Post by dalejrfan on Jun 4, 2005 13:31:46 GMT -5
DOVER, Del. -- The fact that a Dodge led both practices Saturday for Sunday's MBNA RacePoints 400 at Dover isn't that much of a surprise. The fact that the Dodge was driven by Jeremy Mayfield -- that's something different.
Mayfield posted a lap of 155.871 mph to lead the final practice and a lap of 156.576 to lead the first session. He seemed surprised by his quick times, as well.
"I'm happy with it," Mayfield said. "We weren't even trying to be fastest. We changed two shocks, and now we're putting the other ones back on.
"I think we're going to be in good shape," he said. "We just run good here. We have great cars and this track just seems to fit our style."
Heading into the weekend, Mayfield had won the past two Bud Poles at the Monster Mile. Mayfield will start 13th on Sunday after Friday's qualifying session was rained out and the field was set via the NASCAR rulebook.
"I'm a little upset because we didn't get to qualify. I wanted to make it three in a row."
Mayfield, who announced a new multi-year deal with Evernham Motorsports on Saturday, is also coming off a strong fourth-place finish in last weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
"The best thing about Charlotte was the adjustments Slugger (Labbe, crew chief) and Kenny (Francis, team director) made on the car during the race. We got off track only once the entire night and even then, I could still drive the car."
Mayfield's history at Dover is solid. Mayfield has finished in the top 10 in each of the past three Dover events, most notably a runner-up finish to Ryan Newman in the fall of 2003.
In 21 career starts at the Monster Mile, Mayfield has seven top-10 finishes.
The two drivers that have accounted for five of the past six Dover races were strong, as well. Ryan Newman, who has won three of the past four Dover events, was second in the first practice at 155.837 and seventh in the final practice at 152.749.
Meanwhile, Jimmie Johnson, who swept both races here in 2002, was third in the late practice at 154.772 after struggling slightly in the first practice, where he posted the 16th-quickest lap at 153.978.
Another Dodge driver, Casey Mears, will have to start at the rear of the field because the team changed engines after the first practice.
"It was just tightening up, so we decided to put another one in," team manager Andy Graves said. "You're taking a chance starting in the back, but we'd rather do that than possibly not being able to finish the race."
Meanwhile, Martin Truex Jr. practiced the No. 7 Chevrolet for Robby Gordon during both sessions Saturday. Gordon is competing in the 37th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, Mexico. He is expected to run in Sunday's race at Dover.
Both practices were without incident
Mayfield posted a lap of 155.871 mph to lead the final practice and a lap of 156.576 to lead the first session. He seemed surprised by his quick times, as well.
"I'm happy with it," Mayfield said. "We weren't even trying to be fastest. We changed two shocks, and now we're putting the other ones back on.
"I think we're going to be in good shape," he said. "We just run good here. We have great cars and this track just seems to fit our style."
Heading into the weekend, Mayfield had won the past two Bud Poles at the Monster Mile. Mayfield will start 13th on Sunday after Friday's qualifying session was rained out and the field was set via the NASCAR rulebook.
"I'm a little upset because we didn't get to qualify. I wanted to make it three in a row."
Mayfield, who announced a new multi-year deal with Evernham Motorsports on Saturday, is also coming off a strong fourth-place finish in last weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte.
"The best thing about Charlotte was the adjustments Slugger (Labbe, crew chief) and Kenny (Francis, team director) made on the car during the race. We got off track only once the entire night and even then, I could still drive the car."
Mayfield's history at Dover is solid. Mayfield has finished in the top 10 in each of the past three Dover events, most notably a runner-up finish to Ryan Newman in the fall of 2003.
In 21 career starts at the Monster Mile, Mayfield has seven top-10 finishes.
The two drivers that have accounted for five of the past six Dover races were strong, as well. Ryan Newman, who has won three of the past four Dover events, was second in the first practice at 155.837 and seventh in the final practice at 152.749.
Meanwhile, Jimmie Johnson, who swept both races here in 2002, was third in the late practice at 154.772 after struggling slightly in the first practice, where he posted the 16th-quickest lap at 153.978.
Another Dodge driver, Casey Mears, will have to start at the rear of the field because the team changed engines after the first practice.
"It was just tightening up, so we decided to put another one in," team manager Andy Graves said. "You're taking a chance starting in the back, but we'd rather do that than possibly not being able to finish the race."
Meanwhile, Martin Truex Jr. practiced the No. 7 Chevrolet for Robby Gordon during both sessions Saturday. Gordon is competing in the 37th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 in Ensenada, Mexico. He is expected to run in Sunday's race at Dover.
Both practices were without incident