2014 Livonia 250 Pre-Race Thread

QUALIFYING RACE 1 RESULTS

Spoiler:

QUALIFYING RACE 2 RESULTS

Spoiler:

Stream Recording: http://www.twitch.tv/aarostream/b/448000640


LIVONIA 250 ENRTY-LIST

0 - JONATHON RINGER -- Chase Dodge Charger -- OPP
03 - BRAD SIMMONS -- Comerica Ford Fusion -- COM
08 - RICARDO BLANCO* -- Apex Brasil Dodge Charger -- OPP
09 - SHAWN GLOSSUM -- Miller Lite Ford Fusion -- KGI
1 -  ALEX JATES -- BWW Ford Fusion -- KGI
2 - TOMMY RITCHER* -- Best Buy Ford Fusion -- REN
3 - MEGAN WOODS* -- Samuel Adams Buick -- LEG
4 - LUKE KINSIN* -- Ansell Chevy SS -- SCA
5 - JEFF PARSHALL* -- Coors Light Chevy SS -- SCA
7 - JASON MILLER -- MONSTER Energy Dodge Charger -- SGR
8 - JOSH MERTZ -- Red Bull Energy Dodge Charger -- MRT
10 - BRIAN HENSLER -- Shell Dodge Charger -- SGR
11 - WENDY FISHER -- Dupont Chevy SS -- AFR
12 - LOUIS TELLEZ -- AT&T Chevy Impala -- LTM
14 - KENNY GERRELDS -- Mac's Ford Fusion -- KGI
15 - WILL LEGGE -- GoDaddy.com Buick -- OVO
16 - JUSTIN PISANI -- Verizon Dodge Charger -- JNM
18 - CHAD LAPINSKI -- Ask.com Buick -- OVO
19 - ALLEN REEDS -- Bass Pro Shops Buick -- SDR
20 - TYLER DEEFER -- AutoZone Ford Fusion -- REN
21 - TIM AVERELL* -- SONY Pontiac -- RRT
22 - NICK DAWSON* -- Tobasco Pontiac -- RRT
24 - GREG SAUER -- JM Pontiac Trans Am -- GSE
26 - JALEN SCRANSEN -- Dollar General Buick -- OVO
27 - MARIO LANCER -- Red Robin Pontiac Trans Am -- GSE
28 - SHAWN DONNELLY -- Bud Chevy Impala -- LTM
32 - BRUCE WILKINSON -- Clevite/Save-A-Cone Dodge Charger -- CON
34 - KODY LACHNER -- 7-11 Ford Fusion -- REN
36 - PRESTON BELL* -- Allstate Dodge Charger -- JNM
39 - MIKAEL CARTER -- AMP Energy Dodge Charger -- JNM
40 - GRANT JACOBS -- Reynolds Wrap Ford Fusion -- COM
41 - JOEY KINGTON -- Unsponsored Buick -- BWI
42 - HERB CILANTRO -- NaturalCures.com Chevy SS -- 426
44 - DARCY LUSK* -- Jimmy John's Pontiac Trans Am -- CAR
46 - KENT GROSSO* -- Canadian Tire Pontiac Trans Am -- CAR
50 - JARED KASH -- FedEx Dodge Charger -- BUE
52 - BARRY JUVENO* -- Jack Daniels Dodge Charger -- KDM
54 - JERRY RICHSON -- KMart Dodge Charger -- JRM
56 - TED HENDRICKS -- Vault Dodge Charger -- BUE
57 - DAVID LEE BIBSON -- CAT Dodge Charger -- JRM
74 - BETHANY BALTANO -- Unknown -- BWI
80 - ROSS LOWREY -- LifeLock Chevy SS -- GAR
81 - NIKLAS HYERSKI* -- Discount Tire Chevy SS -- GAR
82 - TODD KINSIN -- Discount Tire Chevy SS -- GAR
83 - NATE SMITH -- Arizona Pontiac Trans Am -- AND
84 - CARSON CROMPTON -- VANS Pontiac Trans Am -- AND
85 - MATT CONTEY -- Sprite/Save-A-Cone Dodge Charger -- CON
87 - CASEY LESTER* -- Aflac Ford Fusion -- REN
88 - KEITH DAVIS -- LifeLock Chevy SS -- GAR
89 - FRANK HARRIS -- National Guard Chevy SS -- AFR
90 - AARON FISHER -- Dupont Chevy SS -- AFR
91 - JACK WALTER -- Office Depot Chevy SS -- POR
92 - JIMMY COHON -- Office Depot Chevy SS -- POR
96 - MACK DiCARIO -- Ally Buick -- SDR
98 - TODD BRADSHAW -- US Army Dodge Charger -- OPP
99 - MIKE OPPENHEIMER -- Old Spice Dodge Charger -- OPP



Questionables/Unknowns:

00 - TYSON LAUTENSCHLAGER -- Unknown -- DDR
04 - NATE PIEPER* -- SPEED Octane Dodge Charger -- WEB
05 - ERIC WEBLER -- SPEED Energy Dodge Charger -- WEB
55 - WHITNEY FULLER* -- SPEED Unleashed Dodge Charger -- WEB
65 - UNKNOWN DRIVER -- Unknown -- DDR



* - Indicates Rookie

MANUFACTURER BREAKDOWN (confirmed teams)
Chevrolet - 11
Pontiac - 6
Ford - 12
Dodge - 15
Buick - 6

There will be two qualifying races for the Livonia 250.

Drivers locked into the Livonia 250:

15 - Will Legge
99 - Mike Oppenheimer
42 - Herb Cilantro
28 - Shawn Donnelly
1 - Alex Jates
24 - Greg Sauer
19 - Allen Reeds
16 - Justin Pisani

8 Cars


Qualifying Race 1:

0 - Jonathon Ringer
08 - Ricardo Blanco
3 - Emma Trout
7 - Jason Miller
10 - Brian Hensler
12 - Louis Tellez
18 - Chad Lapinski
20 - Tyler Deefer
22 - Nick Dawson
26 - Jalen Scransen
34 - Kody Lachner
39 - Mikael Carter
46 - Kent Grosso
52 - Barry Juveno
56 - Ted Hendricks
80 - Ross Lowrey
82 - Todd Kinsin
84 - Carson Crompton
87 - Casey Lester
89 - Frank Harris
91 - Jack Walter
96 - Mack DiCario
74? - Bethany Baltano Jr.?

23 Cars for 16 spots


Qualifying Race 2:

03 - Brad Simmons
09 - Shawn Glossum
2 - Tommy Ritcher
4 - Luke Kinsin
5 - Jeff Parshall
8 - Josh Mertz
11 - Wendy Fisher
14 - Kenny Gerrelds
21 - Tim Averell
27 - Mario Lancer
32 - Bruce Wilkinson
36 - Preston Bell
40 - Grant Jacobs
44 - Darcy Lusk
50 - Jared Kash
54 - Jerry Richson
57 - David Lee Bibson
81 - Niklas Hyerski
83 - Nate Smith
85 - Matt Contey
88 - Keith Davis
90 - Aaron Fisher
92 - Jimmy Cohon
98 - Todd Bradshaw
41 - Joey Kington

25 Cars for 17 spots

I've already got a locked in spot because #swag

Time to get the race weekend news started!

Lapinski, Scransen Looking for a Better Weekend at Livonia

While Will Legge was battling for the win at Livonia last year, Chad Lapinski and Jalen Scransen we're in the pits making repairs to their racecars. Lapinski and Scransen we're involved in at least one of the race's 7 yellows. Chad Lapinski is taking a whole new approach to the famed racetrack this year, however:

"Last year, I was coming into my first ever AERS race and man was that a fun weekend. Nothing seemed to go right all weekend and to say we made the show even was a huge thing for us. We qualified way in the back and let me tell ya, it was not fun avoiding all those wrecks. This year though, we have some experience and we've even tested quite a bit at Livonia since the lockout and I think we'll be in good shape."

Jalen Scransen finished 33rd at Livonia in 2011, which proved to be all but the same as the rest of the season.

"I think if you don't get off to a good start, you're in trouble the whole season. We struggled at Livonia and then it was all downhill the rest of the year. I think a big mistake last year was not analyzing some of the information the 15 and 18 teams shared with us, we we're kind of trying to just stay at bay with our own team, but we saw how well they did last year and we'll definitely be trying to learn from each team this year."

As for their predictions on the race, each said the race should be a lot cleaner than last years' event. There were a record 7 yellows in 2011 that took up over a quarter of the race.

Mertz excited for what is to come

Josh Mertz. His name is taboo in recent times around the AARO garage area. However, he is planning his return in a big way with a factory Dodge drive. The American who represents Germany is hoping he can do better than his lackluster 2010 and 2011 campaigns, where he was in the mid field for the majority of the season. He then took a sabbatical in 2012 and 2013 doing other forms of racing, from rally, to rallycross, to formula racing.

"Pretty cool that Dodge will support me and push me to do my best, because I don't want to feel like they are wasting their money. I'm slowly improving on the oval side, but all that rally and rallycross I did should help me if I end up mowing the lawn. New sponsor, new manufacturer, new number, new career. Let's do it."

Mertz's sponsors for the 2014 campaign include Red Bull, Muscle Milk, Marlboro, ASN, and bands Of Mice & Men, Black Veil Brides, and Bullet for my Valentine.

Q-Races Results and Stream recording updated into first post.

Webler Motorsports shows up at Livonia

"Whats going on here?" said Eric Webler as he gets out of his RV after it pulled in. Webler is known for showing up late but this is uncalled for. He has 3 cars ready to race, the #04, #05, and #49. This time the #49 has his name on it. Looks like they had some number switching. Pieper is in the #05 and Fuller is in the #04. "If we can get in, we will. If we can't then we'll win next week, mark my words." -Eric Webler

Casey Lester: Alright. The guys gave me a great car and I don't think it'll just be a force in this Q-Race. Look out on race day.

Preston Bell: Ah can't thank this team enough. The #36 Allstate Dodge drove like a dream all race an' everybody else put up a great fight for the transfer spots. My first AERS start... I never thought it would be so sudden.

Barry Juveno: ...F**k you, Lapinski. An' you too, Kingpin. Or whateva the hell your name is.

Scransen, Jacobs, Lachner Among Big Names to Miss Livonia 250

Key names will miss this years running of the Livonia 250. In qualifying race 1, Jalen Scransen triggered a multi-car crash midway through the race which took out not only him but also some other big names, one of which was Kody Lachner. Reports are saying Lachner and Scransen were seen discussing the incident in the garage area shortly after the event. Lachner had this to say:

"We're leaving this place with 2 wrecked race cars, both of which were not our fault at all. I'm so pissed right now it's probably best not to interview me right now."

Scransen, who struggled last season with a 33rd place points finish, finished 10th in the AAA Shootout before being wrecked in the first qualifying race:

"Obviously not the way we'd like to start our season. Things just don't work out when you're driving around a bunch of rookies and it sucks that it had to be this way. And yes, me and Kody talked about the accident and he was blaming me for it. He hasn't done squat in this series anyway, talk about the most overrated driver in AARO..."

In the second qualifier, Grant Jacobs in the 40 for Simmons Racing, couldn't get to the 41 of Joey Kington to secure a spot in the 250:

"Last year we sucked and so far I can safely say our equipment hasn't got much better. I was excited about this weekend and after performing pretty well in the Shootout I was sure we were going to get through these Q's in a breeze. Obviously didn't turn out the way we'd expected but we're just going to have to go back to the shop to turn things around. We'll get 'em at Boston."

The field will no doubt have some missing pieces in the field. Three big time #1 drivers did not qualify so we'll see some new faces up in the running for the prestigious Livonia 250.

Eric Webler looking to buy out a ride in the Livonia 250

Reports around the track is Eric Webler, owner of Webler Motorsports, is talking to teams about possibly buying out their car to race in the Livonia 250. At a press conference held earlier today regarding Whitney Fuller's contract extension, Tony McAdams from RacingNewsUSA.com brought it up. All Webler said was "The Livonia 250 is the biggest race of the AARO season. I want to race in it. I have money, I have sponsors. Since the break, I've become a much better driver. I believe that I can get a win or a good run for a team that is struggling financially." Webler didn't comment about what teams he has talked to but we will see before the race if anything comes up.

Richson and Bibson not selling spots, will race

Richson said "We sucked from head to toe last year, we need to get back on track and making the first race of the year is a good way to start that."

Session: Practice


P # DRIVER TIME
1 87 C Lester 21.384
2 08 R Blanco 21.388
3 03 B Simmons 21.388
4 54 J Richson 21.405
5 88 K Davis 21.413
6 28 S Donnelly 21.418
7 57 D Bibson 21.430
8 18 C Lapinski 21.430
9 24 G Sauer 21.433
10 81 N Hyerski 21.434
11 42 H Cilantro 21.449
12 80 R Lowrey 21.455
13 14 K Gerrelds 21.461
14 99 M Oppenheimer 21.463
15 3 E Trout 21.463
16 0 J Ringer 21.467
17 89 F Harris 21.472
18 83 N Smith 21.477
19 98 T Bradshaw 21.479
20 20 T Deefer 21.485
21 32 B Wilkinson 21.489
22 5 J Parshall 21.491
23 4 L Kinsin 21.497
24 12 L Tellez 21.501
25 15 W Legge 21.504
26 10 B Hensler 21.510
27 84 C Crompton 21.512
28 85 M Contey 21.518
29 2 T Ritcher 21.525
30 46 K Grosso 21.529
31 8 J Mertz 21.534
32 74 B Baltano 21.534
33 56 T Hendricks 21.541
34 92 J Cohon 21.542
35 96 M DiCario 21.544
36 27 M Lancer 21.549
37 41 J Kington 21.552
38 16 J Pisani 21.570
39 19 A Reeds 21.571
40 1 A Jates 21.575
41 36 P Bell 21.614
42 39 M Carter 21.643


Weather: Clear, 32 °F, North 0 mph



Session: Qualifying


P # DRIVER TIME
1 98 T Bradshaw 21.174
2 10 B Hensler 21.176
3 27 M Lancer 21.183
4 83 N Smith 21.185
5 87 C Lester 21.197
6 99 M Oppenheimer 21.200
7 20 T Deefer 21.203
8 4 L Kinsin 21.209
9 92 J Cohon 21.210
10 42 H Cilantro 21.215
11 24 G Sauer 21.219
12 0 J Ringer 21.228
13 14 K Gerrelds 21.238
14 2 T Ritcher 21.239
15 96 M DiCario 21.243
16 15 W Legge 21.244
17 1 A Jates 21.245
18 19 A Reeds 21.246
19 12 L Tellez 21.248
20 08 R Blanco 21.252
21 81 N Hyerski 21.253
22 89 F Harris 21.264
23 28 S Donnelly 21.268
24 57 D Bibson 21.272
25 03 B Simmons 21.285
26 85 M Contey 21.286
27 88 K Davis 21.287
28 36 P Bell 21.300
29 56 T Hendricks 21.303
30 3 E Trout 21.313
31 80 R Lowrey 21.324
32 16 J Pisani 21.333
33 46 K Grosso 21.333
34 39 M Carter 21.334
35 32 B Wilkinson 21.336
36 8 J Mertz 21.346
37 74 B Baltano 21.363
38 5 J Parshall 21.367
39 18 C Lapinski 21.383
40 41 J Kington 21.398
41 54 J Richson BKUP
42 84 C Crompton BKUP


Weather: Clear, 32 °F, North 0 mph



Session: Happy Hour


P # DRIVER TIME
1 12 L Tellez 21.020
2 28 S Donnelly 21.036
3 08 R Blanco 21.045
4 92 J Cohon 21.045
5 2 T Ritcher 21.047
6 24 G Sauer 21.048
7 80 R Lowrey 21.048
8 15 W Legge 21.051
9 0 J Ringer 21.058
10 4 L Kinsin 21.063
11 89 F Harris 21.068
12 27 M Lancer 21.069
13 3 E Trout 21.073
14 16 J Pisani 21.074
15 98 T Bradshaw 21.077
16 14 K Gerrelds 21.078
17 20 T Deefer 21.078
18 03 B Simmons 21.082
19 8 J Mertz 21.084
20 39 M Carter 21.087
21 88 K Davis 21.087
22 83 N Smith 21.088
23 84 C Crompton 21.089
24 19 A Reeds 21.091
25 36 P Bell 21.096
26 18 C Lapinski 21.100
27 85 M Contey 21.106
28 87 C Lester 21.108
29 57 D Bibson 21.117
30 81 N Hyerski 21.122
31 1 A Jates 21.127
32 10 B Hensler 21.131
33 46 K Grosso 21.132
34 54 J Richson 21.136
35 74 B Baltano 21.140
36 42 H Cilantro 21.141
37 41 J Kington 21.144
38 32 B Wilkinson 21.146
39 99 M Oppenheimer 21.147
40 5 J Parshall 21.147
41 56 T Hendricks 21.174
42 96 M DiCario 21.205


Weather: Cloudy, 69 °F, South 16 mph

Mertz thrilled to be in

"Brilliant job guys, great job. Good car." That was the call over the radio from Josh Mertz after he qualified his way into the Livonia 200. "The car is a bit slow by itself but we've seen by the speed charts, once we get into a pack, we're good to go. Let's hopefully get a top 20 to start our season off right."