ASALMS, Sportsman qualifying quotes and notes

[rebelracewriter]

AT&T Texas All-Star Shootout, Twin 75's, presented by Mercedes Homes @ San Antonio Speedway 10/21/06

By J M Hallas

 

In TexasSpeedZone.Com qualifying for the ASALMS, South Division, current points leader James Buescher set the early standard, but was then bested by Colt James. James time looked to be the best, but Landon Cassill in the Puma, Cassill Motors, Hokkenburg-Newburg Food Brokers, Finish Line Dent Repair, Port City Chassis powered by a Ford crate engine, was out late setting the best time. Cassill’s 18.469 not only was quickest but set a new track record bettering the ASA Challenge Series time of Jake Ryan earlier in the year.

 

James’ time would hold up for second, Buescher third, with local hot shoe Tommy Grimes fourth and Dillon Oliver rounding out the top five.

 

“We have a great car,” replied Cassill. “I don't think going out late was much of an advantage. Rich works real hard of the car and got it up to speed. I hope we do as good in the race as in qualifying. The experience from the Challenge Series certainly helped us. We learned a lot at practice yesterday too. Time on the track definitely does help and it shows in the results. We hope to win both of these races. That's what we came down for. However it turns out, this is racing. But we came here to win.”

When asked if he would take the now infamous Terry Dickerson challenge to go to the tail for bonus money, Cassill added, “No, not tonight. We came down here to win both races and we are not points racing or anything. We are just going to do what we can to win both.”

 

“I was pretty sure Landon (Casill) would bust off a better lap, said James. “Everywhere we've raced this year he's put a good lap down. I felt like I left a little out there and wish I could have it back and see what I could have done. This is an impound race and I am pretty happy with what we've got, we had a pretty neutral car for practice and the last lap was pretty good so I feel good about the race. I just hope to drop in line the first part of the race and see what we have at the end. I think there will be 5 or 6 guys that will be real strong. Brandon(Bendele) and Greg(Davidson) didn't get a good lap in, but they will have a good car for the race. Even if they have a bad car they know what to do. You can't push it too hard at the beginning of the race and burn up your tires. That's the main thing. I would like to walk away with at least one win.”

 

“I was pretty sure someone would knock us off the pole,” stated Buescher. Going out first for qualifying is never a good thing. I was lucky to end up where I am. If we would have gone out later we might have been better. You just do the best you can do. This is my first year in the late models here in ASA. It's been a really great year for us finishing on top of the points and Rookie of the Year. I've got a really good team, Turner Motorsports has put a real good car together all year. We've been real strong at every race.”

“This is our second race with the Ford engine. We got tired getting beat by the Fords. So we decided to step up and get a Ford.”

“My goal is to get to NASCAR,” added the soon to be crowned series titlest. “I know it will take some time to get there. We’re going to keep moving up as much as we can, without moving up too fast.”

 

“I can't say the track experience didn't help with the lap,” quipped the veteran Grimes. “The little crate engine has just been a big learning curve the last two days practicing. We ran a lot last night. These guys here do it week in and week out and they are good at it. Anytime you can come in here and be competitive with them you have to feel like you've accomplished something. This is only the third time that this car has been raced. It's a brand new car this year and has just been sitting in the shop. We brought it out and it's really a good car. I can hardly find anything wrong with it. It drives smooth, it drives easy and it stays consistent. I guess were the fastest car that isn't an ASA regular. I think it will be a good show, I really don't expect to make many changes(between races), but we'll see how it goes.”

 

TexasSpeedZone.Com Qualifying Results

1. 7 Landon Cassill 18.469 New Track Record

2. 15 Colt James 18.677

3. 2 James Buescher 18.732

4. 6 Tommy Grimes 18.758

5. 33 Dillon Oliver 18.784

6. 21 D. J. Vanderlay 18.854

7. 09 John Wes Townley 18.855

8. 71 Daniel Ouderkirk 18.855

9. 109 Kyle Sirizzotti 18.893

10. 811 Brandon Bendele 18.902

11. 79 Joe Aramendeia 18.963

12. 115 Lloyd Alexander 19.037

13. 96 Greg Davidson 19.066

14. 9 Trey Mitchell 19.098

15. 41 Derek Strong 19.118

16. 188 David Pollen 19.128

17. 14 Brent Seeley 19.130

18. 16 Jeff Bedell 19.331

19. 411 Bob Varney 19.754

 

Qualifying for the Texas State Sportsman Championship saw two surprises. First, former NASCAR Late Model 2005 track champion, Robert Barker in a recently built car set the early marker for drivers to shoot at. Texas Super Racing Series and Late Model regular, Jamie Fuller then surprised himself setting fast time with a 20.43 in the Alamo Paint & Body, C&C Signs and Graphics, Jmack Construction, Mutz Company, King Bobcats of Texas, C3 Speed Horses, Oval Components Chassis with a Mission Racing Engine.

 

Said Fuller of his incredible time, “You would think there was some timing problems with the two laps feeling the same and being nearly a second difference. It just doesn't seem right. We were about 6/10th faster than usual. I figured we'd be around 20.90 or 21.00, but you saw what happened. I got lucky. I'm starting fourth behind Robert(Barker), I hope he gets a jump on the polesitter and we can just get out and run a few green laps, try not to run too hard and save the tires for the end.”

 

 

San Antonio Speedway Sportsman

 

1. 93 Jamie Fuller 20.43 New Track Record

2. 44 Robert Barker 20.84

3. 83 David Hassinger 21.13

4. 12 Tator Mason 21.27

5. 55 Jarod Benker 21.28

6. 20 Mark Mathias 21.35

7. 31 Keith Garrett 21.37

8. 6 Craig Crawley 21.50

9. 5 Chad Menard 21.58

10 1 Daniel Webster 21.62

11. 34 Greg Carluchi, Jr 21.86

12. 51 Greg Rohmer 21.98

13. 21 Robert Mayberry 22.18

14. 40 Stan Eastey 22.40

15. 48 Pat Lyon 22.48

16. 28 David Schooman No time

[Truck99]

1. 93 Jamie Fuller 20.43 New Track Record

 

 

I had to read this about 5 times before I believed it. Congrats Jamie.