Qualifying Roundup
Things are certainly heating up in the AARO garages as tempers flared and intensity boiled over just one race ago at Miami. Heading to the track this weekend, you knew there would be plenty of storylines.
We'll start off with the drama that carried from last weekend. In the garage area, things seemed a bit tense, especially with the teams from the 84, 53 and 81. There was a few jabs at eachother in the media sessions, with Kody Lachner saying, "Was the guy [Crompton] even injured?" and a couple minutes of trash talk across garage stalls between the 53, and 84 teams. There seems to be a bit of a rivalry developing, especially with Crompton and Lachner.
Valene Click is in the 53 this weekend, filling in for the suspended Greg Knee. Click placed 47th on the opening practice charts, but didn't need to fear missing the race, and ended up qualifying a disappointing 38th. Carson Crompton, returning after his scary wreck that Knee created at Miami, posted an 8th place qualifying run after the final session was marred by a couple of incidents that sent three drivers to the rear of the 12 car pack. Kody Lachner placed 10th, but will start in the back, but he was a dismal 50th in opening practice.
Mikael Carter had some insults thrown towards him and his team in the garage area, and was confronted several times by media members. Ultimately, Carter stated what he's stuck to this whole time; he didn't intentionally celebrate, the severity of the wreck was unknown to him. Apparently, Carter hasn't really been seen much around the garage area or infield aside from that, and it is rumored that most drivers are still upset or have a bad taste in their mouth regarding the events that transpired last race. Regardless, Carter was fastest in opening practice and posted a 4th place qualifying run, but will have to start at the rear per the AARO's slim penalty assigned to his team.
Which brings us to what happened in the garage area during practice between Barry Juveno and Tyler Deefer.
Juveno, not happy with last race's shenanigans which saw his #77 eventually turned around in turn 2, had an altercation with Tyler Deefer this weekend, to the surprise of absolutely nobody. The two made contact once pulled into the garage area, Deefer slammed on the brakes and would not let Juveno by, causing even more damage, a crowd to form, and fists to fly.
Nobody is sure on the exact details of the incident in the pits, but Derek Anist reports that a punch or two was thrown by Juveno into the cockpit of the #20 Bank of America Ford.
Deefer and Juveno were both fined and were also held by AARO officials and thus, we could not seek word with either of them at this time. It is likely that more details eventually do submerge from this altercation, and should the AARO allow media to get their hands on the two, we may know the exact story within the race weekend.
On to the next storyline, that of the, you know, actual qualifying results.
Tommy Ritcher posted a new track record 25.707 lap in the final session of qualifying, securing the pole for the Armor All 200. This was the first race this season that the final session actually held the fastest time in overall qualifying. The Daytona winner has really found his groove early on now after a tough start to the 2018 season. He was also 5th in opening practice.
"We came off the truck really feeling good yesterday." said Ritcher, "I really am looking forward to tomorrow night, we've got a nice rhythm going here. The guys are working their tails off and I couldn't be more excited to come to the track every day."
Ritcher wasn't the only one thrilled with his qualifying position, as outside polesitter Jonathon Ringer was also very happy about his run.
"Really just a nice overall effort this weekend so far." said Ringer, "We got some good cars these past couple of races and I think we've got that killer instinct. Nobody else really has what we have and I can see it every week. We've got it all and I think we are really beginning to show it. I'm really happy and very much looking forward to the race."
A couple of guys who had poor qualifying runs were rookie Caine Dwyer and Jack Walter, who will miss his second consecutive race. Dwyer, who had to go to the rear anyway, was 31st in opening practice, and didn't think he could be worse in qualifying.
"Yeah, I'm not too upset this weekend but any other one I think we're more upset. We specifically had the car setup in practice for race trim and didn't even have a thought at qualifying trim, because we knew we'd start in the back. But still, it's discouraging to qualify that low regardless. We'll figure it out though."
Walter is getting a bit antsy with his team, on the other hand. Walter is in his final years, possibly his final year, and missing races is something he really doesn't want to deal with at this point in his career.
"No, I really don't want to talk right now because of the things I'll end up saying. I need to keep my mouth f***ing shut before I say something that will hurt my team."
Sauer Enterprises is one of the more different storylines developing this weekend. With David Jugar and Niklas Hyerski both struggling to make AERS races and struggling in general, it was made well known that they could be moved very soon, either down to the ANS in favor of top prospect Dalton Forrister, or moved to another team within the AERS for another driver[s]. Forrister is likely to see AERS time this season, especially after the start that Jugar and Hyerski have provided, but with all 3 Sauer cars in at Darlington, it's possible they hold off on anything for the time being, at least.
Jugar and Hyerski both would not comment on the situation, but both acknowledged it is a business and they have the utmost respect for Greg Sauer and his racing team regardless of what happens. Both have had tough times getting acquainted to the top series in racing, and both are realizing just how hard it is to become a name in the AERS.
To Garth Enterprises, who has their own drama occurring within it's teams. It is known to the public that Aaron Gallagher, and Patrick McKenzie, both rookies, are not pleased with how they've been treated at Garth Enterprises. McKenzie made a public trade request after Miami weekend, and once again failed to qualify at Darlington. After a stellar 22nd in opening practice, McKenzie was 12th in GOGH qualifying and once again packs his bags and leaves the track early. Aaron Gallagher actually made the race, but rumors are swirling that he as well, has made a trade request.
Chad Lapinski who is also having a rough season, made the race and will start 22nd, after a solid 3rd in opening practice, but his name as well has come up in trade talks. Kody Lachner, who has gained a bit of a bad reputation by just about everyone within the AARO, is also starting to fall in the standings. Lachner has run very well this year, just isn't getting any good luck whatsoever, notably his tire exploding last week while running in the top 5.
It'll be interesting to see what newly-hired General Manager Mario Lancer does with his current crop of drivers, specifically with Pat McKenzie's trade request, but once again, Garth Enterprises has, yes, already, suffered another lost season in the AMP Energy Racing Series.
Thu Feb 08, 2024 8:00 pm by NickSant15
