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SCCA: Meriggi captures first career pole at Pikes Peak

17 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

FOUNTAIN, Colo.- Pro Spec Racer series veteran Johnny Meriggi, of The Woodlands, Texas, captured his first career pole for Saturdays Round Five Pro Spec Racer race at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Warren Stilwell, of Hartville, Ohio and Denny Stripling, of McKinney, Texas rounded out the top-three.

In warm but windy conditions, Meriggi, driving the No. 77 Great Expectations Spec Racer, captured the pole after posting a new qualifying lap record of 0:32.636 (110.308 mph). The pole is Merriggis first in 27 career Pro Spec Racer starts.

"Im extremely excited about capturing the pole," said Meriggi. "I really didnt expect it. Ive been progressing each session as I got more comfortable with the car. Tomorrow I want to stay with the lead pack and see how the race progresses."

Coming off consecutive poles at Mid-Ohio and Mosport, Stilwell will start second, driving the No. 28 Stilwell Racing Spec Racer. As the third last car on track during single car qualifying, Stilwell posted a quick time of 0:32.645 (110.277 mph).

"Honestly Im a little intimidated by the oval," said Stilwell. "Two years ago I had a really good race, but last year I hit the wall. Im just looking to come out of here with some points."

Driving the No. 4 Vortex Motorsports Spec Racer, Stripling will start third after posting a quick time of 0:32.722 (110.018 mph). Stripling who was quickest during both practice sessions was unable to match his earlier times in the three lap single qualifying session.

"Im a little disappointed I didnt grab the pole," said Stripling. "I made some changes since this morning and the car actually felt better, but with only three laps its hard to post a really quick time. The race should be interesting with all the drafting that goes here."

Rounding out the top-five was 1999 pole sitter Neil Tilbor, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla. and Keith Scharf, of St. Louis Mo.

Fountain, Colo. - Qualifying times for Saturday's 50-lap, 50.00-mile Pro Spec Racer race at Pikes Peak International Raceway, part of the Radisson Indy 200 Northern Light weekend, with qualifying position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour.

1. (77),Johnny Meriggi, The Woodlands, Texas, , Spec Racer, 0:32.636, 110.307.

2. (28),Warren Stilwell, Hartville, Ohio, , Spec Racer, 0:32.645, 110.277.

3. (4),Denny Stripling, McKinney, Texas, , Spec Racer, 0:32.722, 110.017.

4. (8),Neil Tilbor, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., , Spec Racer, 0:32.940, 109.289.

5. (82),Keith Scharf, St. Louis, Mo., , Spec Racer, 0:33.017, 109.034.

6. (19),Bobby Sak, W. Bloomfields, Mich., , Spec Racer, 0:33.172, 108.525.

7. (17),John Black, Tahoe City, Calif., , Spec Racer, 0:33.194, 108.453.

8. (9),Richard Doty, Haddon Heights, N.J., , Spec Racer, 0:33.234, 108.322.

9. (29),James Goughary Jr, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., , Spec Racer, 0:33.264, 108.225.

10. (00),Sean Lambert, Boulder, Colo., , Spec Racer, 0:33.314, 108.062.

11. (69),Carl Harris, Houston, Texas, , Spec Racer, 0:33.370, 107.881.

12. (11),Seainn Hendricson, Phoenix, Ariz., , Spec Racer, 0:33.591, 107.171.

13. (07),Carey Folk, Memphis, Tenn., , Spec Racer, 0:33.608, 107.117.

14. (7),Steve Rehkemper, Chicago, Ill., , Spec Racer, 0:33.645, 106.999.

15. (35),Clint Lindburg II, St. Louis, Mo., , Spec Racer, 0:33.704, 106.812.

16. (3),James Baxter, Houston, Texas, , Spec Racer, 0:33.838, 106.389.

17. (59),Mark Hutchins, Lincoln, Neb., , Spec Racer, 0:34.005, 105.866.

18. (23),John Bowden, Lawerence, Kansas, , Spec Racer, 0:34.045, 105.742.

19. (18),Ronald Jacobs, Denver, Colo., , Spec Racer, 0:34.291, 104.983.

20. (5),Dr. Jim Baxter, Houston, Texas, , Spec Racer, 0:34.578, 104.112.

21. (21),Charlie Shears, Houston, Texas, , Spec Racer, 0:34.586, 104.088.

22. (51),Dana Moore, San Diego, Calif., , Spec Racer, 0:34.704, 103.734.

23. (22),Jason Klein, Long Grove, Ill., , Spec Racer, 0:35.115, 102.520.

24. (99),Jeff Tillman, St. Louis, Mo., , Spec Racer, 0:35.158, 102.394.

25. (0),Tom Hunt, Buffalo, N.Y., , Spec Racer, 0:37.503, 95.992.

26. (26),Rich Klein, Long Grove, Ill., , Spec Racer, 0:38.629, 93.194.

27. (2),Wells Dickson, Des Moines, Iowa, , Spec Racer, no time.

28. (92),Mark Eaton, Melborune, Fla., , Spec Racer, no time.

Text provided by Allan Craighead

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