Date:             March 8, 2013

Event:            Kobalt Tools 400 Qualifying (Round 3 of 36)

Series:           NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Location:        Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval)

Pole Winner:   None, qualifying canceled due to rain (field set via NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rule book)

SHR Lineup:   Tony Stewart (9th)

                     Ryan Newman (14th)

                     Danica Patrick (37th)

Rain canceled today’s qualifying session for the Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. As a result, the 43-car field for Sunday’s 267-lap race around the 1.5-mile oval was set per the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rule book, 

Because teams did not practice Friday, the lineup has been determined primarily by 2012 owners’ points. With the race being the third of the 2013 season, the top-36 teams from 2012 owner points will start in positions 1-36. With no past champions and no 2012 or 2013 race winners among those not already in the field, the next spots went to teams in the top-36 in 2013 owner points. 

Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 14 Mobil 1/Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet SS for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), will start ninth. His teammate, Ryan Newman, driver of the No. 39 Quicken Loans Chevrolet SS for SHR, will start 14th. Danica Patrick, driver of the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet SS for SHR, will start 37th.

Brad Keselowski, the reigning Sprint Cup champion, will start first. Joining him on the outside of row one is Clint Bowyer. Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Greg Biffle comprise the remainder of the top-five. 

Forty-four drivers were slated to qualify for the 43-car field. The rainout determined that Mike Bliss is the lone driver who will not start the race.

The Kobalt Tools 400 gets underway at 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday with live coverage provided by FOX beginning with a pre-race show at 2:30 p.m.  

-SHR-