NASCAR Home Tracks
Morris Celebrates Record Run
Sets New Mark In Qualifying For Sunday RaceMARTINSVILLE, Va. (Oct. 8, 2011) — Philip Morris clinched his fourth NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championship a few weeks ago and he has another reason to celebrate after winning the pole award Saturday afternoon for the Virginia Is For Racing Lovers 300 at Martinsville Speedway.
Morris, from Ruckersville, Va., turned a fast lap of 20.165 seconds (93.905 mph) in his No. 26 Clarence’s Steakhouse Chevrolet which set a new track record in qualifying for the Late Model Stock special event.
Morris is a two-time winner of the race (2001 & 2010), however, this is first Spark’s Pole Award for Morris the special event held in his home state.
It is also the third consecutive year the four-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion will start on the front row.
“We went too far trying something in practice and knew what we needed to for qualifying and it worked out,” Morris said. “My guys do such a good job on the car I knew we would have a chance to get the pole and here we are on the front row.”
Morris will be joined on the front row by Matt McCall. McCall finished with a fast lap of 20.347 seconds (93.065 mph). McCall was happy with his lap but knows Morris is going to be tough on Sunday.
“Man two-tenths usually puts you in a heat race, not second place,” McCall said with a smile after qualifying. “I am very happy with the lap. This is a brand new car and for us to run this well against this competition in qualifying really says something about our team.”
Davin Scites followed in fourth at 20.381 and Kenny Forbes completed the top five at 20.397. BJ Mackey was sixth with Brandon Butler and Frank Deiny Jr. seventh and eighth. Josh Berry and Ryan Reed completed the top 10.
The top 22 cars were locked in on time with Danny Edwards picking up the last guaranteed spot. Harrison Rhodes, Jeb Burton, son of former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ward Burton, Dexter Canipe Jr., and Justin Johnson will each start on the pole in each of the four heat races after qualifying 23rd through 26th, respectively.
Also qualifying on Saturday were former NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion Barry Beggarly (1993) 11th, Peyton Sellers (2005) in 45th, former race winners Jamey Caudill (2003) 15th and Jason York (2008) 64th.
