10/09/2008 - Concord, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Persistent rain forced NASCAR to cancel Thursday night's qualifying for the Bank of America 500 at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.
By rule, the starting lineup for Saturday's Sprint Cup Series race will be set by owner points, giving Jimmie Johnson the pole position. Johnson leads all active drivers with five victories at Lowe's, including four straight from 2004-05.
"To have the first pit stall is going to be helpful since things happen on pit road," Johnson said. "It is an advantage being in that first pit stall at Lowe's Motor Speedway."
Johnson currently holds a 72-point lead over Carl Edwards, who will start on the outside pole.
Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton will make up row two, while Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick will start in the third row.
The remaining "Chase for the Sprint Cup" contenders - Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin - will start seventh through 12th, respectively.
Bryan Clauson, Brad Keselowski, Scott Speed and Derrike Cope did not make the field. Clauson, Keselowski and Speed were attempting to make their first career Sprint Cup starts this weekend at Lowe's.
Rain also scrubbed Sprint Cup practice in the afternoon, while Nationwide Series practice was cut short.
Johnson, competing in both races this weekend at Lowe's, expected a busy day at the track, but that wasn't the case.
"I made seven laps in the Nationwide car, looked at my Cup car, ate a bunch of junk food in the trailer and now I'm ready to go home, I guess," Johnson said.
Sprint Cup final practice is scheduled for Friday evening. The green flag is scheduled to drop Saturday around 7:30 p.m. (et).
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Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver
Mike Walker, safety Reggie Nelson and defensive tackle Rob Meier did not
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Walker has knee troubles and has not taken th
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Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brian Griese
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Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami Heat center Jamaal Magloire suffered
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JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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