Joliet, IL (Best E Casino) - Persistent rain forced NASCAR officials to cancel qualifying for the LifeLock.com 400 at the Chicagoland Speedway. Rain fell on the track just after Sprint Cup practice. Officials made a valiant effort to dry the track for qualifying, but another storm moved through the area, giving NASCAR no other option but to pull the plug.
By rule, the Sprint Cup starting grid for Saturday night's 400-mile race at Chicagoland will be set by the current owner points. Kyle Busch will start on the pole with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on the outside of the first row.
Jeff Burton and Carl Edwards will start in row two.
Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Jimmie Johnson (fifth), Jeff Gordon (sixth), Kasey Kahne (eighth), Matt Kenseth (ninth), Tony Stewart (12th), Kevin Harvick (13th) and Ryan Newman (17th).
Without the opportunity to make a qualifying attempt, Johnny Sauter and Tony Raines will miss Saturday's race.
After scoring his sixth victory this year in a wild finish under the lights at Daytona last weekend, Busch is looking to continue his winning ways as the series kicks off its second half of the season at Chicagoland.
His previous finishes at Chicagoland have been third, 13th, and 14th.
Busch carries a 182-point lead into Chicagoland, while his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Stewart is on the brink of losing his 12th-place spot with eight races to go before the "Chase" begins. Stewart is just two points ahead of 13th-place Harvick. The 12th spot is the cutoff point for "Chase" eligibility.
Stewart is the defending winner at Chicagoland. Stewart passed up new tires on the final pit stop and the strategy worked as he captured his first victory of the 2007 season. He also won there in 2004. He has scored five top-five finishes in seven starts at Chicagoland.
Earlier on Thursday, Stewart announced he'll merge with Haas CNC Racing in 2009 to serve as both driver and owner of the newly-formed Stewart-Haas Racing.
Stewart, who will acquire a 50-percent share of the team, and Haas CNC general manager Joe Custer made the announcement at Chicagoland.
He was granted a release from the final year of his contract with JGR on Wednesday, a move that will take effect at the conclusion of the 2008 season.
Meanwhile, the weather at the track looks much better for tomorrow night's Nationwide Series race with the forecast calling for mostly clear skies, but Saturday's forecast for the "Cup" race calls for scattered showers with a 50- percent chance of rain.
The green flag is scheduled to drop on Saturday around 8 p.m. (et).
