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Phil Burkart nearly duplicated his teammate Del Worsham's final session run, posting a 4.896 on Saturday afternoon (Worsham ran 4.897) to set himself up for race day. As the final day of qualifying unfolded, Burkart eventually slipped one position on the chart, but he stayed in the top half of the field and will race from the No. 8 slot on Sunday. His opponent in round one will be former teammate Mike Ashley.
"We made a real nice lap during the final session, and that's exactly what the goal was," Burkart said. "Both CSK teams wanted to put good, solid, safe laps on the board to put ourselves in the best possible mindset for Sunday. We've all been extremely frustrated, mad, and disappointed in how things have gone this year, especially the last month or so, and all we want is to go some rounds tomorrow. Qualifying in the top half is great, and qualifying even higher would have been fantastic, but if we don't win round one tomorrow, it means nothing. Ask me if I'd rather qualify 16th and win some rounds, or be No. 1 and lose, and I think you know what I'm going to say.
"We know Mike has a fast car over there, and he's itching to win. We just have to focus on our side of the track and put up such a solid number that it won't matter what goes on over on his side. If we run as well as we can, that's all we can do. I'd love to predict what we're going to do, but the last few races have taught me that premonitions, good feelings, and predictions are useless. You have to go out there and win. That's our goal."
BURKART HOLDS ON TO TOP-HALF SPOT
Phil Burkart nearly duplicated his teammate Del Worsham's final session run, posting a 4.896 on Saturday afternoon (Worsham ran 4.897) to set himself up for race day. As the final day of qualifying unfolded, Burkart eventually slipped one position on the chart, but he stayed in the top half of the field and will race from the No. 8 slot on Sunday. His opponent in round one will be former teammate Mike Ashley.
"We made a real nice lap during the final session, and that's exactly what the goal was," Burkart said. "Both CSK teams wanted to put good, solid, safe laps on the board to put ourselves in the best possible mindset for Sunday. We've all been extremely frustrated, mad, and disappointed in how things have gone this year, especially the last month or so, and all we want is to go some rounds tomorrow. Qualifying in the top half is great, and qualifying even higher would have been fantastic, but if we don't win round one tomorrow, it means nothing. Ask me if I'd rather qualify 16th and win some rounds, or be No. 1 and lose, and I think you know what I'm going to say.
"We know Mike has a fast car over there, and he's itching to win. We just have to focus on our side of the track and put up such a solid number that it won't matter what goes on over on his side. If we run as well as we can, that's all we can do. I'd love to predict what we're going to do, but the last few races have taught me that premonitions, good feelings, and predictions are useless. You have to go out there and win. That's our goal."
