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Qualifying Rained Out Again

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 2008

HAMPTON, Ga. - Another week, another rainout.

And, oh, by the way: another pole for Jimmie Johnson.

Rain washed of Sprint Cup qualifying for the third consecutive week Friday, forcing NASCAR to set the field on points at Atlanta Motor Speedway. It gave Johnson the top starting spot, and put the 11 drivers chasing him for the title right on his bumper.

Greg Biffle, who trails Johnson by 149 points with four races to go, will start second. Jeff Burton, who is 152 points out, starts third Sunday.

"It makes it sort of boring, takes the excitement out of it because the 12 guys are starting right there," Biffle said. "A lot of times we're talking about, 'Well, this guy is starting 30th, and this guy is 18th.' Other than that, it's kind of uneventful for us."

It's the ninth pole of the season for Johnson, and four of them have been handed to him because of rain. But that starting spot is critical at this time of the season, when Johnson is closing in on his third straight Sprint Cup title.

"In one respect, I am excited with starting on pole," Johnson said. "Then on the other side of me, I say 'Well, I still think I could have been top 10 in qualifying and maybe some of the others could have been further back.'

"Who knows what could have happened?"

The rainout prevented Joey Logano from making the field. The 18-year-old has been trying to get his first Cup start, but rain has washed out both attempts.

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