By Staff
BROOKLYN – ARCA RE/MAX Series SunTrust Rookie Scott Speed earned the SIM Factory Pole Award Thursday afternoon at Michigan Int'l Speedway, circling the 2-mile paved oval in 38.895 seconds in his No. 2 Red Bull Toyota. The former Formula One driver, who plans to compete in both the ARCA RE/MAX Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events at Michigan Int'l Speedway this weekend, sits on the pole for Friday's Racing for Wildlife 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series race.
"I've never raced at Michigan but this track is significant to me because this was the very first race that my fiance Valentina and I came to with Red Bull when we were starting to talk about running stock cars," said Speed. "We're just taking it in stride. There is a cup car waiting for me, when the situation is right with the team and if I feel comfortable with it we will make the move. Racing in the trucks has increased my learning curve, especially with guys like Hornaday, Skinner and Benson. They are cup-quality drivers and I've learned a lot from them."
Speed, who currently sits third in the ARCA RE/MAX Series point standings, will start Friday's Racing for Wildlife 200 alongside Eddie Sharp Racing teammate Justin Lofton, who posted a 39.133-second lap in the No. 20 Lofton Cattle Dodge.
"I'm really looking forward to racing here tomorrow," said Lofton. "I think the last four cars will stand out. I think I can pretty much sum up my season so far as bad luck…even last week, when I was running in the top-five at the end of the race and ended up finishing 19th. I'm hoping to turn things around this weekend and so far it's going well."
Brian Scott will start third in the No. 15 Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet, alongside Justin Allgaier in the No. 16 AG Tech-Hoosier Midwest-Hot Hues Chevrolet. Shelby Township, Michigan's Robb Brent will start fifth at his hometown superspeedway in a No. 00 Abigayle Place-Orchard Chrysler Dodge Jeep Chevrolet.
Friday's Racing for Wildlife 200 marks the series' 27th appearance to Michigan Int'l Speedway since the inaugural race at the 2-mile oval in 1980.
Former ARCA RE/MAX Series winners at Michigan include Jeff Purvis, Tim Steele, Chad Blount, Kerry Earnhardt, Casey Mears, Joe Ruttman, Reed Sorenson, David Stremme and Steve Wallace, among others.
This year's edition of the race marks the 9th of 21 events on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule and will be aired live on SPEED beginning at 5 p.m. today.