Chicagoland: Qualifying report

JOLIET IL (9-4-03) Four-time ARCA RE/MAX Series champion and current point leader Frank Kimmel steered the Advance Auto Parts-Pork Ford to his 33rd career Old Milwaukee Pole here Thursday at Chicagoland Speedway. The Jeffersonville, Indiana driver posted a speed of 173.544 mph around the 1.5-mile superspeedway.

"Our first lap wasn't good enough to get the pole, so my brother (Bill/Crew Chief) called me on the radio and said you've got to go," said Kimmel. "So I settled myself down a little and drove it down in there the way you need to. The car feels real good. If anything, it's a little loose up off the corners, but we'll tighten that up with our race set-up. But overall, the car's great; I'm not complaining."

Veteran Greg Sacks, in the Fresh Seafood from Florida Dodge, qualified outside pole with a speed of 172.927 mph in only his third ARCA RE/MAX Series attempt.

"Well, we weren't very good in practice, so we changed everything except the kitchen sink," said Sacks. "The car was way too tight, but it's a lot better now. The first lap (in qualifying) was great, then I overdrove the car in turn one on the second lap and it pushed up the track. We're still a little tight, but it's much better. We'll make a few more adjustments, and we should be in great shape for the race."

Christi Passmore, in the GAP Roofing-Royal Trading Ford, qualified third. Joe Ruttman, making his return to ARCA RE/MAX Series competition, qualified fourth in the Emerson Industrial Automation-CR Chevrolet. Nashville, Tennessee driver Darryl Sage qualified fifth the Murtco Chevrolet.

Saturday's ReadyHosting.com 200 from Chicagoland Speedway is scheduled to get underway at 1 pm eastern. Local AM radio station WJOL will carry live, flag-to-flag coverage beginning at 10 am.

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