Related articles:

Rain gives Johnson pole at Charlotte

Health Care
Rio Salado College
PA's/Online Instructors General
CORT
WAREHOUSE/DRIVER Construction
Komatsu Equipment Co
Mechanic Education
Assessment Technology, Inc
Social Studies Content Writer General
CORT
Warehouse Supervisor

CONCORD, N.C. — Jimmie Johnson could only look at his car Thursday, spending most of the afternoon eating junk food in his team's hauler and watching it rain.

Before nightfall, the Sprint Cup points leader had been awarded more treats — the pole, the first pit stall and likely five points for leading the first lap — for the Bank of America 500 on Saturday night.

Johnson hopes the gift will help him regain his dominance at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

The steady drizzle that first canceled the afternoon practice session did not subside, and NASCAR called off qualifying 90 minutes before it was scheduled to begin.

The field was set based on owner points. Johnson and Carl Edwards, 72 points behind the leader, will start on the front row in the midpoint race in the Chase for the championship.

After winning five of six points races at the track from 2003-05, Johnson has not won since, coinciding with the track's resurfacing. He finished 39th in May's Coca-Cola 600 after blowing an engine.

"The advantage we had years back has kind of gone away," Johnson said. "Kasey Kahne has more momentum here than just about anyone so far over the last two or three years. We've been right there. We've been a good top-five car, but I hope we can get that magic back."

Greg Biffle, 77 points behind Johnson, will start third, followed by Jeff Burton, Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick.

Tony Stewart will start seventh, followed by Jeff Gordon.

CONCORD, N.C. — When Regan Smith passed Tony Stewart on the last lap at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, he was certain he'd just earned his first Sprint Cup Series victory.

But when NASCAR ruled the pass illegal, Smith figured he was, for sure, a career-best second. Still unhappy with his runner-up finish, he went to argue his case in the NASCAR office after the finish.

So imagine his surprise when he saw he had dropped to 18th.

"I thought I was going to plead my case (for) first or second," Smith said Thursday at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Instead, Smith's pass of Stewart under the yellow out-of-bounds line at the bottom of the track was disqualified. His penalty was being dropped to the end of the lead lap.

He was adamant that he believed the rule was "anything goes" on the last lap of a restrictor-plate race.

But a day after the finish, NASCAR clarified that passing under the line would never be tolerated on any lap.

● Non-Wing Sprints and Dirt Modifieds will be featured Saturday at USA Raceway. Gates open at 5 p.m., racing begins at 7. Tickets: adults $15; seniors, military & juniors (12-16), $12; children 11 and under, free. USA Raceway is located off Interstate 10 at Exit 265, then take Alvernon Way to Los Reales Road.