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SCCA: Cunningham takes Texas Superchips Speedvision GT Pole in NSX

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
FORT WORTH, Texas - Peter Cunningham, of W. Bend, Wis., captured the Superchips Pole for Sunday's SCCA Pro Racing Speedvision World Challenge GT Championship Round One race, part of the Leather Centers Grand Prix of Texas weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Defending race champion Mike Fitzgerald, of Phoenix, Ariz., was second, followed by Michael Galati, of N. Olmstead, Ohio.

Driving an Acura NSX for the first time since 1998, Cunningham turned a lap of 1:33.320 (89.652 mph) early in the session which stood up to the challenge of several other drivers late in the session. The pole was Cunningham's 15th-third all-time in World Challenge competition.

"We have only had the car for about 30 days and the team-especially my crew chief (Andrew Armistad)--has been working so hard on the car, I think the only sleep he got was on the 21-hour drive down here," said Cunningham, driver of the No. 42 RealTime Racing entry. "The whole team has been working really hard and now it's paying off because the car fits like a glove."

Fitzgerald, who won the 2000 Grand Prix of Texas in 110 degree heat, turned a lap of 1:33.781 late in the session in the Westward Ho Hotel/Petersen Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Galati, who was fastest in practice, set a lap of 1:33.781 to finish third in his Champion Audi S4 Competition.

Five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell was fourth in an Audi, followed by defending series champion Jeff McMillin in a BMW M3.

Starting lineup for Sunday's SCCA Pro Racing Speedvision GT Championship Round One Race, part of the Leather Center Grand Prix of Texas at Texas Motor Speedway, with starting position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, fastest time and speed in miles per hour.

1. (42), Peter Cunningham, W. Bend, Wis., Acura NSX, 1:33.320, 89.652.
2. (38), Mike Fitzgerald, Phoenix, Ariz., Porsche 911 Cup, 1:33.781, 89.212.
3. (9), Michael Galati, Olmstead, Ohio, Audi S4 Comp., 1:33.876, 89.121.
4. (8), Derek Bell, Sussex, England, Audi S4 Comp., 1:34.112, 88.898.
5. (1), Jeff McMillin, Erie, Pa., BMW M3, 1:34.257, 88.761.
6. (79), Justin Jackson, Alpharetta, Ga., Porsche 911 Cup, 1:34.455, 88.575.
7. (98), Stu Hayner, Yorba Linda, Calif., Corvette ZO6, 1:34.470, 88.561.
8. (18), Daniel Eastman, Miami, Fla., Porsche RSR, 1:34.483, 88.549.
9. (80), Justin Marks(R), Woodside, Calif., Porsche 911 Cup, 1:34.542, 88.494.
10. (23), Bob Miller(R), Oakton, Va., Porsche 911 Cup, 1:35.005, 88.062.
11. (01), Bill Cooper, Bozeman, Mont., Corvette C5, 1:35.088, 87.985.
12. (08), G. J. Mennen, Austin, Texas, Corvette C5, 1:35.448, 87.654.
13. (77), Jimmy Adams, Suffolk, Va., Porsche 911 Cup, 1:35.499, 87.607.
14. (73), Phil McClure, Floris, Iowa, Corvette C5, 1:35.701, 87.422.
15. (14), Anders Hainer(R), Hidden Hills, Calif., Porsche 911 Cup, 1:35.958, 87.188.
16. (81), Johannes van Overbeek, Danville, Calif., Porsche 911 Cup, 1:36.030, 87.122.
17. (04), Bobby Sak(R), Kalamazoo, Mich., Corvette C5, 1:36.169, 86.996.
18. (44), John Young(R), Woodside, Calif., Saleen SR, 1:36.328, 86.853.
19. (29), Walter Swick, Concord, Ohio, BMW M3, 1:36.419, 86.771.
20. (3), Peter Kitchak, Excelsior, Minn., Porsche 911, 1:36.441, 86.751.
21. (41), Boris Said, Carlsbad, Calif., Ford Mustang, 1:36.661, 86.554.
22. (47), J. Bob Taylor_Jr, Parker, Colo., Corvette C5, 1:37.136, 86.130.
23. (13), Greg Merril(R), Chevy Chase, Md., Porsche 911 Cup, 1:38.126, 85.261.
24. (35), David Farmer, Albemarle, N.C., Corvette C6, 1:38.241, 85.161.
25. (64), Rick Knoop(R), Portala, Calif., Corvette C5, 1:39.929, 83.723.
26. (12), Michael Culver(R), Westport, Conn., BMW M3, 1:40.379, 83.348.
27. (32), Charlie Barns(R), Dallas, Texas, Viper GTS, 1:40.834, 82.972.
28. (03), Tommy Safar, Point Pleasant, N.J., Saleen SR, 1:41.185, 82.684.
29. (02), Caroline Wright(R), Shoreacres, Texas, Corvette, 1:41.210, 82.663.
30. (21), James Sofronas, Newport Beach, Calif., BMW M3, 1:41.231, 82.646.
31. (16), Anthony DeMonte, Dix Hills, N.Y., Ford Mustang, 1:41.334, 82.562.
32. (46), Joe Blacker(R), Columbia, Md., Audi S4, 1:45.531, 79.279.
33. (10), Carol Hollfelder(R), Covina, Calif., Ferrari 355 C, no time.

Text Provided By Eric Prill

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