ASA: Mike Eddy Captures First ASA Pole Since 1998 Season

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 30, 2001

Veteran Racer Collects 34th Career Pole for tirerack.com 200

CLERMONT, Ind. – It has been a long time since seven-time ASA National Champion Mike Eddy, of Midland, Mich., has started an ASA event from the pole. In fact, the last time was all the way back in 1998 at Jennerstown Speedway in Jenner stown, Penn. Eddy snapped that streak on Friday, capturing his 34th career pole for the ASA ACDelco Series tirerack.com 200 presented by BFGoodrich Tires at Indianapolis Raceway Park. For Eddy, it is his fifth pole at the .686-mile facility, a track where he has captured the checkered flag twice, his last coming in 1995.

Eddy turned a lap of 21.921 (112.659 mph), holding off Mike Garvey for the top spot. Garvey’s time of 21.959 was the only other to come in under the 22-second mark. Eddy’s best qualifying effort in 2001 was previously a third, coming in August at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

“We’ve been close the last five races, we just can’t seem to get there,” said Garvey, who will start on the front row for the eighth time in 2001 and for the sixth race in a row. “I know Mike Eddy, and he is capable of being fast at any track, so it was no surprise when he won the pole. I knew we were a little too loose for qualifying, so I am surprised we went that fast.”

Defending IRP race winner Butch Miller will start the event third. Miller’s victory last season was his fourth at the track, second only to ASA legend Bob Senneker. For Miller, it will be his last opportunity of the year to capture a second win of the seas on.

Rookie Johnny Sauter furthered himself in the chase for the 2001 ASA National Championship by qualifying fourth and picking up a couple of valuable points. He now only needs to finish 22nd or better in tomorrow’s event to lock up his first ASA National Cha mpionship.

In all, 38 cars will take the green for Saturday’s $200,000 tirerack.com 200 presented by BFGoodrich Tires including Indianapolis’ Tim Taylor, who will start 18th, and Russ Tuttle, who will start 22nd.

Race day events for the begin with tirerack.com 200 presented by BFGoodrich Tires spectator gates opening at 3 p.m., followed by ASA's exclusive on-track driver autograph session scheduled for 5 p.m. Pre-race ceremonies and driver introductions will begin at 6:15 p.m., with the tirerack.com 200 taking the green at 7 p.m.

CLERMONT, IN – The starting line-up for Saturday’s $198,810 American Speed Association ACDelco Series tirerack.com 200 at the .686-mile Indianapolis Raceway Park. The top twenty drivers were locked in during qualifications with the remainder of the field s et by season points and qualifying. Listed is starting position, drive, make of car and speed for the top twenty qualifiers.

1) Mike Eddy, Chevrolet, 112.659 mph
2) Mike Garvey, Chevrolet, 112.464 mph
3) Butch Miller, Chevrolet, 112.219 mph
4) Johnny Sauter, Chevrolet, 112.183 mph
5) Joey Clanton, Chevrolet, 112.051 mph
6) Robbie Pyle, Chevrolet, 112.030 mph
7) Chad Wood, Chevrolet, 111.339 mph
8) Scott Hansen, Ford, 111.223 mph
9) Danny Edwards, Chevrolet, 111.188 mph
10) Mike Miller, Pontiac, 111.133 mph
11) Travis Kittleson, Chevrolet, 111.098 mph
12) Scott Fraser, Chevrolet, 111.053 mph
13) Brian Ross, Pontiac, 110.774 mph
14) Gary St. Amant, Chevrolet, 110.610 mph
15) Tim Sauter, Chevrolet, 110.467 mph
16) Pat Kelly, Pontiac, 110.447 mph
17) Kevin Cywinski, Chevrolet, 110.447 mph
18) Tim Taylor, Chevrolet, 110.250 mph
19) Johnny Spaw, Chevrolet, 110.235 mph
20) Peter Cozzolino, Chevrolet, 110.137 mph
21) Mike Cope, Chevrolet
22) Russ Tuttle, Pontiac
23) Greg Stewart, Pontiac
24) Ricky Bryant, Pontiac
25) Bobby Bowsher, Chevrolet
26) Brad Bennett, Chevrolet
27) Doug Stevens Jr., Chevrolet
28) Jeremy LePak, Chevrolet
29) Dave Sensiba, Pontiac
30) Chris Wimmer, Chevrolet
31) David Hole, Chevrolet
32) Jason Schuler, Chevrolet
33) Doug Mahlik, Chevrolet
34) Ed Brown, Chevrolet
35) Greg Williams, Chevrolet
36) Kris Stump, Chevrolet
37) J.C. Beattie Jr., Chevrolet
38) Lee Anderson, Ford

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

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