Earl's Fast Qualifier 2005-11-07

JONES 2 AWAY FROM EARL'S TITLE

Levi Jones is just two points from locking up the 2005 Earl's Fast Qualifying Championship in the USAC Valvoline National Sprint Car Series. Jay Drake, who trails by 17 points, must post the fastest qualifying time for both Thursday and Friday night's races at Phoenix, Ariz. this week to unseat Jones, who can clinch the title by earning just two points, regardless of Drake's performance.

Damion Gardner, who has long since locked up the Earl's title in the Valvoline USAC/CRA Sprints, was Thursday's fast qualifier at Perris, Calif., while Mat Neely was Friday's fast qualifier. Jones earned four points with his third-fast qualifying effort Friday, while Drake did not score Earl's points at Perris. Gardner's fast time was his 21st this season in the CRA series.

Earl's points for both National and CRA Sprints will be awarded Thursday and Friday at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix. There are no qualifications Saturday.

Points are awarded at each USAC event based on an international system awarding the top-six qualifiers with points in the following scale: 1st-9, 2nd-6, 3rd-4, 4th-3, 5th-2, 6th-1. When qualifying is not held for Ford Focus events, points are awarded based on a system of lineup points earned in the preliminary heats.

Each USAC National, Western and Ford Focus Midget Car Earl's Plumbing FQ Champion will be honored at USAC's Champions Night ceremony in Indianapolis. The National and Western FQ champs will receive $5,000 each, while the Ford Focus FQ champs will each receive $1,000.

2005 Standings:

Weld Racing Silver Crown: 1-Josh Wise-38; 2-Dave Steele-31; 3-Bobby East-27; 4-Tracy Hines-24; 5-Dave Darland-18.

Valvoline National Sprint Car: 1-Levi Jones-75; 2-Jay Drake-58; 3-Bobby East-43; 4-Josh Wise-42; 5-Dave Darland-40.

National Midget Car: 1-Michael Lewis-33; 2-Josh Wise & Jerry Coons Jr.-27; 4-Billy Wease-25; 5-Bobby East-21.

Valvoline Western Sprint Car: 1-Tony Hunt-44; 2-Kody Swanson-42; 3-Brian McClish-38; 4-Mike Murgoitio-34; 5-Tim Barber-27.

Western Midget Car: 1-Jerome Rodela-48; 2-Garrett Hansen-27; 3-Michael Lewis & Wally Pankratz-21; 5-Robby Flock-19.

Valvoline CRA Sprint Car: 1-Damion Gardner-224; 2-Rip Williams-72; 3-Cory Kruseman-69; 4-Charles Davis Jr.-66; 5-Rickie Gaunt-53.

Midwest Ford Focus: 1-Tate Martz-96; 2-Stephanie Mockler & James Robertson-47; 4-Derek Fisher-36; 5-Jordan Noblitt-25.

California Ford Focus: 1-Alex Harris-112; 2-Chase Barber-70; 3-Benny Moon & Chris Veach-62; 5-Robbie Whitchurch-61.

Carolina/Virginia Ford Focus: 1-Chase Scott-73; 2-Robbie Ray-44; 3-Aron Oakley-26; 4-Michael Sboro-25; 4-Mike Ward-22.

Oklahoma Ford Focus: 1-Jasiel Randolph-18; 2-Dustin Morgan-17; 3-Evan Sewell-16; 4-Leon Bacon-15; 5-Chett Gehrke-14.

Northeast Ford Focus: 1-Stephanie Stevens-37; 2-Nick Wean-36; 3-Jeff Abold-32; 4-Brit Andersen-25; 5-Ryan Smith-20.

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