Qualifying: Elliott's third of the year

Elliott circled the flat one-mile oval in 28.971s (131.469mph) to bump Rusty Wallace from the front spot. Wallace ended up third at 29.048s. Late-runner Mike Skinner surprisingly took second for Morgan-McClure, that team's best starting spot this season. Bobby Labonte was fourth and Dave Blaney fifth.

With qualifying concluded, the teams' attention will turn to the new corner configurations here. Track management widened the oval 12ft on the apron side of the corners in the spring in an attempt to allow for passing.

Initial opinions varied. At the Busch Series race here in May, at least a few drivers found ways to make the wider surface work, but success was far from unanimous.

Thanks to some last-minute arm-twisting, NASCAR again was able to make up a full grid. As of Wednesday, only 41 cars had been entered, but Kirk Shelmerdine made a late entry, and Travis Carter reached into the deep-freeze for his No. 66 entry, enlisting Geoff Bodine to drive.

Oddly, Bodine originally had been retained to qualify Carter's No. 26 in place of brother Todd, who was qualifying his Busch car at St. Louis. Instead, Dennis Setzer ran the 26 car Friday. Todd Bodine will return to drive the No. 26 Sunday.