Cinjo Viper Detroit qualifying

Originally-From: Chura@aol.com

Detroit, Mich, -- Cinjo Racing scored its first front-row start in the Trans-Am Series for the BFGoodrich Cup, in only the fourth race for the new team. Tommy Archer of Duluth, Minn. qualified the No. 36 Cinjo Racing / Motorcity True Performance Viper in 1:33.982 seconds on the 2.361-mile Belle Isle road course.

Archer will start Saturday's race next to pole sitter Paul Gentilozzi of Lansing, Mich., who won the Motorcity True Performance Pole Award of $2500 with his qualifying run of 1:33.367. Archer was fourth near the end of the qualifying session, but put in one final flying lap to bump series champion Brian Simo of Carlsbad, Calif., to third (1:34.043).

Tommy Archer: "I was here in '92 with the Dodge and got on the front row, and it feels good to be back up front with the Viper. The crew has worked so hard to give me a good car. It's not quite right yet and I had to drive it harder for qualifying that we would have liked, but we're all working hard together. We're glad to be up front for Promise Village: Home for Children. We hope the kids have a great time because at some point in their life it hasn't been so good. So we're going to give them a good time this weekend with the Viper."

Steven Veeder, Cinjo Racing general manager: "Qualifying second is fantastic! We have one more position to take tomorrow. The challenge will be to finish the race. This is a street fight and it's like a pinball machine if you get into the wall. I think we have a good chance of running up front and winning -- and Tommy has won here before."

-CR