Baird Clocks Fastest Lap in Day Two of ARCA Series Testing at Daytona
22 December 1997
DAYTONA BEACH FL. -- Bill Baird, who drives for NASCAR Winston Cup
Series regular Ken Schrader, posted the fastest speed on the second of three
days of ARCA Series testing Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.
Baird, driving a No. 52 Schrader Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo, was
clocked at 47.8 seconds, for an average speed of 188.285 mph.
Baird, who has limited superspeedway experience, was impressive in his
Daytona debut last February, turning in a fourth-place finish in the Daytona
ARCA 200. The ARCA Series' season-opening Daytona ARCA 200, to be held in
conjunction with the all new Bud Shootout At Daytona, is scheduled for Feb.
8.
"We just made a lot of short runs yesterday (Saturday)," said Baird.
"And today, after making some simulated qualifying runs, we got the car down
to where we wanted, so we're loading up and going home. We're happy because
this is the fastest we've ever had this car. We went faster than we did last
year and that's why we came down to Daytona in the first place. Everybody at
Schrader Racing has been working hard for a whole year to be where we are, so
it's paid off.
"Last year I came down to Daytona looking for a top 10 in the race and
hoping just to finish and we finished fourth. My goal this year is to sit on
the pole and win this thing (Daytona ARCA 200). I've been racing on asphalt
now for four years and I've never won an asphalt race. If I win the ARCA 200,
I'll probably be more emotional than Jeff Gordon was at the (NASCAR Winston
Cup Awards) banquet."
The test continues tomorrow (Monday). A section of the Oldfield
Grandstand is open daily at no charge from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with access
through DAYTONA USA, "The Ultimate Motorsports Attraction." Guided Speedway
Tours are also available from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a nominal fee.
DAYTONA BEACH FL -- Practice times for the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series - 12/21
Ps.No. Driver Make Lap Time M.P.H.
-- ---- ------------------- ----- -------- -------
1 52 Bill Baird Chev 0:47.800 188.285
2 59 Mark Gibson Ford 0:48.300 186.335
3 7 Chad Coleman Ford 0:48.400 185.950
4 55 Russell Landrum Ford 0:48.500 185.567
5 66 Mark Thompson Ford 0:48.600 185.185
6 80 Andy Hillenburg Ford 0:48.900 184.049
7 15 Dale Kreider Chev 0:49.100 183.299
8 11 Glen Morgan Chev 0:49.400 182.186
9 31 Randal Ritter Chev 0:49.709 181.087
10 42 Dan Pardus Chev 0:49.700 181.087
11 53 Bob Kelly Chev 0:49.800 180.723
12 18 Josh Baltes Chev 0:49.900 180.361
13 32 Mark Stahl Ford 0:49.900 180.361
14 5 Bobby Gerhart Chev 0:50.100 179.641
15 74 Gary Laton Chev 0:50.200 179.283
16 3 Kirk Shelmerdine Chev 0:50.500 178.218
17 44 Greg Usher Chev 0:51.200 175.781
18 93 Wayne Larson Chev 0:51.600 174.419
Track Length : 2.5000 Miles
*Electronic times taken randomly throughout the day
Mike Snow -- The Auto Channel
