Pro Miata Virginia (VIR) qualifying summary

Chip Herr takes Pro Miata pole at Virginia.

ALTON, Va. (October 26, 2002) -- Chip Herr, of Litiz, Pa., captured the pole position for Sunday's SCCA Pro Miata Challenge race, part of the VIR SpeedFest Weekend Presented by Justin Bell's GT Motorsports Experience at VIRginia International Raceway. Jim Daniels, of Germantown, Tenn., and Randy Saucier, of Oklahoma City, Okla., completed the top three.

Driving the No. 24 Warwick Autopark Mazda Miata, Herr turned a fastest lap of 2:21.174 (76.501 mph) around the 3.27-mile circuit in the middle of the session. While several drivers took shots at Herr's time, it held up through the 25-minute session.

"This is our first dry session, so we knew the times would drop," said Herr, who turned a fastest time of 2:25 in practice earlier in the day. "I've raced here three times this year and today the track was perfect. The tires started to go off a little and I decided that I couldn't go any faster and I came in."

Daniels turned a 2:21.426 (76.365 mph) in the No. 76 RCPMotorsports.com entry, good enough for second quick. Saucier's time of 2:22.116 (75.994 mph) was fast enough for fourth, but moved to third after several of Niki Coello's times were disallowed due to him running with his passenger window closed, which is against regulations.

Coello, of Waukesha, Wis., ended up fourth, followed by Payton Wilson, of Gainesville, Va., in fifth.

The Pro Miata Challenge takes the green flag Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. (EST)

-scca pro racing-