Pierce Wins Pole at Homestead
Popping out a speed of 171.423 mph (31.501 seconds), the Phoenix, Ariz. native will lead the 17-car starting field in Friday’s 67-lap, 100-mile “Homestead-Miami 100," scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.
Following steady rain showers which forced the delay of practice sessions and cancellation of single-car qualifying, practice began under the lights of the 1.5-mile track and became a scramble, with two sessions determining the starting field.
Pierce completed 25 laps, but it was one toward the end of the second session which forced Wayne Reutimann Jr. out of the top spot. Reutimann, instead, will start alongside of the front row, coming up with a speed of 169.279 mph.
The pole was Pierce’s fourth of his career, all of which have come on mile-and-a-half tracks. His series record speed of 175.012 mph was unchallenged due to track conditions.
Cameron Dodson, the youngest driver in the field (18), will start third in his first series race. Defending series champion Bud Kaeding will start fourth, but may need to make repairs after smoking during both sessions, the second time forcing the premature conclusion of the session.
No other incidents were recorded.
A.J. Foyt Enterprise teammates Tracy Hines and Pablo Donoso will follow in the third row.
Defending race winner Brian Tyler was absent from taking any track time due to clutch problems and will start 17th in the race.
# DRIVER/Hometown Car Owner/Sponsors/Chassis/Engine
26 AARON PIERCE/Muncie, IN Sam Pierce/Sam Pierce Chevrolet – Kroger-Tide-Downy/Riley/Chevy
00 WAYNE REUTIMANN JR./Zephyrhills, FL Reutimann Motorsports/Case Contracting/DRC/Pink Ford
199 CAMERON DODSON/Greenfield, IN Carl Edwards – RE Technologies/Red Line Oil/C & R/Ford
29 BUD KAEDING/Campbell, CA BK Motorsports/Loan City – BK Performance/DRC/Shaver
14 TRACY HINES/New Castle, IN A.J. Foyt Enterprises/Greer Special/C & R/Chevy
11 PABLO DONOSO/Santiago, Chile A.J. Foyt Enterprises/Greer Special/C & R/Chevy
28 TIM BARBER/San Francisco, CA Pierson Racing/Eibach Springs/C & R/Chevy
17 MAT NEELY/Robinson, IL RW Motorsports/Rotondo Weirich/C & R/H G Chevy
27 JERRY COONS JR./Tucson, AZ RW Motorsports/Rotondo Weirich/C & R/Stanton Mopar
91 A.J. FIKE/Galesburg, IL Hemelgarn-RFMS Racing/Life Fitness – R.E. Technology/C & R/Foxco
12 BILLY WEASE/Noblesville, IN Western Speed Racing/Mobil 1 – K & N Filters/DRC/Mopar
99 PAUL WHITE/Temple, TX Mucci-Matczak Racing/Fred Gormly RPM – Seals-It/DRC/Gaerte Ford
2 MARC JESSUP/Camby, IN Johnny Vance/Aristocrat Products/DRC/Gaerte Chevy
19 MIKE MURGOITIO/Meridian, ID Team Six-R/Print Express/C & R/Chevy
96 RODNEY WEESNER/Portland, IN Weesner Motorsports/Rock Excavating/Stealth/Chevy
41 RYAN MOORE/Scarborough, ME Jim Paternoster/National Parts Peddler – Oswego Mini-Storage Warehouse/Riley/Chevy
21 BRIAN TYLER/Mt. Pleasant, NC Team Six-R/Utility Peterbilt – Café Santa Fe/C & R/Chevy