Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont/Nicorette White Ice Mint Chevrolet, speaks with the media prior to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)So there went yet another qualifying session called off due to rain. This is so crazy. I guess at this point in the season it’s not such a big deal, at least to me, because it puts the top 12 drivers in the Chase up front and right next to each other at the start of the race. I think that makes the race more interesting at least for the first few laps.

I was able to catch a portion of the qualifying session coverage on ESPN2 and I watched a segment devoted to Jeff Gordon and his career. I found it kind of odd to be completely honest with you. I was starting to wonder if he had suddenly announced his retirement and I had just missed it in the news somehow. He was talking about how his career and life in racing has changed over the years, about where he is with it all now. It just seemed like they were laying down the groundwork for him to start to make his way out. I know he’s getting there, but it seems a little premature to start humming his swan song.


For the second time, rain has dashed driver Joey Logano's hopes of starting in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Logano was going to qualify for Sunday's Pep Boys Auto 500, but rain cancelled qualifying and the field was set by owner points. (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

For the second time, rain has dashed driver Joey Logano’s hopes of starting in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Logano was going to qualify for Sunday’s Pep Boys Auto 500, but rain cancelled qualifying and the field was set by owner points. (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Ken Schrader, driver of the No. 96 DLP HDTV Toyota, goes through Tech Inspection before practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday. Schrader will start Sunday's race in 40th position (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Ken Schrader, driver of the No. 96 DLP HDTV Toyota, goes through Tech Inspection before practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Friday. Schrader will start Sunday’s race in 40th position (Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Johnny Benson and Ron Hornaday Jr. joked with each other at a news conference Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but on the track, the two veteran drivers are battling for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Johnny Benson and Ron Hornaday Jr. joked with each other at a news conference Friday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but on the track, the two veteran drivers are battling for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship. (Photo Credit: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)