Kenseth won the pole position with a fast lap of 189.880 mph, but he was only eighth quickest in the final hour-long practice session on the 1.5-mile quad-oval.

``I don't know how we're going to run,'' Kenseth said. ``We started having all kinds of problems (during the final practice session), so I just don't know right now.''

Kenseth's best lap came when it mattered most. It allowed him to start up front this afternoon (1 p.m., Fox), which should help him avoid any possible trouble early in the race.

After time trials, however, teams change engines and suspension systems. Qualifying setups are for quick bursts of speed, while a race setup is more conservative to withstand a marathon-like pace.

While the switch from qualifying to race setups clearly didn't help Kenseth, it was a bonanza for rookie Greg Biffle. He qualified 16th at 186.194 mph, but he had the fastest car in the final practice session at 184.691.

``The car feels real good right now,'' Biffle said. ``We got 50 laps on a set of tires, and once we got them warm, it ran pretty good. I think we have a good chassis setup.''

Defending Busch Series champion Jeff Green qualified second at 189.009 mph, followed by Joe Nemechek in third at 188.528, Bobby Hamilton Jr. in fourth at 188.245, Mike Skinner in fifth at 187.957, Randy LaJoie in sixth at 187.559, Kevin Harvick in seventh at 187.201, David Green in eighth at 187.110, Tony Raines in ninth at 186.819 and Mark Green in 10th at 186.741.

Much like other key Busch Series races that are staged in conjunction with a main event from the Winston Cup Series, today's field is rich with fulltime drivers from the senior circuit who moonlight on the Busch Series.

Kenseth, Nemechek, Skinner, Harvick, Kenny Wallace, Jeff Burton, Jimmy Spencer and Todd Bodine all will pull double-duty this week by making appearances today and in Sunday's Harrah's 500.

THE EARNHARDT BILL:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said his family was overwhelmed by the nation's reaction and the State of Florida's response to their pleas to have state law changed to keep autopsy photos sealed from the public.

Teresa Earnhardt asked the public to demand a change in Florida law following the death of her husband, seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, on the final lap of the Feb. 8 Daytona 500.

Photos from the driver's autopsy were regarded as public record -- therefore available to the public -- until the state voted Thursday to have autopsy photos removed from public record statutes.

Gov. Jeb Bush immediately signed the bill, now known as the Dale Earnhardt Bill, Thursday afternoon with Teresa Earnhardt at his side.

``You just don't understand what a relief that is,'' Earnhardt Jr. said. ``I see both sides of it. I've seen Teresa engulfed in this. She was so persistent. It shows you how much she loved by dad.

``Whether it was constitutional, right or wrong, you just don't realize what this means to our family. The way the people responded in Florida was unbelievable.''

State officials reportedly received more than 50,000 calls, letters and e-mails after Teresa Earnhardt made her plea on March 4.

The Earnhardt family feared the driver's photos would have been exploited on the Internet and in some tabloids if they were made public.

FLIP-FLOP:

Tony Stewart had a hard time getting his Joe Gibbs-owned Pontiac up to speed during the first practice session Friday, so teammate Bobby Labonte drove the car for a couple laps to offer some advice.

It didn't work.

Although Labonte qualified second for Sunday's race with a hot lap of 190.463 mph, Stewart was forced to use a provisional exemption to make the starting lineup. His lap of 188.574 mph was 37th-fastest overall.

``We just talked about what we wanted to see in the cars,'' Labonte said. ``I think it was a bit of a feel thing. He actually ran faster in his car than I did.''

PIT STOPS:

University of Georgia graduate Buckshot Jones will fly the colors of Hot Wheels this week to commemorate four racing generations from Petty Enterprises. Adam Petty, the great-grandson to three-time NASCAR champion Lee Petty, the grandson to seven-time champion Richard Petty and the son of current driver Kyle Petty, made if first and only career Winston Cup Series start at Texas a year ago. Six weeks later, he died in an accident at the New Hampshire International Speedway. It's a good thing Petty Enterprises picked Jones' car since Kyle's failed to make the starting lineup. Jones will start 24th About 150 people showed up for Elliott Sadler's pig roast Tuesday night at his farm in Emporia, Va. He invited the entire town after he won his first race a week ago at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.