Jon Nelson was set to race in the NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series Home Depot 100 at Irwindale Speedway Saturday night, and had claimed his second straight Bud Pole Award for posting a top qualifying time of 17.519 seconds.
However, the engine in his Ultra Wheels Spec Truck Series Pontiac Grand Prix had other ideas.
As the Hemet native started his car in preparation for the four-lap Trophy Dash event, a valve spring retainer broke, sending one of his valves hurdling into the cylinder. Erring on the side of caution, Nelson and his crew decided to call it a night and forego the main event.
"I guess it just wasn't our night," said Nelson from the spotter's section of the racetrack. "I guess we were deswtined to sit in the stands tonight."
Nelson had earned his first pole award of the season last month at Mesa Marin in Bakersfield, with a time of 18.050 seconds. Nelson said the car was running impressively in practice earlier in the day, and had been leaving behind competitors like current points leader Greg McCoun, Matt Crafton and Jim Inglebright.
Despite the setback, Nelson was philosophical about pulling out of the race.
"I'm not about to hand-grenade a $35,000 engine," he said, with a slight smile.
NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Series Qualifying Times
4:30 p.m. April 29, 2000 - Irwindale Speedway Irwindale, CA
Pos. Driver Car No. Best Time Speed
1. Jon Nelson 80 00:17.519 102.746
2. Matt Crafton 46 00:17.534 102.658
3. Bruce Bechtel 36 00:17.581 102.383
4. Kenny Sheppard 9 00:17.616 102.180
5. Eric Holmes 70 00:17.619 102.162
6. Steve Smith 48 00:17.622 102.145
7 Scott Lynch 81 00:17.628 102.110
8. Greg Pursley 98 00:17.631 102.093
9. M.K. Kanke 87 00:17.705 101.666
10. Doug McCoun 34 00:17.741 101.460
11. Jason Pensler 66 00:17.741 101.460
12. Frank Maronski Jr. 7 00:17.762 101.340
13. Rocky Nash 88 00:17.780 101.237
14. Sean Woodside 4 00:17.788 101.192
15. Keith Spangler 37 00:17.817 101.027
16. John Baker 18 00:17.898 100.570
17. Mark Meech 64 00:17.898 100.570
18. Auggie Vidovich Jr. 59 00:17.915 100.474
19. Bear Lynch 1 00:17.930 100.390
20. Greg Fowler 71 00:17.935 100.362
21. Darrell La Moure 17 00:17.993 100.039
22. Ross Thompson 43 00:18.030 99.834
23. Mark Reed 04 00:18.035 99.806
24. Gary Matranga 32 00:18.041 99.773
25. Glen Cummings 22 00:18.094 99.480
26. Steve Petty 01 00:18.133 99.267
27. Bob Lyon 44 Provisional
28. Scott Busby 73 Provisional
29. Jim Englebright 20 Transfer
30 Mike Snow 35 Transfer
*NOTE* Top six finishers started Main Event in inverted order.
