SCCA Trans-Am Reno Grand Prix: Qualifying Results and Report
18 October 1997
KENDALL FASTEST QUALIFIER FOR RENO GRAND PRIX TRANS-AM RENO, Nev. - Tom Kendall set a new track record in qualifying for Sunday's 75-lap, 95.25-mile Reno Grand Prix Trans-Am season finale, his 11th fastest-qualifying effort of the season. Kendal, driving the No. 11 All Sport Body Quencher Ford Mustang Cobra, posted a 0:59.039 (77.440 mph) to eclipse his own qualifying recor= d of 0:59.709 (76.571 mph), fastest of the 28 drivers slated to begin the second-annual Reno Grand Prix at the Reno Hilton. "The car has really been good the whole time," said the four-time and defending Trans-Am Drivers' Champion Kendall. "Yesterday was a little more work to get the car up to speed, but today was just about perfect." Qualifying second-fastest was Brian Simo, in the No. 22 Valvoline Mustang Cobra. Simo posted a fast time of 0:59.534 (76.796 mph), the only other driver to qualify under the old track record. Simo's Gloy Racing teammate Dorsey Schroeder qualified third, followed by Michael Lewis and Paul Gentilozzi, the only Chevrolet driver (No. 5 RISO Camaro) to qualify in the Goodyear Fast Five. Lewis, driving the No. 55 Red Line Oil Mustang Cobra, secured his third Fast Five qualifying effort of the season with a time of 1:00.244 (75.891 mph). "We gained eight-tenths of a second just with the cooler temperatures during qualifying," said Lewis. "It's great to be back in th= e Goodyear Fast Five. We're looking forward to the race." After the random drawing for the Goodyear Fast Five top-five qualifiers, Paul Gentilozzi will start on the Pole, followed by Schroeder= , Simo, Kendall and Lewis. RENO, Nev. =97 Starters for Sunday's 75-lap, 95.25-mile Reno Grand Prix Trans-Am race at the Reno Hilton Street Circuit, with starting position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour. 1. (5), Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:00.305, 75.= 814. 2. (12), Dorsey Schroeder, Osage Beach, Mo., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:00.16= 9, 75.985. 3. (22), Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 0:59.534, 76.= 796. 4. (11), Tom Kendall, Santa Monica, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 0:59.039= , 77.440. 5. (55), Michael Lewis, San Diego, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:00.244,= 75.891. 6. (16), Jon Gooding, Longwood, Fla., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:00.428, 75.6= 60. 7. (6), Greg Pickett, Alamo, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:00.505, 75.564. 8. (4), Mike Borkowski, Middlebury, Conn., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:00.882,= 75.096. 9. (83), Max Lagod, Barrington, Ill., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:00.931, 75.035. 10. (8), Bill Saunders, Dallas, Texas, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:01.053, 74.88= 5. 11. (7), R.J. Valentine, Hingham, Mass., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:01.371, 74.= 497. 12. (15), Dino Crescentini, Torrance, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:01.536= , 74.297. 13. (70), Peter Shea, Newport Beach, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:01.632,= 74.182. 14. (64), John W. Miller.IV, Johnson City, Tenn., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:01= .840, 73.932. 15. (66), Leighton Reese, Eden Prairie, Minn., Pontiac Grand Prix, 1:02.= 005, 73.735. 16. (23), Bob Ruman, Monroe Falls, Ohio, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:02.631, 72.= 998. 17. (51), Simon Gregg, Jacksinville, Fla., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:02.793, 7= 2.810. 18. (00), Rick Lee, Reno, Nev., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:02.794, 72.809. 19. (49), Mark Pielsticker, Danville, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:02.799= , 72.803. 20. (72), Ray Genick, Waterford, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:03.117, 72.4= 36. 21. (34), Bruce Barkelew, Columbia, Mo., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:04.322, 71.= 079. 22. (58), Len Gilmore, Colorado Springs, Colo., Chevrolet Beretta, 1:04.= 918, 70.427. 23. (18), Larry Newman, Sherwood, Ore., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:05.218, 70.1= 03. 24. (13), C. David Seuss, Charleston, Mass., Oldsmobile Cutlass, 1:05.57= 9, 69.717. 25. (10), Don Sak, West Bloomfield, Mich., Oldsmobile Cutlass, 1:06.674,= 68.572. 26. (90), Jim Maguire, Glendale, Ariz., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:07.130, 68.1= 06. 27. (47), Frank Cioppettini Jr., Morristown, N.J., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:0= 7.831, 67.402. 28. (42), Jim Briody, Cherry Hill, N.J., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:17.368, 59.= 094.