Andy Lally wins ARCA pole in NJ
"I suggested to the team something to try for qualifying and it was probably a bad idea because we were free right out of the box," said Lally. "I think for tomorrow, keeping the tires under you, keeping the brakes under you and keeping the rear under you will be key to winning the race. I think it was an advantage coming into this weekend with prior experience at this track but the drivers in this Series are successful enough and competitive enough at this level that they can pick up on new tracks really quickly and the playing field is leveling out. Everyone picked up speed during their qualifying session except for me. I've been really impressed with about four or five guys and I think they will be pressing for the win tomorrow."
Lally is a road course veteran, earning a race victory in a Rolex Grand Am Series race at New Jersey Motorsports Park as recently as August 31st. With his SIM Factory Pole Award, Lally became the 13th different driver to win a pole award this season. Scott Speed and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., currently first and second in the point standings respectively, lead the Series in SIM Factory Pole Awards with three each. Ken Butler, III is the only other driver with more than one SIM Factory Pole Award this season.
Kligerman, making his ARCA RE/MAX Series debut in a No. 77 Cunningham Driver Development Dodge, starts alongside Lally with a time of 82.438 seconds, eclipsing Speed's time of 82.454 seconds. Speed starts his No. 2 Red Bull Toyota on the second row alongside Eddie Sharp Racing teammate Justin Lofton in the No. 20 Lofton Cattle Dodge. Tayler Malsam qualified a career best fifth in the No. 4 Dodge Development Dodge, followed by Tony Ave, Dexter Bean, Brian Scott, Stenhouse, Jr. and Justin Allgaier.
SIM Factory Qualifying was held in eight group sessions of five cars each, as determined by practice speeds.
The Loud Energy Drink 150 rolls off at 1 p.m. today.