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Grids Set for 2009 SCCA National Championship Runoffs


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ELKHART LAKE, Sept. 24, 2009: Qualifying has concluded for the 2009 SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Seven pole positions changed hands on the third and final day of qualifying and now eight polesitters have a restless night ahead of them as they prepare for Friday’s races.

On the final day of qualifying, Corey Fergus, of Powell, Ohio, moved into the top spot in S2000. The 2009 S2 podium finisher entered a 2:16.217 (105.714 mph) in his No. 07 Hoosier Tires/Fergus Companies Carbir CS2 to take his first Runoffs pole position. He will be flanked by 2006 S2 National Champion Mark Mercer, of Aurora, Colo., who will be driving the No. 34 Ferenco/Hoosier Tires Lola 2003 91/90. The S2000 group is set to race Friday at 11:30 a.m. (CDT).

Haling from nearby Sheboygan, Wis., C Sports Racing driver Brian French claimed his first Runoffs pole position. Driving the No. 45 Motorsports Enterprises Ltd. Ralt RT-41 Toyota, French further improved his fast lap today by turning a 2:05.148 (115.064 mph) and will start Friday’s CSR race from the pole, with son James French starting behind him in third. CSR takes to the track Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Another Wisconsinite, East Troy resident Nicholas Coello, scored his fourth Runoffs pole position on the last day of qualifying. The three-time Formula Continental Champion entered a 2:12.511 (108.670 mph) at his home track in the No. 81 pouredfoundations.com/Hoosier Tire Van Diemen RF-01. Coello will lead the FC field to the green flag on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Charles Dempsey, a Runoffs rookie out of Brooksville, Fla., got his D Sports Racing National Championship aspirations off to a great start by qualifying his No. 85 Charles Dempsey MD Rehab Stohr WF1 Suzuki on the pole. Dempsey clocked a 2:04.693 (115.484 mph) on the final day of qualifying to take the top spot on the grid. DSR does not race until Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

The fastest Runoffs class, Formula Atlantic, will wrap up racing action on Friday, and starting on the pole will be Keith Grant in the No. 40 Hoosier Tire/Polestar Racing Swift 014A Toyota. Grant’s pole time of 2:03.832 (116.284 mph) has held since Tuesday qualifying.