Gordon on pole after rain prevents qualifying

Autoracing Betting Lines

08/10/2007 - Watkins Glen, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Intermittent showers prevented Nextel Cup drivers from qualifying at the Watkins Glen International road course and per NASCAR rules Jeff Gordon will start on the pole in Sunday's Centurion Boats at the Glen.

It will be the eighth time this season that the No.24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet has started up front. Gordon has won two of the seven and finished in the top-five on all seven occasions.

Starting alongside Gordon will be Denny Hamlin who's No.11 Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet is second in owner points.

Matt Kenseth and Jeff Burton will make up row two.

Five races remain before the "Chase for the Nextel Cup" with four drivers fighting for the final two spots. Just 128 points separate 14th-place Ryan Newman from 11th-place Martin Truex Jr. In between the two are 2004 Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch holding down the final spot and Dale Earnhardt Jr. just seven points out.

Watching these four drivers should be an interesting "race-within-a-race." But none of the four driver are particularly good at road-course events and likely won't get much television time.

When talking camera time at a road course, the first name that comes to mind is Gordon. The four-time Nextel Cup champion has won four times in 14 Watkins Glen starts with an average finish of 10th.

Kevin Harvick, ninth overall, has one win and four top-10s in six starts. His average finish is a very good 8.0.

Tony Stewart has an even better record than Harvick at the New York road course. The No.20 Joe Gibbs Racing driver has made eight starts, winning three times. His average finish is a stellar 6.8. His 2005 win was most impressive leading 83 of 92 laps.

And then there is Juan Pablo Montoya. The Bogota, Colombia native has made two NASCAR road course starts and won them both. Montoya's first foray into a NASCAR road race was in the Busch Series at Mexico City. He won that in relatively easy fashion. He then took on Gordon and Stewart at Infineon Raceway. Although he qualified horribly (32nd), he flew through the field and eventually made the winning pass around Jamie McMurray with eight laps remaining.

Other drivers of note and their starting positions: Stewart (fifth), Carl Edwards (sixth), Jimmie Johnson (seventh), Harvick (ninth), Truex Jr. (11th), Kurt Busch (13th), Earnhardt Jr. (14th) and Newman (15th).

Among those going home without attempting to qualify were Boris Said and Marcos Ambrose.

The race is scheduled to drop the green flag on Sunday at 2 p.m. (et).

Blackjack-internet-blackjack Autoracing Betting News

<< Hantz faces former team
Sochaux, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sochaux coach Frederic Hantz will have an extra incentive to win on Saturday when his club welcomes his former team, Le Mans, to the Stade Auguste Bonal. Hantz made the move in the offseason, and picked

<< Verplank on top at Southern Hills
Tulsa, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oklahoma State graduate Scott Verplank shot a four-under 66 on Friday to take the lead during the second round of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills. Verplank, considered a favorite before the tourn

<< Jags sign K Elling
Jacksonville, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Jacksonville Jaguars signed kicker Aaron Elling and waived wide receiver Chris Jackson on Friday. In his three-year career with Minnesota, Tennessee and Baltimore, Elling has converted 19-of-28

<< Morris should help Pirates' young guns
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Any votes Dave Littlefield was going to get for general manager of the year may have gone out the window after this year's non-waiver trade deadline. The Pirates had, and now still have, a number of players that contending

<< Federer breezes past Hewitt in Rogers Masters quarters
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded and defending champion Roger Federer continued his dominance over Lleyton Hewitt on Friday, winning in straight sets in the quarterfinal round of the $2.45 million Rogers Masters -- the

Padres place P Brocail on bereavement list, OF Hairston on DL >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Diego Padres made a number of roster moves on Friday, placing pitcher Doug Brocail on the bereavement list and outfielder Scott Hairston on the 15-day disabled list. San Diego also purchas

Federer advances, Roddick falls in Rogers Masters quarters >>
Montreal, QC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded and defending champion Roger Federer continued his dominance over Lleyton Hewitt on Friday, while fifth- seeded Andy Roddick fell to third-seeded Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinal round

Titans go to court to prevent Pacman from wrestling >>
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tennessee Titans have filed a motion in a Williamson County court to prohibit suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones from participating in wrestling. Jones is scheduled to make his debut with Total

Devil Rays release Fossum >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays released left-handed pitcher Casey Fossum Friday. Fossum was 5-8 with a 7.70 earned run average in 40 appearances (ten starts) with the Devil Rays this season. The 29-year-old Fo

Clemens declines to appeal five-game suspension >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens decided not to appeal his five-game suspension and started serving the penalty on Friday for the opener of a weekend series against Cleveland. Clemens was suspe

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard