Las Vegas: Chip Ganassi Racing qualifying report

Sterling Marlin / Jimmy Spencer
Chip Ganassi Racing With Felix Sabates
UAW-Daimlerchrysler 400 Qualifying Results

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (March 1, 2002)– Following NASCAR Winston Cup qualifying in Las Vegas, the No. 40 Coors Light and No. 41 Target teams of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates both secured promising starting positions for the UAW DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Jimmy Spencer, driver of the No. 41 Target Dodge Intrepid R/T, ran a fast lap of 31.524 seconds (171.298 mph), placing the Target Dodge fourth in the lineup. This is Spencer’s best start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway; his previous best was 19th in 2001.

“ If coming out here you’d told me we’d qualify 12th at Rockingham and in the top-five here, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Spencer said. “ We came out here and tested. I really like this track and I really like Las Vegas. We picked up from practice, and I think I knew we had a little left. I think all in all we lost some in (turns) three and four and it hurt us a little bit. I’ve run well here in Busch and Cup. I’m looking forward to Sunday.”

Sterling Marlin, driver of the No. 40 Coors Light Dodge Intrepid R/T, ran a 31.829-second lap time (169.657 mph), placing him in the 24th starting position for Sunday’s event.

“ We’ve got to get a little better,” Marlin said. “ We found some stuff we thought was wrong with it and we fixed it, but I just got real loose on the second lap. I might have lost a tenth or two in (turns) three and four, but a lot of guys have got these qualifying shocks on. We’re pretty much in race trim ready to go.”

The UAW DaimlerChrysler 400 from Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be broadcast on FOX on Sunday, March 3 at 2:30 p.m., e.s.t.

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