MX-5: Series Millville round three qualifying notes

Lamb Collects Second Consecutive MX-5 Pole for First Half of New Jersey Doubleheader

MILLVILLE, N.J. (June 13, 2009) -- Todd Lamb, of Atlanta, Ga., earned his second SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup pole in-a-row in preparation for today's Round Three race, part of Mazda Formula X Presented by Cooper Tires at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Brett Smrz, of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, made it an Atlanta Motorsports Group sweep of the front row by qualifying second.

Shortly after the 30-minute qualifying session went green, Lamb jumped to the top of the timing screens in his No. 84 AMG Racing/Traqmate/Luna-C Racing MX-5 with a 1:34.777 (85.463 mph). The time is a new MX-5 Cup qualifying lap record at that 14-turn, 2.25-mile course, as the series is using a different track configuration than that used last year.

"I kinda guessed that a 34.8 was going to be what was needed for pole, so it was really cool to get a 34.777," Lamb said. "I feel lucky."

Satisfied with his qualifying effort, Lamb parked his MX-5 in pit lane for the remainder of the session.

"The car's a lot better than it was yesterday," Lamb said.J"These tires are good for about three or four flyer laps. Brett and I went out and turned three good laps right at the beginning and that's what it's all about. It's nice to have an all-AMG front row. Brett did a great job and my Luna-C/Traqmate MX-5 is flying out there, so I'm excited to go racing today. We've got a great car and a great team, so it's up to me to get the job done."

In his best qualifying performance of the season, Smrz put his No. 6 AMG/SurroundSounds.com MX-5 second on the grid, making it an all-AMG front row. Smrz, who was fastest in Friday's afternoon practice session, laid down a 1:34.873 (85.377 mph).

Current point leader Marc Miller, of Holland, Mich., qualified third. Piloting the No. 28 Team MER/MOCA/RaceForAutism/Sparco MX-5, Miller entered a lap of 1:34.970 (85.290 mph).

Miller is followed on the grid by two of his MER teammates: Mark Jenkins, of Fairview, Texas, and Zach Ply, of Joliet, Ill. Jenkins will start fourth in the No. 25 Team MER/JBR/Traxxas/BFG/Simpson MX-5 after turning a 1:35.345 (84.954 mph). Ply completes the top five in the No. 27 Team MER/Insight Beverage Co. MX-5 with a lap of 1:35.351 (84.949 mph).

Justin Piscitell, Chris Rhoades, Mike Jenkins, Ara Malkhassian and Lyonel Kent complete the top 10.

Today's Round Three race, the first part of an MX-5 Cup doubleheader at New Jersey Motorsports Park, will take place at 1 p.m. (EDT). The race will be broadcast live on HDNet. Live timing and lap notes will also be available on www.mx-5cup.com.

-credit: scca pro racing