WEST ALLIS, Wis.--- J.R. Norris, a star driver on the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southeast Series, traveled to the Midwest during an off-weekend in his normal racing schedule - and reaped the rewards on Saturday.
Norris, a native of Mulga, Ala. won the Bud Pole award for the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Midwest Series Milwaukee 200 at The Milwaukee Mile. Norris turned a fast lap of 29.399 seconds (122.453 mph) during Saturday's time trials and will lead the 28-car field to the green flag in Sunday's 200-lap race. Tim Schendel, of Sparta, Wis., qualified second-fastest, with a lap of 29.428 seconds (122.322 mph), and will start on the outside of the front row.
Norris' speed shattered the previous Midwest Series Milwaukee track qualifying record, which was 30.391 seconds (118.456), set by Scott Hansen in the Midwest Series' last visit to the track in 2001. In fact, 18 of the 28 qualifiers on Saturday surpassed the previous record, a clear demonstration of the speed and skill that has developed in the Midwest Series over the past few seasons.
STARTING LINEUP
Milwaukee 200
NASCAR AUTOZONE ELITE DIVISION, MIDWEST SERIES
Milwaukee Mile August 28, 2005
(Showing starting position, car number in parentheses, driver name, hometown, manufacturer, average speed)
1. (5)J.R. Norris, Mulga Ala., Ford, 122.453
2. (21)Tim Schendel, Sparta Wis., Chevrolet, 122.332
3. (36)Dan Fredrickson, Lakeville Minn., Chevrolet, 121.511
4. (11)Josh Vadnais, White Bear Lake Minn., Chevrolet, 121.273
5. (66)Steve Carlson, West Salem Wis., Chevrolet, 121.208
6. (8)Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton Ill., Chevrolet, 120.854
7. (7)Erik Darnell, Beach Park Ill., Chevrolet, 120.647
8. (87)Nathan Haseleu, Arlington Wis., Ford, 120.426
9. (29)Justin Diercks, Davenport Iowa, Chevrolet, 120.357
10. (35)Todd Hansen, Minneapolis Minn., Chevrolet, 119.896
11. (19)Eddy McKean, Jerome Idaho, Pontiac, 119.725
12. (16)Eric Fransen, West Bend. Wis., Chevrolet, 119.554
13. (45)Nick Joanides, Woodland Hills Calif., Chevrolet, 119.447
14. (88)Brent Kirchner, LaCrosse Wis., Chevrolet, 119.359
15. (91)Dave Finley, Brighton Colo., Dodge, 119.304
16. (60)Ryan Carlson, Loves Park Ill., Ford, 118.934
17. (20)Andrew Morrissey, Deforest Wis., Chevrolet, 118.741
18. (71)Greg Fowler, Longmont Colo., Chevrolet, 118.616
19. (1)Josh Bauer, Random Lake Wis., Chevrolet, 118.328
20. (22)Russ Blakeley, Whitewater Wis., Ford, 118.157
21. (25)Dexter Bean, Westby Wis., Chevrolet, 117.975
22. (51)Tony Bagstad, Cashton Wis., Chevrolet, 117.828
23. (68)Jeff Way, Burlington Wis., Chevrolet, 117.413
24. (37)Ronnie Hawley, Winona Minn., Chevrolet, 117.379
25. (26)David Finney, Sycamore Ill., Chevrolet, 116.951
26. (01)George Prentice, Jr, Milwaukee Wis., Chevrolet, 112.132
27. (31)David Tomczak, Franklin Wis., Pontiac, 107.229
28. (9)Mark Kraus, Stratford Wis., Chevrolet, No speed
