Wallace fastest, but Gordon not Happy.

Six time Richmond winner Rusty Wallace was the cram of the Winston Cup crop in Happy Hour practice on Friday evening as he continued to make good on his midweek comment that his losing streak would end in the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400.

However the big news during the final 60 minute practice session before Saturday's 400-lap under the lights bonanza was that Jeff Gordon, winner of the last two Winston Cup events, will have to start his bid for three-in-a-row from the back of the field after he backed his primary #24 DuPont Chevrolet into the outside wall at the 0.75-mile tri-oval.

Wallace, who will start a disappointing 23rd in his #2 Miller Lite Ford, will also be aiming to secure an added $1 Million should he win as part of NASCAR's No Bull 5 program.

Other No Bull 5 contenders this weekend are Michael Waltrip, Sterling Marlin, Jimmy Spencer and Mark Martin and if any of them should emerge victorious in Saturday evening's 400-lap thrash, they and a lucky fan will walk away with an extra one million dollars.

Jeff Green was second fastest in Happy Hour in his #30 Chevrolet and has now been in the top two for all three practice sessions on Friday while Greg Biffle got into gear for Friday evening's Busch Series Funai 250 by setting third fastest time.

Martin, in the #6 Roush Racing Ford, also looks a decent bet for a Million Dollar victory on Saturday, was fourth fastest once again while Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick could once again not be separated and finished fifth and sixth fastest respectively.

Ricky Rudd and second place starter Ryan Newman were seventh and eight quickest with Gordon ninth despite his abbreviated session. With the back of the primary #24 Chevrolet wrecked, Gordon will be in his backup machine on Saturday night and will join Dave Blaney in the 'Top Gear From the Rear' club.

Tony Stewart, who looked stony faced and refused to speak to the media for much of the day, ran almost 70 laps during Happy Hour, more than anyone else as he set tenth fastest time with polesitter Jimmie Johnson eleventh and Robby Gordon twelfth.

Gordon's meeting with the wall aside, the final session went off uneventfully with many of the pre-race picks moving into contention. Dale Jarrett was 13th, Bill Elliott 14th and Johnny Benson a slightly miffed 15th. Sterling Marlin's troubles continued however as he was still only 23rd fastest with Dale Earnhardt Jr even more despondent with 25th fastest time.

Several teams have been struggling for speed since the track opened on Friday morning including Brett Bodine's #11 Hooters Ford team, non Series regulars Hermie Sadler, Tim Sauter and Geoffrey Bodine, the #25 Joe Nemechek Hendrick Motorsports squad and, surprisingly after one of his most competitive years in a long time, Kyle Petty in the #45 Sprint Dodge. In Happy Hour, Bodine's #09 Phoenix Racing Ford was the slowest of all in 43rd position.