MARNE, Mich. – Former Berlin Raceway winner Jason Blonde raced to the top of the speed charts during Hamilton Trucking Time Trials for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series on Saturday evening, becoming the eighth different fast qualifier in 11 races this season.

Blonde, who won at the seven-sixteenths-mile oval in May of 2017, turned a lap of 13.286 seconds (118.546 mph) with the No. 42 Bingham Farms/Hamilton Trucking/Dowker Engines sprinter to notch his sixth-career fast time and first since July 2, 2016 at Owosso Speedway.

“It feels good to roll off the trailer and be fast here, but we know that’s only part of the battle,” said Blonde. “This is a tricky race track and what you need to be quick in the feature isn’t always what it takes to be fast in qualifying. Hopefully we can adjust the right way and be up there when it counts later on tonight.”

Jimmy McCune, who is closing in on securing his fourth-consecutive series championship, timed in second-fastest with a lap of 13.298 seconds (118.439 mph) in the No. 88 Abe’s Auto Parts/B&B Machinery Movers/Rev-X Oil machine, just .013 of a second off Blonde’s pole mark.

Smoking the tires all the way through turns three and four on both laps, Charlie Schultz followed in third (13.350/117.978) for his best-ever qualifying effort with the series in his second full-time season.

Former NASCAR Modified champion Bobby Santos III, who was fastest during practice earlier in the day, faded to fourth (13.465/116.970) in time trials ahead of Ike Beasley.

Teddy Alberts, Christian Koehler, Doug Dietsch, Jerry Caryer and Tom Jewell completed the top 10.

Anthony McCune had motor issues on his warmup lap and did not post an official qualifying time. Should he get the car repaired, he will start last in the 18-car field for Saturday night’s 30-lap feature.

The 20-year-old came into the day second in series points to his uncle, Jimmy McCune.

Back to School Night at Berlin Raceway, featuring the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series, is scheduled to get the green flag at 6:30 p.m.

QUALIFYING RESULTS: Must See Racing Sprint Car Series; Berlin Raceway; Aug. 18, 2018

1. #42 – Jason Blonde, 13.286
2. #88 – Jimmy McCune, 13.298
3. #9s – Charlie Schultz, 13.350
4. #22a – Bobby Santos, 13.465
5. #97 – Ike Beasley, 13.573
6. #44 – Teddy Alberts, 13.668
7. #10k – Christian Koehler, 13.803
8. #0 – Doug Dietsch, 13.814
9. #75c – Jerry Caryer, 14.093
10. #7 – Tom Jewell, 14.117
11. #8a – Adam Biltz, 14.376
12. #6k – Kyle Feeney, 14.685
13. #88n – Frank Neill, 14.727
14. #11g – Tom Geren, 15.303
15. #81 – Sondi Eden, 15.351
16. #90 – Tom Nichols, 16.382
17. #13 – HD Carter, 18.136
18. #8 – Anthony McCune, NT