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ASA: St. Amant Reels Off Third-Straight Pole of 2000

17 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

ASA National Points Leader Continues Consistent Streak

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa--American Speed Association National Points leader Gary St. Amant collected his third-straight pole of the 2000 season in preparation for Saturdays WorldBestBuy.com 250 at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It is the Columbus, Ohio natives 22nd career pole award.

St. Amants Wynns Chevrolet took advantage of a cloud cover and slipped just a little between turns one and two during his pole run, but still turned a 94.937 mph lap around the half-mile oval (18.960 seconds).

"I knew we had a car that could do a 18.9 (sec.) lap," said St. Amant. "It probably helps that we did a tire test here just a little over a month ago. For some reason, the track always picks up a little during qualifying."

Tecumseh driver Mike Garvey will start on the outside of St. Amant, also using the cloud cover to turn a lap of 18.972 sec. (94.877 mph).

"I dont know what we could have done to make the car any better," said Garvey. "For some reason, cloud cover means a lot at this track. The BFGoodrich Tires really reacted to the sun today."

Rookie sensation Scott Wimmer achieved his career-best starting spot, coming home third with a lap of 19.004 sec. Greg Stewart will start fourth after turning a lap of 19.021 sec., his best starting spot of 2000. Rookie Larry Foyt, son of legendary driver A.J. Foyt, also collected his best career qualifying effort, running fifth with a 19.023 sec. lap.

Four of the series top competitors had to take provisionals just to make the starting field, including Brandon Sperling, Ricky Johnson, Mike Miller and Scott Hansen. The remainder of the 32-car starting filed will be set after the running of the100-lap qualifier event.

Activities for the WoldBestBuy.com 250 begin Saturday, June 17 with the exclusive ASA on-track autograph session scheduled to start at noon. Pre-race ceremonies start at 1:15 pm, with the WoldBestBuy.com 250 taking the green flag at 2 p.m.

Text provided by ASA

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.