DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Story by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman – TM Racing photo –
A pair of Real Sim Racing rookies – Tim Matthews and Ross Cado – will lead a star-studded =RSR= Full Throttle Cup Series (FTCS) field to the green flag on Feb. 22 after securing the front row starting spots for the fifth annual SimVibe Daytona 250.
The session marks the first time in FTCS history at Daytona that a pair of series rookies qualified on the front row for the season opener.
Matthews, from Salyersville, Kentucky, clocked a fast lap of 46.889 seconds (191.943 mph) around the 2.5-mile tri-oval during Garry Mercer Trucking Pole Qualifying to top not just qualifying Group B – but the entire 52-car =RSR= Full Throttle Cup Series field.
The two-group, two-lap, single-car session set the front row for next Monday’s =RSR= Full Throttle Cup Series Daytona 250 (Feb. 23; 9 p.m. Eastern on LSRTV), as well as the starting lineups for Monday night’s Full Throttle Duels at Daytona, which determine the remainder of the 43 starting positions.
By virtue of his effort, Matthews received his first-career GMercer.com Pole Award and will lead the field to the green flag in the season-opening event.
“I wasn’t expecting that kind of a lap at all,” Matthews admitted. “What an honor though. I’m just a rookie trying to gain experience and learn from the guys who have been here for a while, but to be able to say I’m leading the field to the start next week at Daytona is an incredible feeling. Hopefully we can stay out of trouble early and find a way to bring home a solid finish in the race itself.”
Alongside Matthews on the front row will be Cado’s No. 12 Spirit of America Chevrolet, which clocked in fastest in Group A and second-quickest overall with a clip of 46.900 seconds (191.898 mph). Cado currently sits fourth in the =RSR= Outlaw Truck Series points standings, 22 points behind leader Chad Cole going into that division’s finale on Wednesday night.
For more information on Real Sim Racing and the =RSR= Full Throttle Cup Series, visit www.realsimracing.com.
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.
The 22-year-old 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: [email protected]
Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77
Email Race Chaser Online: [email protected]
Follow RCO on Twitter: @RaceChaserNews
