TALLADEGA – Bryan Clauson will start today’s ARCA RE/MAX 250 at Talladega Superspeedway from the pole.Clauson, a native of Noblesville, Ind. posted a speed of 184.840 mph during qualifying at Talladega Superspeedway on Thursday.
“We did a lot of testing here a couple of weeks ago and we worked a lot on qualifying runs,” Clauson said Thursday. “We concentrated today more on race strategy so we weren’t real sure what we had going into it today, but we felt like we had a really good car and just got out there and laid down a good lap.
“I’d like to take a lot of the credit for it, but here at Talladega it’s a lot more about the time and effort that the crews put in and they did a good job bringing me a good car and I feel like we have a good car for the race tomorrow.”
Clauson, who drives the No. 40 Memorex Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing, has one win in the ARCA series thus far this season. He also has four top-five finishes in only five career starts in ARCA.
Mike Annett will start second, posting a speed of 184.633 mph. Colin Braun, Philip McGilton and Bobby Santos round out the top five.
The pole sitter’s new teammate will also be in the show today.
Dario Franchitti qualified sixth with a speed of 183.740. The Scotland native will make his stock car debut in the No. 42 Target-Fugi Film-Tums Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing today in the ARCA RE/MAX 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. Franchitti will drive for Ganassi in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in 2008.
“Today was a big learning day, just getting in the car for the first time,” Franchitti said. “Seeing how the car handles, getting used to the seat position, the steering is different, what the switches do. All those things. Even finding my way from pit lane back to the truck.
“Tomorrow is going to be another big learning day. Getting in the draft for the first time (during the morning practice), and then racing in the afternoon. It’s like being back at school.”
Defending ARCA champion Frank Kimmel will start today’s race from the ninth position. Kimmel also won the 2006 ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway and is currently in position to win his ninth series championship.
“I’m very, very happy with the car,” Kimmel said. “We got into the draft this morning with a couple of cars and that allowed us to post the quickest time in practice today.
“I love coming to Talladega. The fans are a lot of fun.”
Gabi DiCarlo, the only female who regularly races in ARCA qualified 40th. She won’t be the only woman in the field today as Evernham Motorsports driver Erin Crocker also made the race, qualifying in the 19th position.
Open wheel racer Scott Speed posted a speed of 183.480, good enough for a starting position of seventh.
Several familiar names failed to qualify for today’s race. Kerry Earnhardt, son of legendary driver Dale Earnhardt, posted a speed of 180.196, but failed to make the 41-car field. Alabama native Mike Harmon didn’t make the race either, but Justin South, of Hueytown, used a provisional and will start 36th today.
Qualifying on Thursday featured 58 cars vying for 41 positions.
The ARCA RE/MAX 250 gets underway at 4 p.m. today.
