SBRS: Grattan qualifying report

Julio Campos got the most from the least today, using the fewest laps of all qualifiers to set pole for Round 5 of the Formula Dodge National Championship at Grattan Raceway. Campos tripped the best lap time of 1:24.869 sec. early in the session on lap 5, then cycled only 10 more times before parking his R/T 2000.

Under unusually hot conditions, 22 racers tried gamely to upset Campos, though none could best him. The first qualifying session of the weekend was remarkably tight as only 0.414 sec. separated the top five qualifiers and 0.749 differentiated the top-10.

Campos spoke of how critical it was to lay down a good lap early.

"The car was definitely faster early in the session because the tires and engine were cool. It was very hot. I could feel the car got slower further into the session."

Scott Poirier will start from P2, only 0.261 sec. off of Campos^Ò standard. Poirier, making his first appearance at Grattan and first start in National Championship competition, cut his teeth in the Southern Regional Championship where he earned second place honors in his rookie season.

"It was a great session for me," said an obviously pleased Poirier. "I didn^Òt expect to do as well against this group. I made a few changes after the first practice and was pleased with the car." He continued, "I^Òve never really tackled such a technical track but the more I get out on it, the more comfortable I get and improve."

Unlike Campos, Leonardo Maia needed the entire session to record his best effort, tripping the clock on his last lap with a time of 1:25.155 sec.

"I noticed that the track was getting greasy and that the car was running hot so I focused on doing one lap and then trying to cool my tires." Maia continued, "At the very end I got a clear track and my tires were cool, the car was running great and I was able to set my best time."

-Barber