Rockingham, N.C. (April 14, 2012) – Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. edged rookie Paulie Harraka by one one-thousandth of a second Saturday to earn his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series pole during qualifying for Sunday’s inaugural Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 at Rockingham Speedway.
Piquet, driving a Chevrolet, posted a144.387-mph lap, while Harraka’s Ford clocked in at 144.381 mph — 24.933 to 24.934 seconds on the 1-mile track.
“Honestly, when I finished my lap I told the guys on the radio it wasn’t my best lap; we could have gone a little bit better,” said Piquet, whose Keystone Light Pole Award came in his 33rd race. “I was expecting maybe a top 5, but I wasn’t expecting a pole at all. I think the track probably got much warmer and got a bit slower for everybody else.”
Rounding out the top 10, respectively, were: Timothy Peters, Toyota, 143.937 mph; Jason Leffler, Toyota, 143.730; Brad Sweet, Chevrolet, 143.392; Parker Kligerman, Dodge, 143.147; Todd Bodine, Toyota, 143.033; Matt Crafton, Toyota, 142.976; Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 142.885; and Johnny Sauter, Toyota, 142.693.
LINEUP
1 30 Nelson Piquet Jr. Qualcomm / AutoTrac Chevrolet 24.933 144.387
2 5 Paulie Harraka # Send Soldier to Rock / Wauters Mtrspts Ford 24.934 144.381
3 17 Timothy Peters Strutmasters.com Toyota 25.011 143.937
4 18 Jason Leffler Dollar General Toyota 25.047 143.730
5 4 Brad Sweet Rockwell Tools Chevrolet 25.106 143.392
6 29 Parker Kligerman Draw-Tite / MOPAR RAM 25.149 143.147
7 11 Todd Bodine Toyota Care Toyota 25.169 143.033
8 88 Matt Crafton Menards / Ideal Door Toyota 25.179 142.976
9 60 Grant Enfinger Turn One Racing Chevrolet 25.195 142.885
10 13 Johnny Sauter Hot Honeys / Curb Records Toyota 25.229 142.693
Continue reading “2012 Rockingham NASCAR Truck Series Starting Lineup – Nelson Piquet Jr. pole sitter”

Race Winner: John King
Leffler Eyes Return to Victory Lane with Opportunity to Drive the No. 18 Dollar General Tundra
Brendan Gaughan to Compete in Limited NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Schedules for RCR