Concord, N.C. ? Qualifying for the UAW-GM Quality 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway was suspended by rain after 18 cars made runs Thursday night.

NASCAR called off the qualifying session after a rain delay of more than an hour and told the remaining competitors to return to the track at 8 a.m. Friday to continue the session. There are 49 cars attempting to make the field.

NASCAR Winston CUp points leader Tony Stewart walks toward his car in the garage area at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Qualifying for Sunday's UAW-GM Quality 500 was suspended by rain Thursday in Concord, N.C.

Jerry Nadeau turned the fastest lap of the cars that did qualify, running 184.666 mph in the No. 44 Dodge Intrepid around the 1 1/2-mile oval.

“That’s all I had,” Nadeau said. “I gave it everything I had, and I think we’re going to have a good race here. But we won’t have it mastered unless we sit on the pole and win the race.”

Michael Waltrip was second at 184.162 in a Chevrolet.

“May car is really good, it handled perfect,” Waltrip said. “I might not stay where I am, but I think Jerry will have a good shot at the pole.”

Jeff Gordon was third fastest and was followed by Bill Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Dale Jarrett.

Bobby Hamilton returned to racing after a five-week absence because of injuries suffered in a wreck during a truck race at Richmond last month and posted the 12th-fastest lap.

Hamilton is racing with special braces on his shoulder and wrist to prevent further injury.

“I feel good,” he said. “When I got put out of it, I said I wasn’t coming back until the doctor said I could. Everybody feels like I’m 100 percent and I definitely feel like I am.”

Drivers who will attempt to qualify on Friday include Winston Cup points leader Tony Stewart and Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Newman, his closest pursuers in the standings.