Busch race to resume Monday at Dover

Posted 7:34PM on Saturday 5th June 2004 ( 20 years ago )

DOVER, DELAWARE - Bobby Hamilton Jr. will have the lead when the rain-delayed NASCAR Busch series race resumes Monday at Dover International Speedway. The MNBA 200 was stopped after 28 of 200 laps Saturday. Another 72 laps were needed to make it official. Drivers were called to their cars twice, but each time the covers were removed the rain resumed. The sanctioning body waited out a delay of more than five hours before persistent rain finally overcame the track-drying process. Two dozen trucks - including three with jet dryers - circled the track for hours. The race will resume at 11 a.m. EDT. The delay didn't cause Hamilton to lose his sense of humor when he was asked about what was going on out on the track. "Well, it's raining," he said. "But I'm ready to go. I'll drive in the rain if they want me to." Untreded tires make that impossible. Hamilton preferred that see NASCAR complete the race Sunday. But the MBNA 400 Nextel Cup race is scheduled Sunday with a favorable weather forecast. "It really throws a curve into everything, this weekend and next, Hamilton said. "Monday, I planned to go to the shop and stuff." Hamilton, seeking his first victory this season and sixth of his career, took the lead from polesitter David Green on the 11th lap. Green led from the start but was overtaken at the end of the backstretch. Hamilton qualified sixth in his Ford, but picked up four positions in the first two laps. Third when the race resumes will be the Chevrolet of Jason Leffler. Johnny Sauter will be fourth, followed by Greg Biffle. An interesting battle was shaping up between series leader Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. Busch leads Truex by 38 points. Truex, who leads the circuit with four victories, was sixth when the race was stopped. Busch was seventh.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/6/157869