Phoenix: Team Koretsky final qualifying notes

After disappointing Phoenix, Team Koretsky now sets their sights on Gainesville

Chandler, Ariz. - - After breaking his primary race engine, Kenny Koretsky, owner of Team Koretsky - KPK Motorsports - and driver of the team's number two Pontiac Grand Am, elected not to run the final two qualifying sessions.

"I want to insure that Richie Stevens has every opportunity to win this event," said the veteran Koretsky, who currently resides in Richboro, Pa. "As a result, we are going to put all our effort behind Richie for the remainder of qualifying."

Without the benefit of two runs, Koretsky, in the Valspar Refinish/Snap-On Tools/Cyclo Industries Pontiac Grand Am, finished the event in the 32nd position.

Meanwhile, Richie "The Kid" Stevens was 21st after the first day of qualifying. An engine oil fire in the pit area after the second pass on Friday, added to the gremlins that continued to plague Team Koretsky. It was quickly extinguished and the team made the call for Saturday's final two sessions.

In Saturday's first session, Stevens' Valspar Refinish/Snap-On Tools/Cyclo Industries Pontiac Grand Am just missed making the field and remained in 21st.

On the final qualifying session, the gremlins returned. During the burnout the car shut off. According to crew chief Eddie Guarnaccia, Jr., the main wire from the MSD box vibrated loose, killing all the functions for the ignition. Needless to say, Stevens, the twenty-four-year old driver from New Orleans, will not be part of eliminations tomorrow.

"There's not much we can say," added Koretsky. "We felt that with the cloud cover this afternoon, Richie's Valspar Refinish/Snap-On Tools/Cyclo Industries Pontiac Grand Am had a good chance to make the field. The only thing you can't predict is problems like the one with the MDS box. We'll be back at Gainesville."

After a disappointing outing in Phoenix, Team Koretsky will now move to Gainesville, Fla., for the Mac Tools Gatornationals, the third stop of the season on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The event will unfold March 14-17 at Gainesville Raceway.

-kpk-