The rain has finally broken through the thick, dark clouds hovering above Martinsville Speedway. The second practice session for the Camping World Truck Series has been delayed, and the Sprint Cup qualifying is likely to be pushed back from its 3:40 p.m. starting time, if not canceled.

If the Sprint Cup qualifying is rained out, points leader Jeff Gordon will start on the pole alongside second-place Kurt Busch. Clint Bowyer will start third, followed by Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards and Kasey Kahne.

Denny Hamlin, the former Chesterfield resident, got off to a good start in his efforts to defend his championship here. Hamlin posted the fast practice time in the first session with a run of 96.176 mph. Kevin Harvick was second-fastest (96.058), followed by Gordonm (95.985).

The trucks did manage to get on some track time. David Starr toured the paperclip-shape oval with a practice-best speed of 94.486. Emporia’s Hermie Sadler, competing for the first time since last year’s Kroger 250 here, turned in the 29th-fastest speed at 91.333.

Right now, the forecast doesn’t look good. But racetrack officials are optimistic that the rain will stop long enough to get the Cup qualifying in. That, however, seems to be a longshot. The forecast doesn’t look much better for tomorrow with the Kroger 500 scheduled for 2 p.m. start.

Back on the track

The trucks were back on the track to complete their afternoon practice session. But it was short-lived run as the rain returned. But Kevin Harvick managed the fastest lap at 94.652 while Sadler dropped to 32nd with a 89.778 effort.

Rain is threatening Sprint Cup qualifying at Martinsville Speedway.