ANDERSON, Ind. — Report by Race Chaser Online Managing Editor Jacob Seelman — Chris Seelman photo —
Daleville, Ind. native Aaron Pierce got his quest for a first-career victory in the nation’s toughest sprint car race off to a banner start, as he paced Wednesday’s three hour practice session at Anderson Speedway ahead of the 67th annual Pay Less Little 500.
Pierce, a 12-time Little 500 starter and two-time polesitterin the event, topped the 32 entries that took practice laps with a fast time of 11.167 seconds (80.595 mph) around the narrow, quarter-mile asphalt bullring.
The driver of the No. 26 Sam Pierce Chevrolet/Valvoline sprinter has a best finish of second in both 2004 and 2007, but has registered DNFs the past two years in the big show and knows it takes more than sheer speed to be successful in the Little 500.
“Practice doesn’t mean a whole lot,” Pierce said on Wednesday. “Yeah, it’s great to put up a good number, but its cold and the track will change a lot as the weather changes this weekend. We want to be in contention on Saturday around lap 450; that’s when it’s really going to matter.”
2012 Must See Racing Sprint Car Series champion JoJo Helberg was second-fastest with a fast lap of 11.195 seconds (80.393 mph) in the ADTS No. 7H, followed by two-time defending Little 500 champion Jacob Wilson at a clip of 11.207 seconds (80.307 mph).
Canadian hotshoe Ryan Litt, out of London, Ontario was fourth (11.221/80.207) and Donnie Adams Jr. rounded out the fast five (11.227/80.264).
NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour regular Bobby Santos, former Little 500 winners Chris Windom and Shane Cottle, Scotty Hampton and Troy DeCaire rounded out the rest of the top ten in practice speeds.
Notables outside the top ten included Indianapolis young gun Kyle Hamilton (11th); Tyler Roahrig (17th), in his return to sprint car racing following a violent super late model crash at Anderson in 2014; and three-time Little 500 champion Jeff Bloom (30th).
Pole day qualifying for the 67th annual Pay Less Little 500 presented by UAW-GM kicks off on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. local time, with the race set for Saturday night at 8 p.m.
RESULTS: 67th annual Pay Less Little 500 pres. by UAW-GM; Practice 2; Anderson Speedway; May 20, 2015
- Aaron Pierce
- JoJo Helberg
- Jacob Wilson
- Ryan Litt
- Donnie Adams Jr.
- Bobby Santos III
- Chris Windom
- Shane Cottle
- Scotty Hampton
- Troy DeCaire
- Kyle Hamilton
- Chris Neuenschwander
- Rex Norris III
- Brian Gerster
- Mickey Kempgens
- Shane Hollingsworth
- Tyler Roahrig (94)
- Jimmy McCune
- Doug Dietsch
- Davey Hamilton Jr.
- Nick Hamilton
- Tony Main
- Ryan Burdett
- Dave Steele
- Travis Welpott
- Jimmy Wysong
- Russ Gamester
- Brian Vaughn
- Tom Paterson
- Jeff Bloom
- Mark Hall
- Tyler Roahrig (64)
