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Memphis, TN (8/19/06) -- Jim Yates, Jamie Yates and Bill Jenkins battled the stifling heat, humidity and hot racetrack during qualifying for Sunday's O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park and found their best combination Saturday afternoon.
Yates, sitting 16th when he made his final try, improved to 6.771 seconds and jumped to ninth overall. He did miss lane choice by one-thousandth of a second and races Allen Johnson (eighth, 6.770 seconds) in the first round.
"We came through when we needed it," said Yates of Jamie, his son/crew chief, and Jenkins, the cagey veteran engine builder and tuner. "We just kept tickling the tune-up here and there until we found one the GTO liked. We made a good run and, based on the progress we made, I think we'll be in good shape Sunday. It has been a hot, humid weekend."
Yates, fourth in POWERade Series points, is intent on winning rounds on Sunday. He earned his 25th career victory at Columbus, Ohio, in May.
Yates Misses Lane Choice by One-thousandth of Second
Wiley X Eyewear Pontiac GTO Driver Qualifies Ninth at Memphis
Memphis, TN (8/19/06) -- Jim Yates, Jamie Yates and Bill Jenkins battled the stifling heat, humidity and hot racetrack during qualifying for Sunday's O'Reilly Mid-South Nationals at Memphis Motorsports Park and found their best combination Saturday afternoon.
Yates, sitting 16th when he made his final try, improved to 6.771 seconds and jumped to ninth overall. He did miss lane choice by one-thousandth of a second and races Allen Johnson (eighth, 6.770 seconds) in the first round.
"We came through when we needed it," said Yates of Jamie, his son/crew chief, and Jenkins, the cagey veteran engine builder and tuner. "We just kept tickling the tune-up here and there until we found one the GTO liked. We made a good run and, based on the progress we made, I think we'll be in good shape Sunday. It has been a hot, humid weekend."
Yates, fourth in POWERade Series points, is intent on winning rounds on Sunday. He earned his 25th career victory at Columbus, Ohio, in May.
