Austin's Hellmund Qualifies in Top 15

[tqj3]

Release: February 1, 2003

Austin's Hellmund Qualifies in Top 15 for NASCAR Winston West Series Bosch Spark Plug 150 at Phoenix International Raceway

 

Phoenix, Arizona -- Despite not being able to test at Phoenix International Raceway, a track he's never seen before, Austinite C. T. (Tavo) Hellmund put the Suzuki Motorcycles and ATV/Pontiac Grand Prix 13th in the 28-car field for Sunday's NASCAR Grand National Division Winston West Series Bosch Spark Plug 150. Polesitter for the international field of drivers is Scott Lynch, driving NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie of the year Brendan Gaughan's Winston Cup car, with Gaughan's truck series crew handling the pit stops. Second quickest is Winston Cup driver Ken Schrader.

 

"We were updating the car nearly up until we left as the latest rules changes came from NASCAR to combine the Winston West series with the Busch North series into the new Grand National Division," Hellmund said after qualifying. "Then we had to make more changes when we got here and that cost us valuable track time. Because we didn't test, we turned out to be geared too high and we've been chasing the setup. But we've also been faster every session and still have some things we're going to change for the final practice and the race."

 

The Winston West series is the Western United States' oldest stock car series and celebrates its 50th anniversary this year by joining the Busch North series under a common set of rules. Although he won in the Winston West series his first time out and finished third at Las Vegas last year in his second start, Hellmund qualifies to run for "rookie of the year" honors and expects to compete for that honor as well as for the series championship.

 

The race is scheduled for 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time on Sunday, February 2, and will be televised nationally on a tape-delayed basis on Speed Channel.

 

Phoenix, AZ – Starting lineup for Sunday’s $187,744 NASCAR Grand National Division Winston West Series Bosch Spark Plug 150 with car number, driver’s name, hometown, make and model of car and speed in mph.

 

1.(08)Scott Lynch, Burley, Idaho, Dodge Intrepid, 127.528

 

2.(99)Ken Schrader, Fenton, Mo., Pontiac Grand Prix, 127.325

 

3.(40)Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 126.187

 

4.(06)Paul Wolfe, Mooresville, N.C., Dodge Intrepid, 126.148

 

5.(16)Austin Cameron, El Cajon, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125.444

 

6.(85)Kevin Richards, Spokane, Wash., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 125.261

 

7.(9)Mike Duncan, Lamont, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 124.344

 

8.(8)Johnny Borneman, Ramona, Calif., Ford Taurus, 123.300

 

9.(90)Clint Vahsholtz, Woodland Park, Colo., Ford Taurus, 123.288

 

10.(68)Brandon Miller, Bakersfield, Calif., Pontiac Grand Prix, 123.262

 

11.(20)Jim Inglebright, Fairfield, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 123.115

 

12.(77)Steve Portenga, Sparks, Nev., Ford Taurus, 122.628

 

13.(39)C.T. Hellmund, Austin, Tex., Pontiac Grand Prix, 122.562

 

14.(17)Scott Schmidt, Fort Lupton, Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 121.515

 

15.(00)Scott Gaylord, Lakewood, Colo., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 121.449

 

16.(61)Brett Thompson, Jerome, Idaho, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 121.433

 

17.(15)Jack Sellers, Sacramento, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 120.919

 

18.(3)Jimmy Kitchens, Hueytown, Ala., Pontiac Grand Prix, 120.546

 

19.(7)Gene Woods, Ontario, Calif., Dodge Intrepid, 120.240

 

20.(11)David Eshleman, Fontana, Calif., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 120.176

 

21.(71)Daryl Harr, Canada, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 118.969

 

22.(32)Ken Weaver, Dallas, Tex., Ford Taurus, 118.808

 

23.(86)Wayne Jacks, Las Vegas, Nev., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 118.616

 

24.(02)Carl Harr, Canada, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 118.530

 

25.(09)Takuma Koga, Nagoya, Japan, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 115.436

 

26.(1)Jeff Davis, Anaheim, Calif., Pontiac Grand Prix, 115.178

 

27.(76)Jeff Barrister, Scottsdale,Ariz., Ford Taurus, 106.405

 

28.(27)Bobby Hillis, Phoenix, Ariz., Chevrolet Monte Carlo, No speed

 

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T. Q. Jones P. O. Box 91346 Austin, TX 78709-1346

 

PH: (512) 266-4814 FAX: (512) 266-4833 Email: tqj@mindspring.com