NASCAR Cup Series

Qualifying for Sunday’s MyAFibStory.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway was rained out Friday. Carl Edwards became the highest qualifying Ford based on practice speeds and will roll of third to start Sunday’s race. Full starting positions are listed below with Carl Edwards comments.

Rain forced the cancellation of NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying at Chicagoland Speedway, and the field will be set by the results of today’s first practice for the MyAFibStory.Com 400 on Sunday. Ryan Newman, No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet SS, earned a front row starting position by virtue of posting the second fastest time in the 90 minute practice session earlier in the afternoon.

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 M&M’s Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - What was your team’s strategy to be quickest in practice at Chicagoland on Friday? “Practice for us went pretty well."

Eckrich continued to celebrate its 120th anniversary on Friday by honoring a special military veteran and his family in a way only Eckrich can. surprised the family today with the gift of a brand new 2014 Ford Fusion and free groceries for a year at Jewel-Osco. The gifts were the culmination of an once-in-a-lifetime morning for the Goss family.

DARIAN GRUBB, crew chief, No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - What did you work on while you were away from the race track? “Same thing we work on every week. Just working hard in the shop, working with the guys, everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing did a great job. The entire FedEx Toyota group did a great job at the race track, too. Still fighting hard every week.”

JUSTIN ALLGAIER, NO. 51 BRAND PROFESSIONAL AGRICULTURE CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed Chicagoland Speedway as his home town track, the progress he feels he’s made during the season thus far, and more.

Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Fastenal Ford Fusion, was third fastest in opening Sprint Cup series practice at Chicagoland Speedway Friday afternoon. Edwards spoke with media members after practice to discuss the upcoming weekend, his Chase chances and more.

MATT KENSETH, No. 20 Dollar General Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing - What is it like coming to Chicago as the defending race winner and trying to get the first Chase win this year? “We had a strong start last year. This is a great race track, I love coming here. It’s the closest track to where I grew up. We had a strong start, but Jimmie (Johnson) still beat us at the end. I’m looking forward to getting on the track today and getting to work. It’s been a long week and ready to get started.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS met with media and discussed the new Chase for the Sprint Cup format strategies, challenges, approachs, and more.

MICHAEL WALTRIP, Co-Owner, Michael Waltrip Racing - Why is MyAFibStory.com so important to you? “My mom unfortunately suffered a stroke 25 years ago due to AFib (Atrial fibrillation) and September is national AFib Awareness Month and Michael Waltrip Racing has partnered with Janssen Pharmaceuticals to raise awareness of AFib -- 2.7 million people live with AFib."