Stock car

Miller captures Irwindale pole

IRWINDALE, Calif. (March 9, 2001) -- Three-time ASA National Champion Butch Miller took Irwindale Speedway by storm, capturing his 38th career pole position, clocking in a 17.844 second lap (100.874 mph), one of four drivers to crack the sub-18 ...

Edited: Apr 15, 2002, 11:45 PM

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IRWINDALE, Calif. (March 9, 2001) -- Three-time ASA National Champion Butch Miller took Irwindale Speedway by storm, capturing his 38th career pole position, clocking in a 17.844 second lap (100.874 mph), one of four drivers to crack the sub-18 second mark. Miller, 48, of Coopersville, Mich., was in the top-10 in practice all afternoon.

"During the last practice session we ran a 17.88 second lap," said Miller, "This is the most pressure I've had qualifying in a couple of years. I didn't want to let the crew down because they worked so hard on the car. I wanted to do good for the crew."

Miller said it was the same Pontiac the team ran at the ASA season opener in Florida and they had problems getting the car to handle properly.

"We just kept dialing the car in," he said. "We kept loosening up the car and it got faster. It was a little too loose in qualifying, but we'll take it."

Miller described the half-mile oval as a great race track with a wonderful design. He said there were three distinct grooves around the track that will make for good racing.

Another former ASA Champion, Kevin Cywinski, turned in the second fastest time in qualifying, taking his Texas Roadhouse Chevrolet around the beautiful half-mile in 17.932 sec. (100.379 mph). Cywinski was also able to adapt to the progressively banked track, staying inside the top-10 in practice through the afternoon sessions.

The pole sitter for the season-opening event, rookie Johnny Sauter, clocked in the third fastest time (17.937 sec. / 100.351 mph) followed by the current ASA point leader, Joey Clanton (17.982 sec. / 100.100 mph). The fifth position is occupied by defending ASA National Champion Gary St. Amant (18.005 sec. 99.972 mph).

Rain cancelled the running of the Wynn's 100 qualifying race. ASA officials announced that all 38 cars that took a qualifying time will start the tires.com 300 Presented by BFGoodrich Tires. Gates open at 2 p.m. with the on-track autograph session at 4 p.m. The tires.com 300 will take the green flag at 6 p.m. Limited tickets are still available.

-ASA

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