– John Raudat set the fast time in Group 1 qualifying, posting a 1:23.685. Raudat had not seen the 1.7 mile Road Course at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park before today’s event.
– Raudat, driving a 1999 Mazda Miata time gave him is his first Pole Award in his career.
– Raudat, from Madison, CT, is followed by youngster Matthew Chimbolo, who posted a 1:24.142. Xiang Li qualified third with time of 1:25.096.
– Matthew Chimbolo is a budding, young star, according to John Raudat. “He’s a real smooth driver. He improved greatly throughout the day.”
– Ken Payson, in his 1999 Mazda Miata, led Group 2 qualifying, posting a 1:22.477 circuit, besting his personal track record.
– Payson gained a full 2 seconds, from first practice to Qualifying.
– Payson, on his personal best lap, “The track was pretty cold, so we bumped up all the air pressures a pound or two. We also ran two laps, after that the tires get too hot.”
– Rounding out the top 3 in qualifying, Payson, followed by Rob Sturgis, posting a time of 1:23.271, and John Raudat with a 1:23.443.
– Jeff Swann set an OTB Promotions record in Group 3, recording a time of 1:20.626.
– “Let’s be clear, two reasons why you go fast: a great car, and a great pit crew,” expressed Swann. “The Gen-3 is a phenomenal thing. It was my first time out (in the car), and I’m very impressed. It’s a lot of fun, and a lot of power.”
– The top 3 qualifiers in Group 3 were Swann, George Kline, who recorded a 1:28.450, and Morgan Duffy, with a time of 1:29.139.
– Kline suffered a mechanical failure with his primary car, experiencing a broken clutch, subsequently ending his day with that vehicle. Walter Ryan, a participant in Group 1, has loaned Kline his ride, and will share the automobile in each of their respective groups. “We just want to go out and have a good time. It’s a great day, because we are at the track.”