Hobgood Grabs Pork Pole, Sets New Qualifying Record at MIS

 

By Jeff Trauring

 

BROOKLYN, MI (6-18-04) - ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Justin Hobgood, in only his second series start, blazed his way to a new Pork Pole qualifying record at Michigan Int'l Speedway Friday, topping the field with a one-lap speed of 188.201 mph. The new record erased Casey Mears's mark of 188.073 set in 2003.  

 

Ganassi Racing developmental driver Reed Sorenson, also in his second series start, qualified outside pole in the Sherwin-Williams Dodge for Saturday's Flagstar 200. 

 

Remarkably, Hobgood, who drives Don Arnold's Germain Motor Company Dodge, finished second in his first start at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May earlier this year. A Columbia, South Carolina native, Hobgood is a former Dash Series winner at Daytona.  

 

"The car was awesome when we unloaded it," said Hobgood. "We haven't changed a thing. I'm still learning the track, but I knew it would stick in the corners, so we drove it down in there as hard as we could. To come here and qualifying for the pole in only my second start, it's just a testament to the quality of this Arnold Motorsports team."

 

Matt Hagans, in his own Eagle Creek Aviation-TECI Dodge, qualified third inside of rookie Ryan Hemphill, who made it a Dodge sweep for the first two rows in the TRIMSPA Dodge. 

 

Five-time series champion Frank Kimmel, in the Advance Auto Parts-Pork ride, was the first Ford in the line-up in fifth. Kimmel is the only previous MIS winner in Saturday's field.  

 

If history is any indicator, Hobgood should like his chances for the race given that the polesitter has won the last three consecutive races at MIS.  

 

Fans who purchase grandstand tickets for the Saturday, June 19 ARCA RE/MAX Series Flagstar 200 will be offered the chance to make their way from their seats into what is normally the restricted garage area shortly after the checkered flag falls. Once inside, they will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the drivers, teams and cars, just minutes after they come off the track. 

 

SPEED Channel will carry same-day coverage of the Flagstar 200 at 8 pm eastern.




      2004 ARCA RE/MAX SERIES EVENT #9   
      Michigan Int'l Speedway, Brooklyn MI, 6-19-04   
      Starting Grid, Flagstar 200   
          
      STR NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN TEAM & CAR TIME SPEED 
      1 50 Justin Hobgood/Columbia SC Germain Motor Company Dodge 38.257 188.201 
      2 77 Reed Sorenson/Peachtree City GA Sherwin Williams Dodge 38.475 187.135 
      3 9 Matt Hagans/Indianapolis IN Eagle Creek Aviation-1st Wing Mngmt-TECI Dodge 38.497 187.028 
      4 64 Ryan Hemphill/Apollo PA TRIMSPA Dodge 38.586 186.596 
      5 46 Frank Kimmel/Jeffersonville IN Advance Auto Parts-Pork Ford 38.874 185.214 
      6 91 Christi Passmore/Pryor OK GAP Roofing-Royal Trading Ford 39.007 184.582 
      7 17 AJ Henriksen/Mooresville NC Engineered Components Ford 39.487 182.338 
      8 88 David Ragan/Kannapolis NC Seafood From Florida Dodge 39.611 181.768 
      9 67 Jason Jarrett/Hickory NC Gladiator GarageWorks-Bennigan's Chevrolet 39.623 181.713 
      10 5 Bobby Gerhart/Lebanon PA Lucas Oil Chevrolet 39.685 181.429 
      11 44 Brent Sherman/N. Barrington IL Serta Mattress-Hickory Farms Ford 39.716 181.287 
      12 11 AJ Fike/Galesburg IL Ray Farms-Fast Track Driving School Chevrolet 39.964 180.162 
      13 13 Johnny Leonard/Cape Coral FL Affordable Roofing Chevrolet 40.183 179.180 
      14 70 Larry Hollenbeck/Kalamazoo MI SWAT Fitness Club Chevrolet 40.220 179.015 
      15 39 Phil Bozell/Portage MI Dyckman Restaurant-Harding's Markets Pontiac 40.276 178.767 
      16 08 TJ Bell/Sparks NV Brad Kemp Motorsports Chevrolet 40.283 178.735 
      17 6 Mike Harmon/Birmingport AL CPIX.net-Powered by Catylist Pontiac 40.330 178.527 
      18 06 CW Smith/Williamsport PA C&E Containers Chevrolet 40.337 178.496 
      19 75 Michael Simko/Clarkston MI Mound Steel-Diamond Racing Chevrolet 40.348 178.448 
      20 65 Brack Maggard/Eatonton GA Southern Pan Services-Georgia Peanuts Dodge 40.362 178.386 
      21 8 Jerry Glanville/Perrysburg OH Solvay Dodge 40.385 178.284 
      22 25 Billy Venturini/Chicago IL Melling Engine Parts Chevrolet 40.405 178.196 
      23 19 Keith Murt/Paducah KY Murtco-Total Performance Race Parts Chevrolet 40.591 177.379 
      24 60 Jeff Kendall/Montello WI Assembly Products Pontiac 40.720 176.817 
      25 59 Mark Gibson/Winder GA Williams Bros Lumber Chevrolet 40.729 176.778 
      26 23 Joe Cooksey/Centralia IL 1-800-Servpro Chevrolet 40.872 176.160 
      27 30 Terry Jones/Amherstburg Ontario Reiner's Collision-Hearn Group Ford 40.926 175.927 
      28 1 Brandon Knupp/Sidney OH Allegheny Trail Ford 40.931 175.906 
      29 95 Roger Williams/Charlotte NC Roger Williams Racing Chevrolet 41.014 175.550 
      30 10 Chad McCumbee/Supply NC Fast Track Driving School Pontiac 41.052 175.387 
      31 62 Bill Eversole/Chelsea MI Eversole-Gene DeRossett for Congress Chevy 41.095 175.204 
      32 38 Greg Sarff/Columbus OH Quaker Steak & Lube Ford 41.141 175.008 
      33 21 Todd Bowsher/Springfield OH GFS Marketplace Ford 41.307 174.305 
      34 7 Mike Guerity/Rochester Hills MI Hantz Group Dodge 41.568 173.210 
      35 34 Darrell Basham/Henryville IN TSI Paving-Racing Against Blindness Chevrolet Provisional 
      36 28 Mike Buckley/Ann Arbor MI Mid-State Title Chevrolet Provisional 
      37 26 Brad Smith/Belleville MI KoolMat.com Ford Provisional 
      38 84 Norm Benning/Pittsburgh PA Benning Motorsports Chevrolet Provisional 
      39 0 Tim Mitchell/Fayetteville TN Nealco-Reid's Auto Color Chevrolet Provisional 
      40 48 Marty Butkovich/Romeo MI Messina Trucking-Dow Dawson Trucking Chevy Provisional