’s Auxiliary of Motorsports and volunteers from Central Delaware YMCA also will participate.
• Jamie McMurray apparently welds a mean chef’s apron. On Friday, he’ll make a return appearance on Dover Downs is Cooking, a popular local program featuring celebrity chef Fred Bohn. The show is taped in the Rollins Center at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, which is located adjacent to the track. McMurray first visited the show last season, following the lead of other drivers who have appeared on the show – Kasey Kahne, Michael Waltrip (No. 55 NAPA Toyota) and Sterling Marlin (No. 14 Ginn Resorts Chevrolet).
• Two members of the entertainment world will participate in Sunday’s pre-race ceremonies. Actress Catherine Bell will serve as the honorary Grand Marshal which means uttering the most famous words in motorsports: “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!” Bell is known for her work in the television series, JAG. She’s now a part of the new Lifetime Television series, Army Wives.
• Reprise Warner Brothers recording artists Tiffany Affair will perform the National Anthem prior to Sunday’s event. The members of the group are Ayanna, 18; Bianca, 18 and Gabrielle, 16.
• Juan Pablo Montoya (No. 42 Texaco/ Havoline Dodge) continues to hold off David Ragan (No. 6 AAA Insurance Ford) in the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title, but Ragan is sticking close. Prior to last week’s Coca-Cola 600, Montoya led Ragan by only four points in the rookie standings. He added two more points post-race, but the battle certainly remains worth watching.
• The latest Manufacturers Championship standings correspond with Chevrolet’s winning streak. Thanks to Casey Mears, Chevrolet holds a 41-point spread over second-place Ford.
• Since the season’s eighth race at Phoenix, Hendrick Motorsports has won five in a row and looked impressive. This weekend, the streak may end. Over the past four races at Dover International Speedway, only Jimmie Johnson has a win for Hendrick. Over the past two years, Roush Fenway Racing has risen to the top, with Matt Kenseth winning this race last year – almost turning the Dover sweep – and Greg Biffle (No. 16 3M Ford) winning in spring 2005.
• How much difference does a win make? Ask Casey Mears, who jumped five spots from 35th to 30th in this week’s car owner standings thanks to last Sunday’s victory in the Coca-Cola 600. Not only did Mears snare his first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup win, he climbed out of “bubble” danger in the top 35. Those teams ranked in the top 35 of the owner standings each week are guaranteed starting positions. Those who are not must qualify on time – Mears’ near-predicament until last weekend. This week’s bubble team – in position No. 35 – is the Gene Haas-owned No. 70 Chevrolet driven by Johnny Sauter. Another driver who distanced himself from 35th last week is Ricky Rudd. His No. 88 Ford owned by Robert Yates jumped three spots, to 31st, thanks to Rudd’s seventh-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600. Meanwhile, the watch remains for former series champion Bill Elliott, who came out of semi-retirement last week to drive the No. 21 Ford owned by Glen Ford. Past champions have six provisional starting spots they can use in a season; Elliott qualified for the Coca-Cola 600 and has four career wins at Dover.

Photo Gallery - Saturday, June 2


Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes a break during Saturday practice...

Photo Gallery - Friday, June 1


Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jeff Gordon (left) and Casey Mears (right) chat on pit road while awaiting their qualifying runs...
Ryan Newman readies for his qualifying run - on which he earned his this Bud Pole for 2007. More pix at the end of this page...

IMPORTANT: All information, schedules and/or scheduled events is/are subject to change without notice. Please check with the source to confirm.