Road Atlanta: Newman Wachs Racing qualifying report

NWR DRIVERS WILL START 1-2 AT ROAD ATLANTA AS SUMMERTON CLAIMS 5th POLE POSITION OF 2009

Braselton, GA (September 24, 2009) - Newman Wachs Racing drivers Jonathan Summerton and John Edwards made it the third time this season that the pair will start 1-2 for an Atlantic Championship race when they qualified this afternoon at Road Atlanta. In a show-stopping performance from the duo, Summerton claimed his 5th pole position in 2009 and Edwards nipped Championship points leader Simona De Silvestro on the final lap to allow him the starting position alongside his teammate on the front row.

Summerton and Edwards swept the top-two positions in practice yesterday as well, and the progress they made in testing obviously paid off in today's qualification. Both drivers sat at the top of the charts throughout the 30 minute session, but in the penultimate lap, Summerton put up a time that was nearly three-tenths of a second over his nearest competitor. Edwards moved up to the 2nd spot from 4th on his last lap after his engineer told him De Silvestro was quicker. Both drivers are carrying the momentum that started mid-way through the season and have made up valuable points in the Championship. The three-way battle for the top spot is intense, but none show any signs of letting up.

Jonathan Summerton, #34 Nuclear Clean Air Energy/ Entergy/ NEI/ Newman Wachs Racing: (P1; 1.15.166)

"This is great, but the goal is to win the race. I think we have a good shot at it. We have been consistently the fastest car on track all week and we know we have a good car. The heat played a role in today's session, but I think everyone could feel it. It was hot, but we pulled it out at the end. I'm really happy with everything and feeling really good about it all. The team did an excellent job and I can't thank them enough. Hopefully in the race tomorrow, John (Edwards) and I can pull away, and someone gets ahead of Simona (De Silvestro) for points and we can head into the season finale at Laguna with an even closer margin."

John Edwards, #36 MAZDASPEED/ Nuclear Clean Air Energy/ Entergy/ NEI/ Newman Wachs Racing: (P2; 1.15.345)

"Well, we were comfortably ahead of Simona on the first set of tires in that session. Then, we put on the new rubber and the car just wasn't quite as good for me. I had some over-steer and it took me longer to get the time down. My engineer came on the radio and told me Simona (De Silvestro) was ahead of me and that gave me the added push there at the end. Obviously, we wanted pole, but the important thing is staying ahead of Simona and we have managed that so far."

-credit: nwr