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NTB Trans Am: Lewis Grabs First Pole for Cleveland Trans-Am

11 July 1998

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Mike Lewis, of San Diego, Calif., earned his first career pole for S aturday's 42-lap, 88.452-mile Speedvision NTB Trans-Am Grand Prix, part of the Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland.

Lewis, driving the No. 12 Red Line Oil Ford Mustang Cobra, posted a top time of 1:13.3 87 (103.309 mph) to start first, followed by Brian Simo, Paul Gentilozzi, Lewis' teammate Ross Thompson and John Miller IV.

"I really popped it (his fastest lap) out of nowhere," said Lewis. "It didn't feel lik e a real clean lap, but the clock doesn't lie. I've been a Trans-Am fan since I was a kid, and to be here on the pole is a great feeling ? a tremendous honor."

Saturday's race will be televised with same-day tape-delay coverage on the Speedvision Network beginning at 8:00 p.m.(EDT). The Fox Sports Net will rebroadcast the race beginni ng Saturday, July 25, at 12:00 p.m.(EDT).


CLEVELAND, Ohio - Starters for Saturday's Speedvision NTB Trans-Am Grand Prix, part of the Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland, with starting position, car number in parenthesis, driver, hometown, car, time and speed in miles-per-hour.

1. (12), Michael Lewis, San Diego, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:13.387, 103.309.
2. (2), Brian Simo, Carlsbad, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:13.506, 103.142.
3. (3), Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:13.704, 102.865.
4. (92), Ross Thompson, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:13.948, 102.526.
5. (64), John W. Miller IV, Johnson City, Tenn., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:14.175, 102.212.
6. (8), Bill Saunders, Dallas, Texas, Chevrolet Corvette, 1:14.189, 102.193.
7. (44), Bruce Qvale, San Francisco, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:14.420, 101.875.
8. (40), Chris Neville, Scottsdale, Ariz., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:14.675, 101.528.
9. (83), Max Lagod, Barrington, Ill., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:14.788, 101.374.
10. (49), Randy Ruhlman, Greensboro, N.C., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:14.861, 101.275.
11. (23), Bob Ruman, Munroe Falls, Ohio, Chevrolet Camaro, 1:15.375, 100.585.
12. (66), Leighton Reese, Minnetonka, Minn., Pontiac Grand Prix, 1:15.403, 100.547.
13. (28), Lou Gigliotti, Garland, Texas, Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:15.754, 100.081.
14. (70), Peter Shea, Newport Beach, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:16.104, 99.621.
15. (31), Don Meluzio, York, Pa., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:16.213, 99.479.
16. (59), Simon Gregg, Jacksonville, Fla., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:16.475, 99.138.
17. (10), Don Sak, West Bloomfield, Mich., Oldsmobile Cutlass, 1:16.511, 99.091.
18. (72), Ray Genick, Waterford, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:16.558, 99.030.
19. (39), Craig Shafer, Somerset, Pa., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:16.623, 98.946.
20. (15), Dino Crescentini, Brentwood, Calif., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:16.732, 98.806.
21. (6), Claudio Burtin, Kennesaw, Ga., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:16.834, 98.675.
22. (24), Rick Dittman, Prairie View, Ill., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:17.438, 97.905.
23. (5), Brian DeVries, East Grand Rapids, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:17.569, 97.740.
24. (4), Bruce Barkelew, Columbia, Mo., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:17.585, 97.719.
25. (50), Bruce Nesbitt, Chicago, Ill., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:18.181, 96.974.
26. (35), Kerry Alexander, Indianapolis, Ind., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:18.361, 96.752.
27. (19), Jim Crist, Clearwater, Fla., Chevrolet Corvette, 1:19.663, 95.170.
28. (11), Doug Mayr, Franklin, Wis., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:19.798, 95.009.
29. (13), C. David Seuss, Charleston, Mass., Oldsmobile Cutlass, 1:20.783, 93.851.
30. (68), Paul Alderman, New Castle, Del., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:20.919, 93.693.
31. (20), Dan Osterholt, St. Henry, Ohio, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 1:21.001, 93.598.
32. (21), Ted Sullivan, Hampton, Conn., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:21.215, 93.352.
33. (29), Ed Hinchcliff, Ypsilanti, Mich., Ford Mustang Cobra, 1:21.572, 92.943.
34. (17), Bill Eagle, Tampa, Fla., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:21.882, 92.591.
35. (47), Frank Cioppettini, Morristown, N.J., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:24.048, 90.205.
36. (82), Dick Greer, Columbus, Ohio, Oldsmobile Cutlass, 1:24.873, 89.328.
37. (42), James Briody, Cherry Hill, N.J., Chevrolet Camaro, 1:42.503, 73.964.
38. (22), J. Byron Walker, West Bloomfield, Mich., Chevrolet Camaro, no time.