Rains have washed out NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying for the third time in 2009, putting points leader Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon on the front row for Sunday’s Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

During Friday’s lone practice session at the Magic Mile, Stewart smacked the wall with his No. 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet. With extensive damage to the right side, the team decided to pull out the back-up car. Since NASCAR allows teams to change an engine prior to qualifying, Stewart will be allowed to maintain his pole start.

“I just got loose going in the corner,” Stewart said of Friday’s incident. “Goodyear came down and was worried but it wasn’t a tire problem. I just got loose and once I got out of the groove I was staying right with it I just needed another 50 feet to finish getting gathered up and sliding up. I just ran out of race track.”

Rolling off from the second-spot, veteran Jeff Gordon will be looking for his fourth win at the one-mile flat track. The four-time champ has not been to Victory Lane at New Hampshire since 1998, and was 18th-fastest in Friday’s opening practice.

Starting third will be fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson. The two-time Loudon winner has two top-5s and four top-10s in his last four race at the one-mile track.

Penske Racing’s Kurt Busch was fastest in Friday’s practice session and will start Sunday’s race from the fourth-spot. Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards rounds out the top-5.

STARTING LINE-UP

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