ASA: Stremme Uses Experience to Win Pole for Winchester 400

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 23, 2001

Rookie Captures First Pole of 2001, Second of His Career

WINCHESTER, Ind. (September 22, 2001) – Local favorite David Stremme collected his second career American Speed Association pole, and first of the 2001 ASA ACDelco Series season, qualifying first for Sunday’s 32nd Annual Winchester 400 at Winchester (Ind.)Speedway. Stremme used his experience at the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” track, one that has seen the South Bend, Indiana-native collect several victories at the facility, and the experience of ASA veteran crew chief Howie Lettow to secure the pole position.

Stremme clocked in a time of 15.713 seconds (114.555 mph) around the high-banked oval driving the number 5 Structural Transport Ford normally piloted by series veteran Scott Hansen, who is not at the track this weekend. For Stremme, it is his second careerASA pole position, his first coming at Memphis Motorsports Park in the 2000 season.

“I figured I had a top five car because this team has worked very hard all week,” said Stremme. “We are here to have some fun. The car is really good. We worked on making it comfortable so I wouldn’t have to fight it. I have plenty of laps here, so I amable to run a different line than the other guys. Scott Hansen gave us a great car.”

Stremme had to wait until the end of the qualifying order to see if his time would stand, as series veteran Mike Garvey was one of the day’s last qualifiers. Garvey had consistently been one of the fastest cars during the day’s practice sessions, but his time of 15.823 sec. wasn’t enough to knock Stremme off the top of the list. Garvey will start outside the front row.

“I thought we had a chance at the pole,” said Minnesota’s Garvey. “We threw everything we had at it. David (Stremme) just turned two great laps. We had a really good car all day and have been working on race trim.”

Only two other drivers broke into the 15-second barrier, as second-year driver Robbie Pyle qualified third with a time of 15.944 sec., while Garvey’s teammate Kevin Cywinski turned in the fourth fastest time at 15.971 sec. Pyle qualified second for last year’s event.

Mike Cope, a three-time winner of the Winchester 400 when the race was sanctioned by the All-Pro Series, rounded out the top-five qualifiers. Mike Miller, Ricky Bryant, National Championship points leader Johnny Sauter, defending race winner Gary St. Amant and Joey Clanton rounded out the top-10 qualifiers.

Activities for Sunday begin with spectator gates opening at 9 a.m. On-track festivities begin with nine past Winchester 400 champions being introduced at 10:30 and the on-track autograph session beginning at 11. Driver introductions being at 12:10 p.m. with the green dropping at 1.

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

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