2002 ASA Champion Joey Clanton Scores Nashville Pole
Nashville, Tenn. (October 18, 2003) - Defending American Speed Association champion Joey Clanton credited hard work by the crew to allow him to capture the pole position for the BFGoodrich Traction T/A Tires 300 today at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Clanton, who has made just one another ASA start in 2003, bumped Mike Garvey off the top spot by turning a lap of 112.329 mph (19.101 seconds) around the .576 mile high banked legendary oval. Clanton held off Washington competitor Zach Niessner in the Juice Batteries Chevrolet to claim his seventh career pole position. "I don't know what to say," Clanton said. "The crew worked hard to put the car back together." Clanton said Brett Sontag had an awesome run going in the car at the Pep Boys 300 two weeks ago at Salem Speedway and was caught up in a multi-car incident. "The guys worked all week to get the car repaired," he said. "This is a good race car on banked race tracks. This was a total team effort. The team did want had to be done to hopefully win a race here." Niesser said the effort was his best qualifying run with ASA and couldn't get anymore out of the Chevrolet. He toured the oval at 111.797 mph (19.192 seconds) "It was as fast as the car would go," Niessner said. "It was a good car all day. We added a little wedge into the car after the practice, but that was the only change for qualifying." Niessner said he was pleased with his effort at the famed Nashville oval, his first time at the track. "I was hoping to win the pole," Niessner said, "but that's why Joey (Clanton) is an ASA champion," Garvey will start third in the Jani-King Chevrolet after posting a lap of 111.750 mph (19.2 seconds). Ironically Robbie Pyle in the Citgo Chevrolet, the winner of the ASA race at Salem, posted an identical time to Garvey's and will start fourth. Part-time competitor Greg Edwards will start fifth in the Danny's Glass Chevrolet. There was no change in the battle for the ASA championship between Kevin Cywinski in the Orange Blast Chevrolet and Butch Miller in the Timber Wolf Chevrolet, as both drivers qualified out of the top five. Miller will start seventh and Cywinski in the 18 position. Cywinski leads Miller by 125 markers entering the last race of the season. For a second time, Texas driver Jeff Harrison found enough speed during qualifications to make the starting field in the Adelphia Chevrolet. "We had to find a half-second after practice and were able to do it," Harrison said. "The crew made all the right changes to the car to get us into the starting field. Harrison will start 30th in the 40-car field. On Sunday, ASA's on-track fan autograph session and live musical entertainment are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. with pre-race ceremonies set for 2:30. The BFGoodrich Traction T/A Tires 300 presented by Greased Lighting Orange Blast and Jani-King goes green at 3:00. (Local) Tickets for the BFGoodrich Traction T/A Tires 300 presented by Greased Lighting Orange Blast and Jani-King at Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville are general admission and sold $25 each. Children 12 years old and younger will be admitted free with a paying adult. For additional information on the ASA Racing Series visit www.asaracing.com.