Pikes Peak: Qualifying summary

Steele eclipses world record; Carter, East also fast

FOUNTAIN, Colo. For the second consecutive year, a world sprint car qualifying record was established at the one-mile Pikes Peak International Raceway.

Dave Steele of Tampa, Fla. eclipsed Tony Stewart Racing teammate Jay Drake's 2003 record ever so slightly today, turning a lap of 144.980 mph (24.831 seconds) on his second lap of qualifying in his Mopar Vital Express/Beast Stanton Mopar. Drake's mark was 144.950 mph (24.836 seconds).

But to Steele, the most important mark was not set this afternoon. Steele eyes a win in the 30-lap King Soopers "Rocky Mountain Classic" Valvoline National Sprint Car Series event, set to take place following tomorrow's USAC National/Western Midget Car Series 30-lapper, which begins at 4:45 p.m. MST. J.J. Yeley will start second in the sprint car event.

"It's a little bit of a surprise," Steele said following his record-setting run. "We weren't really that good all through practice. We bolted on some new tires, did some changes to the timing and a gear change and it worked out good for us. (But) we're here to win the race, that's the big thing. This track, it's just one of those places that's a dream to drive."

Weld Racing Silver Crown Series track-record holder Dane Carter of Brownsburg, Ind. recorded his second career pole Saturday with a lap of 140.812 mph in the Panther Racing/Pedigo Chevrolet Pennzoil/Beast Chevy. Carter, who now has three front-row starts in 2004, set the track record in 2001. Drake will start second in the event.

National midget point leader Bobby East, also of Brownsburg, Ind., scored the midget pole, lapping the track at 138.312 mph in his Steve Lewis Racing/ASE Ford/Beast Pink Ford. Yeley, who is East's teammate, will start alongside.

The King Soopers "Rocky Mountain Classic" tripleheader will feature five drivers who have qualified for all three events. Steele, Drake and Tracy Hines are the defending champions of the midget, Silver Crown and sprint car races respectively, held on "Independence Day" of 2003.

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