Notebook: Hamlin feeling ill but dominant in practice

DOVER, Del. -- Chase contender Denny Hamlin wasn't feeling very well during final Cup practice on Saturday but you wouldn't know it by his speed.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver in the No. 11 machine was the fastest car in both the second and final practice sessions averaging 150 mph lap times.

After practice, a team spokesperson said Hamlin was displaying flu-like symptoms, however, he soldiered on to race Saturday afternoon's Busch race at Dover International Speedway and will be in the Cup race Sunday.

Richard Childress Racing Chase contender Clint Bowyer, who is fourth in the Chase standings after winning last weekend's race in New Hampshire, practiced better than he qualified.

Bowyer, who will start at the tail end of Sunday's Dodge Dealers 400 in 42nd, was fifth quickest in final practice posting a speed of 149.279 mph. That was seven places up from the second practice session and Bowyer said he's slowly digging himself out of a deep qualifying hole from Friday.

Bowyer's qualifying lap (148.038) was the result of an "evil loose" car and will have to go from zero to hero in a hurry, battling through the pack.

"I'm going to have to let everyone get strung out and then we'll start picking them off one at a time," Bowyer said. "The car felt good at the end of practice and we'll be fine, we've had to do this before and came out with top 10 finishes."

His average finish at Dover is 11th.

Montoya making his marks

Juan Montoya is finding a higher comfort level with each additional track he adds to his racing resume; especially for his second time out at Dover International Speedway.

Familiarities like where to brake or where to roll out of the throttle are in the former F1 driver's advantage this weekend and were evident by his successful qualifying run that put the Chip Ganassi Racing driver second on the starting grid for the third time this season.

"Like in F1 when we're going from racetrack to racetrack, every racetrack is so different, where [NASCAR] each one is a little similar, each one you do something quiet close," said Montoya, who was 27th fastest in practice.

He leads Roush Fenway rookie David Ragan by 13 points in the rookie of the year chase.

Continued success for Labonte means success for the kids

Teams know NASCAR is a rollercoaster and Bobby Labonte is enjoying his time on top of the hill.

Labonte and the No. 43 crew continued their successful qualifying efforts at Dover as they qualified eighth for Sunday's Cup race. Here in the spring, the team qualified third.

The Dodge driver attributes some of the recent success to new Crew Chief Doug Randolph who joined the team at the Michigan race in August.

"Doug has played a big part in our recent success and we are excited with where we qualified, we are making a lot of progress," Labonte said before qualifying his Busch car Saturday. "It's great when you can unload with a competitive setup. Doug continues to give me awesome cars." (Continued)