Pierce on the Pole 2pm
Pierce on the Pole 2pm
KANSAS CITY, Kansas – Aaron Pierce grabbed the pole for Saturday’s USAC Silver Crown race today at Kansas Speedway. The driver of the No. 26 Sam Pierce/ Sam Pierce Chevrolet-Fatheadz Riley timed in at 32.296 at 167.203mph. Pierce compared the Kansas track to Chicagoland, where he won earlier this season. Some of the drivers had trouble with the strong 17mph wind gusts in the session. The Phoenix native said that the wind did not bother him.
“I think we have a good chance,” said Aaron Pierce in the post qualifying news conference. “I would like to win this last one in front of the NASCAR guys. We did it at Chicago and I think we have got a real good chance of doing it here. We changed the right front spring this morning and that is pretty much all that we have changed.”
Pablo Donoso, who paced the practice session, will start outside the pole. Donoso timed in at 32.335. The native of Santiago, Chile credited his experience here at the exhibition a year ago with his fast times. He also credited his crew. Donoso says he prefers the mental game of the 1.5 mile oval tracks because he says they are driver’s tracks.
Silver Crown points leader Bud Kaeding timed in third quick at 32.363.
His team told me that car owner Jason Leffler provided valuable insight about the 1.5 Kansas oval. Kaeding used the former USAC, now NASCAR driver’s knowledge to get around the track. The crew says they are happy with the car and look for a good race tomorrow. If Bud Kaeding can finish sixth or better, he wins the championship.
Reigning points champion Dave Steele was fourth quick at 32.618. Steele drove in the exhibition at Kansas in 2005. Thiago Medeiros was 5th followed by Jay Drake and Pete Shepherd.
Shepherd’s boss, Carl Edwards visited with the Canadian prior to qualifying. Edwards and Leffler will run in the NASCAR Busch Series race prior to the USAC Silver Crown race.
Wayne Reutiman Jr.’s team is working on their car to make improvements from his 8th qualifying position. Reutiman’s cousin David Reutiman checked in with his relative following practice. David Reutiman currently drives in the NSAC Craftman Truck Series and Busch Series. Reports have him driving a Cup car in 2007.
Tim Barber qualified 9th. Earlier in the day, a leak caused him to pit during practice.
Last week’s winner Mat Neely timed in 10th.
Brian Tyler timed in 11th. Tyler and his crew were working on their car following qualifying in an attempt to make the No. 21 faster. Bryn Gohn will start 12th and Rodney Weesner 13th.
Josh Wise did not take time due to engine problems. Today’s final practice session is scheduled for 6:15pm. There is a possibility that the session may be cancelled if the NASCAR session takes too much time and darkness falls.
Images courtesy of RE Technologies.
KANSAS CITY, Kansas – Aaron Pierce grabbed the pole for Saturday’s USAC Silver Crown race today at Kansas Speedway. The driver of the No. 26 Sam Pierce/ Sam Pierce Chevrolet-Fatheadz Riley timed in at 32.296 at 167.203mph. Pierce compared the Kansas track to Chicagoland, where he won earlier this season. Some of the drivers had trouble with the strong 17mph wind gusts in the session. The Phoenix native said that the wind did not bother him.
“I think we have a good chance,” said Aaron Pierce in the post qualifying news conference. “I would like to win this last one in front of the NASCAR guys. We did it at Chicago and I think we have got a real good chance of doing it here. We changed the right front spring this morning and that is pretty much all that we have changed.”
Pablo Donoso, who paced the practice session, will start outside the pole. Donoso timed in at 32.335. The native of Santiago, Chile credited his experience here at the exhibition a year ago with his fast times. He also credited his crew. Donoso says he prefers the mental game of the 1.5 mile oval tracks because he says they are driver’s tracks.
Silver Crown points leader Bud Kaeding timed in third quick at 32.363.
His team told me that car owner Jason Leffler provided valuable insight about the 1.5 Kansas oval. Kaeding used the former USAC, now NASCAR driver’s knowledge to get around the track. The crew says they are happy with the car and look for a good race tomorrow. If Bud Kaeding can finish sixth or better, he wins the championship.
Reigning points champion Dave Steele was fourth quick at 32.618. Steele drove in the exhibition at Kansas in 2005. Thiago Medeiros was 5th followed by Jay Drake and Pete Shepherd.
Shepherd’s boss, Carl Edwards visited with the Canadian prior to qualifying. Edwards and Leffler will run in the NASCAR Busch Series race prior to the USAC Silver Crown race.
Wayne Reutiman Jr.’s team is working on their car to make improvements from his 8th qualifying position. Reutiman’s cousin David Reutiman checked in with his relative following practice. David Reutiman currently drives in the NSAC Craftman Truck Series and Busch Series. Reports have him driving a Cup car in 2007.
Tim Barber qualified 9th. Earlier in the day, a leak caused him to pit during practice.
Last week’s winner Mat Neely timed in 10th.
Brian Tyler timed in 11th. Tyler and his crew were working on their car following qualifying in an attempt to make the No. 21 faster. Bryn Gohn will start 12th and Rodney Weesner 13th.
Josh Wise did not take time due to engine problems. Today’s final practice session is scheduled for 6:15pm. There is a possibility that the session may be cancelled if the NASCAR session takes too much time and darkness falls.
Images courtesy of RE Technologies.
posted by Blake Johnson at 5:20 PM
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