DARLINGTON, S.C., May 12 (UPI) -- The NASCAR Nextel Cup race scheduled Saturday night at the Darlington Raceway was postponed due to a heavy rainstorm that started early in the day.
The rain continued throughout the evening and the jet dryers never got on the track. NASCAR officials postponed the Dodge Avenger 500 until Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT.
Clint Bowyer will be on the pole when 367-lap race begins.
Nextel Cup Series points leader Jeff Gordon and 2006 Nextel Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson are competing for the season title. Gordon has a 211-point lead over Johnson.
Gordon's two wins and nine Top 10 finishes is one of the best starts since NASCAR went to the current points system in 1975. His 1691 points would put him just behind Cale Yarborough's 1977 season when the Hall-of-Fame driver had five wins and nine Top 10s.
