SALEM, Ind. – Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman – Must See Racing photo —
Brian Gerster backed up his dominant showing in Saturday practice with his first Must See Racing Sprint Car Series Quick Time Award of the 2015 season Saturday evening at Salem Speedway.
Gerster, from Fishers, Ind., went out eighth of the 10 cars that took time and blitzed the field, posting a time more than a second quicker than the next-closest car en route to his series-record 19th career top qualifying effort.
Gerster’s lap of 14.135 seconds (141.351 mph) was just a shade off the track record of 13.957 seconds, which he set in August of 2012 at the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial.
“I don’t know if that was all the car had but that was surely all I had,” Gerster admitted after the run. “It’s nice to qualify well, but the race tonight is when having that speed really matters. Hopefully this will translate over to the feature tonight and we can get another victory here at Salem.”
Gerster will be looking for his second James/O’Connor crown during tonight’s feature event.
New championship leader Jimmy McCune was second to Gerster again after trailing the No. 50M in both earlier practice sessions, but the driver of the No. 88 Abe’s Auto Parts and Sales sprinter could only muster a 15.184-second lap (131.586 mph) on his run.
Former NASCAR Whelen Modified tour champion Bobby Santos III (15.372/129.977) clocked in third-fastest in the Dick Fieler-owned No. 22A.
Chris Neuenschwander and Mike Stutsman rounded out the fast five.
The 56th Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial 30 is set to take the green flag at approximately 8:45 p.m. Eastern time.
For more information on Must See Racing, visit www.mustseeracing.com.
RESULTS: Must See Racing Sprint Car Series; Engine Pro Time Trials; Salem Speedway; August 8, 2015
- #50M – Brian Gerster, 14.135 seconds (141.351 mph)
- #88 – Jimmy McCune, 15.184
- #22A – Bobby Santos III, 15.372
- #10 – Chris Neuenschwander, 16.000
- #21 – Mike Stutsman, 16.149
- #71 – Brian Vaughn, 16.170
- #6 – Kevin Blue, 16.338
- #12 – John Turnbull Jr., 16.471
- #0 – Christian Koehler, 16.475
- #44 – Anthony McCune, 25.871
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network. Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s. He is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for both the United Sprint Car Series and the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
Email Jacob at: speed77radio@gmail.com
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
