SCCA: Moen Captures Pole, Breaks Track Record At Phoenix

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

April 21, 2001

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Barney Moen, of Hesperia, Calif., broke the track record in the final session of qualifying for Saturday's season-opening Pro Spec Racer race at Phoenix International Raceway. Lee Fleming, of Lakeforest, Calif. and Paul Marino of Canoga Park, Calif. rounded out the top three.

In only his second career Pro Spec Racer qualifying effort, Moen, driving the No. 5 Moen Racing Spec Racer, set a qualifying record with a time of 1:09.578 (78.386 mph).

"I felt great and the car felt great today," said Moen. "The Yokohama tires really made a big difference for us because it's very important to start up front here."

"If you have a problem early and have to come into the pits you might as well call it quits here, so we are very excited with our starting position."

The former track record holder Fleming, driving the No. 2 Champion Motorsports Spec Racer ran a lap of 1:09.597 (78.365 mph) to finish second. Finishing third was Marino, in the No. 07 Champion Motorsports/Impress Communications Spec Racer with a time of 1:09.699 (78.250 mph).

There were 16 cars in all that surpassed Fleming's mark of 1:10.577 (77.278 mph) from a year ago. A total of 17 cars ran within one second of each other to make up an exciting field for Saturday's Pro Spec Racer Round One race.

Phoenix, Arizona - Combined qualifying times for Saturday's 30-lap, 45.45-mile season-opener Pro Spec Racer race at Phoenix International Raceway, part of the Sun Automotive 200 Weekend, with final qualifying position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour.

1. (5), Barney Moen, Hesperia, Calif., Spec Racer, 1:09.578, 78.386.
2. (2), Lee Fleming, Lakeforest, Calif., Spec Racer, 1:09.597, 78.365.
3. (07), Paul Moreno, Canoga Park, Calif., Spec Racer, 1:09.699, 78.250.
4. (0), Chris Funk, Kansas City, Mo., Spec Racer, 1:09.735, 78.210.
5. (48), Steve Ott, Spec Racer, 1:09.795, 78.143.
6. (77), Johnny Merrigi, Woodlands, Texas, Spec Racer, 1:09.810, 78.126.
7. (62), T.J. Acker, Valencia, Calif., Spec Racer, 1:09.870, 78.059.
8. (11), Seainn Hendricsen, Phoenix, Ariz., Spec Racer, 1:09.979, 77.937.
9. (8), Neil Tilbor, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., Spec Racer, 1:10.055, 77.853.
10. (14), Bill Jucha, Bear Valley Springs, Calif., Spec Racer, 1:10.132, 77.767.
11. (29), James Goughary Jr, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Spec Racer, 1:10.213, 77.677.
12. (28), Warren Stilwell, Hartville, Ohio, Spec Racer, 1:10.244, 77.643.
13. (03), Paul deAlva, Phoenix, Ariz., Spec Racer, 1:10.345, 77.532.
14. (17), John Black, Tahoe City, Calif., Spec Racer, 1:10.362, 77.513.
15. (75), Ed Raby, Las Vegas, Nev., Spec Racer, 1:10.540, 77.317.
16. (36), Kelly Toombs, Prairie Village, Kansas, Spec Racer, 1:10.542, 77.315.
17. (82), Keith Scharf, St. Louis, Mo., Spec Racer, 1:10.599, 77.253.
18. (61), Tordy Acker, Santa Clarita, Calif., Spec Racer, 1:10.626, 77.223.
19. (64), Mike McCarthy, Huntington Beach, Calif., Spec Racer, 1:10.645, 77.202.
20. (55), Ralph Mayfield, Spec Racer, 1:10.706, 77.136.
21. (27), Tom Beck, Spec Racer, 1:10.846, 76.983.
22. (49), Marty Williams, Woodland Hills, Calif., Spec Racer, 1:10.879, 76.948.
23. (00), Nikki LaRue, Erie, Colo., Spec Racer, 1:10.906, 76.918.
24. (21), Charlie Shears, Houston, Texas, Spec Racer, 1:10.987, 76.830.
25. (53), Robey Clark, Dallas, Texas, Spec Racer, 1:11.404, 76.382.

Text provided by Kelby Krauss

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