Showdown qualifying cancelled due to rain

Qualifying for Saturday night’s Sprint Showdown at Lowe’s Motor Speedway has been canceled by rain, giving Penske Racing’s David Stremme the top starting spot for the 40-lap exhibition event.

The rest of the Showdown field, out of which the top two finishers will transfer into the Sprint All-Star Race, was set according to the random qualifying draw held earlier in the day.

Kirk Shelmerdine, who drew the first starting spot, will drop to the rear because of post-qualifying adjustments not allowed under NASCAR's impound rule. Shelmerdine cut a tire and hit the wall in practice and was scrambling to get his car ready for Saturday.

Second-place starter Carl Long had a motor replaced and will also be forced to start at the rear.

The rest of the top 10 were Prism Motorsports' Dave Blaney, Tommy Baldwin Racing's Scott Riggs, Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Martin Truex Jr., Roush Fenway Racing's David Ragan, Penske Racing's Sam Hornish Jr., Germain Racing's Max Papis and Richard Petty Motorsports' AJ Allmendinger.