Strong Second-Round Run Puts Elliott in Atlanta Field

Bill Elliott, making his final start as an owner-driver, led second-round qualifying Saturday for today’s NAPA 500 in Hampton, Ga.

Elliott, also switching next season from the Fords he has driven for his entire career to the new Dodge Intrepids that will be fielded by Ray Evernham’s new team, turned a lap of 192.427 mph to grab the 26th position in the 43-car field at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

That speed would have been good enough for fifth if he had run it Friday during the opening round of time trials.

Elliott was 44th Friday with a lap of 187.926.

Bobby Hamilton took the 27th starting position with a lap of 192.340, just beating son Bobby Hamilton Jr., who will make his Winston Cup debut after qualifying at 192.320. The younger Hamilton, a regular in the Busch Series and driving for Chip Ganassi Racing at this event, won his first career pole last week at Homestead, Fla.

Jeff Gordon had earned the pole position Friday.

A storm front washed out the final scheduled Winston Cup practice and the ARCA Georgia Boot 400 on Saturday. It also threatens today’s race.

The forecast for today calls for a 100% chance of rain in the morning and not much better weather later in the day.

If the race is rained out, it will be rescheduled for Monday.