ES: Lime Rock: Series qualifying report

Ranger Nabs NASCAR K&N East Pole In Lime Rock Debut
Accomplished Road Racer Edged Whitt In Qualifying

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (July 2, 2010) - Owner of six road course wins in NASCAR Touring series action, Andrew Ranger has even more of a leg up on the competition entering Saturday's NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race as he won the pole for the K&N 100 Friday at Lime Rock Park.

Ranger, from Roxton Pond, Quebec, laid down a fast lap of 55.253 seconds (97.732 mph) during NASCAR group qualifying Friday at the 1.50-mile road course in Northwestern Connecticut to earn the K&N 100 Coors Light Pole Award. The pole is Ranger's first in the K&N Pro Series East - in just his fourth series start - after he earned two championships in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1.

"I'm really happy about it; it's my first pole of the year," Ranger said. "We had a good practice, a really good car, I'm excited about tomorrow."

Five of Ranger's nine career wins in the Canadian Tire Series came on road courses. In June he added a sixth road course win in his K&N Pro Series West debut in Sonoma, Calif.

Friday marked his sixth overall pole, all if which have also come on road courses. Although he has tested at Lime Rock recently, the K&N 100 will be Ranger's first race at the historic course.

"It's a really tough track because there's a couple places where it's very technical," Ranger said. "I know a couple places where you can pass, but it's still really tough. It's great to start on the pole, we'll see how everything goes tomorrow."

Cole Whitt just missed what would have been a third 2010 pole in Friday's qualifying session. The Red Bull Racing development driver posted a fast lap of 55.289 seconds (97.669 mph), and will start on the front row Saturday outside of Ranger.

Three-time Lime Rock winner Matt Kobyluck qualified third (55.423/97.432), followed by Sergio Pena (55.892/96.615) and defending race winner Ryan Truex (55.959/96.499).

Brett Moffitt, Kevin Swindell, Ruben Rovelo, Miguel Paludo and Julian Albarracin rounded out the top 10 qualifiers.

The doubleheader of NASCAR racing is set to take the green flag on Saturday at 12:15 p.m., with the Whelen Modified Tour's Lime Rock 100. The K&N 100 will follow at 2:15 p.m.

-source: nascar