DiBenedetto Earns Second Road Course Pole
Edges Points Leader Truex For The Pole
Lakeville, CT — Matt DiBenedetto made it two-for-two on road courses in his rookie NASCAR Camping World Series East campaign as he earned the 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Light Friday afternoon in advance of Saturday’s Mohegan Sun 200 at Lime Rock Park.
DiBenedetto laid down a fast lap of 53.727 seconds (102.518 mph) in group qualifying at the seven-turn, 1.53-mile road course to beat out fellow rookie and current series points leader Ryan Truex, who recorded a quick circuit of 53.900 (102.189).
DiBenedetto, a Joe Gibbs Racing development driver, also earned the pole in his first road course experience earlier this year at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. Truex, a development driver for Michael Waltrip Racing, came up just shy of what would have been his third pole of the year.
Truex leads Jody Lavender, who was 14th fastest, by 26 points entering Saturday’s race. The top six in points are separated by just 100 points with three races remaining, but two contenders will start at the rear of the field because of issues during qualifying.
Defending race champion Matt Kobyluck, who was fastest in each of the day’s two practice sessions and is fourth in points, had water in his gas tank during his qualifying run and was not able to complete a lap. Steve Park (fifth in points) got in a lap that was 10th fastest but cut short his run because of smoke; he changed his engine following his qualifying run.
In addition, Ryan Duff, who qualified fifth, will drop to the rear prior to the start of Saturday’s 82-lap, 125.46 mile (200-kilometer) race for a transmission change after qualifying impound.
Third-fastest in the road course qualifying was Jason Holehouse, a Skip Barber Racing School instructor at Lime Rock, who recorded a quick lap of 54.464 seconds (101.131 mph). Brett Moffitt (54.541/100.988) and Duff rounded out the top five.
The Mohegan Sun 200 is slated to take the green flag Saturday at 1 p.m. For event and ticket information, please visit the track’s official Web site (www.limerock.com).
Qualifying Results
NASCAR Camping World Series East – Mohegan Sun 200 Lineup
Race Saturday; Qualifying Friday at Lime Rock Park
Lakeville, Conn.
Lap Length: 1.53 miles
1. (18) Matt DiBenedetto, Grass Valley, Calif., Toyota, 102.518
2. (00) Ryan Truex, Mayetta, N.J., Toyota, 102.189
3. (81) Jason Holehouse, Toronto, Ontario, Toyota, 101.131
4. (44) Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa, Chevrolet, 100.988
5. (7) Ryan Duff, Hazard, KY., Chevrolet, 100.888
6. (61) Mike Olsen, North Haverhill, N.H., Chevrolet, 100.706
7. (12) Jesus Hernandez, Fresno, Calif., Dodge, 100.573
8. (37) Alex Kennedy, Aztec, N.M., Chevrolet, 100.535
9. (71) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Chevrolet, 100.377
10. (35) Steve Park, East Northport, N.Y., Chevrolet, 100.242
11. (30) Jeff Anton, Russell, Mass., Chevrolet, 100.076
12. (16) Jonathan Smith, Beacon Falls, Conn., Chevrolet, 99.958
13. (39) Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y., Chevrolet, 98.715
14. (88) Jody Lavender, Hartsville, S.C., Chevrolet, 98.290
15. (53) Derek Ramstrom, West Boylston, Mass., Chevrolet, 96.808
16. (10) Matt Kurzejewski, Mansfield, Pa., Ford, 96.532
17. (26) Scott Bouley, Middlebury, Conn., Chevrolet, 96.044
18. (63) John Salemi, Nashua, N.H., Chevrolet, 95.753
19. (38) Alan Tardiff, Lyman, Maine, Chevrolet, 90.495
20. (94) Tiffany Daniels, Smithfield, Va., Dodge, 86.571
21. (40) Matt Kobyluck, Uncasville, Conn., Chevrolet, No speed
22. (75) Tim Cowen, Ashland, Ohio, Ford, No speed
* Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
Sources: Jason Cunningham/NASCAR CWSE PR