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With the 16-car field having to be set on just two Saturday qualifying laps, Jeff Arend knew his Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Chevy would need at least one strong lap if he was destined to be part of Sunday's racing. His first lap, a 5.059 on a tricky track, didn't seem to be enough to make the show (it landed him 12th after one session,) so Arend and his team were intent upon moving up the qualifying list on their final pass.
His final-lap 4.911 not only locked up a spot in the field, it vaulted him just past his boss and teammate, Del Worsham, and into the 12th spot. Arend will be saddled with John Force in round one.
"As it turned out, the beat-up old 5.05 would have actually made the show, because the bump ended up being 5.11, but we went up there knowing we had to improve," Arend said. "We stepped up to the 4.91, and just got around Del, but at the time we were like 7th and 8th and we were all thinking we might end up having to run each other, as the 8th and 9th qualifiers. As it turned out, things got better out there and more teams got a handle on it, after we ran, and we were a bit surprised to see that we finally ended up 12th and 13th.
"When you're 12th, you're kind of apt to get a very good car, and we got Force. He's had a rough go of it so far, so I'm sure he and his team are charged up to turn their season around with a big win over us. It's our job to make them wait one more race before they get on the winning track. That's the only goal."
AREND USES FINAL LAP TO EDGE AHEAD OF THE BOSS, WILL RACE FROM THE 12th SPOT
With the 16-car field having to be set on just two Saturday qualifying laps, Jeff Arend knew his Checker, Schuck's, Kragen Chevy would need at least one strong lap if he was destined to be part of Sunday's racing. His first lap, a 5.059 on a tricky track, didn't seem to be enough to make the show (it landed him 12th after one session,) so Arend and his team were intent upon moving up the qualifying list on their final pass.
His final-lap 4.911 not only locked up a spot in the field, it vaulted him just past his boss and teammate, Del Worsham, and into the 12th spot. Arend will be saddled with John Force in round one.
"As it turned out, the beat-up old 5.05 would have actually made the show, because the bump ended up being 5.11, but we went up there knowing we had to improve," Arend said. "We stepped up to the 4.91, and just got around Del, but at the time we were like 7th and 8th and we were all thinking we might end up having to run each other, as the 8th and 9th qualifiers. As it turned out, things got better out there and more teams got a handle on it, after we ran, and we were a bit surprised to see that we finally ended up 12th and 13th.
"When you're 12th, you're kind of apt to get a very good car, and we got Force. He's had a rough go of it so far, so I'm sure he and his team are charged up to turn their season around with a big win over us. It's our job to make them wait one more race before they get on the winning track. That's the only goal."
