ES: Greenville-Pickens: Michelle Theriault race notes

MICHELLE THERIAULT POSTS BEST FINISH BY A FEMALE IN NASCAR BUSCH EAST SERIES HISTORY

Smyrna, GA (May 2, 2007): TEAM GLOCK driver Michelle Theriault entered the historic Greenville-Pickens Speedway on Saturday, April 28th for the NASCAR Busch East Series season opener. With a field of well-qualified rookies mixed with seasoned regulars, diverse feelings and emotions were prevalent in the pits as practice got under way.

The Spraker Racing Enterprise TEAM GLOCK No. 37 Chevrolet performed admirably as the team guided the car to the thirteenth best time during the afternoon practice session.

With a 38 car field penciled in and only 26 cars making the race on time, the two lap qualifying that began at 6:00pm was paramount for the rookies as they would not be eligible for the four provisionals that could be awarded to the 13 drivers not qualify on time. Michelle squeezed off a 21.163 and qualified 21st.

"We gained a half second during qualifying, but it seems like everyone that went out after me gained huge. Fortunately the car was better than half the field and we got to go racing," commented Theriault.

As the flag dropped, and by lap 40, the TEAM GLOCK Chevrolet went on to collect six spots. With 140 laps in the books, and 10 to go, when the checker flew Theriault had inched her way to 8th -- posting the best finish in the series for a female driver since 2003 when Carey Heath placed 10th.

With her first Busch East race in the books the rookie has her sights set on learning from this experience and moving on to her next race. TEAM GLOCK car owner Jeff Spraker quotes, "Michelle had never raced with these drivers in Busch East before. She saved her equipment for the end of the race and did an incredible job."

With five of the top ten finishers in the field being rookies, the season looks to be highly competitive. Catch the No.37 TEAM GLOCK Chevrolet at Elko Speedway, (MN), May 18th followed by the Iowa Speedway (IA) on May 20th.

-credit: tg