Grand-Am: Multimatic's Foster wins Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge pole

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (April 9, 2010) - The last time Joe Foster competed in a GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race at Barber Motorsports Park - in 2008 - he won the pole position and went on to win the race with co-driver Scott Maxwell.

He started this year's Barber 200 weekend in similar fashion, as he won the pole position Friday in the No. 15 Multimatic Motorsports/Bayshore Recycling Ford Mustang Boss 302R. His time of 1:36.876 (85.470 mph) blistered a six-year-old Grand Sport (GS) record at the 2.3-mile, 17-turn track; in fact, the top four cars - all Ford Mustangs - were under Spencer Pumpelly's previous record, set in 2004.

The race also marked the second consecutive event for Foster to win the pole position; he was awarded the pole position at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

"It's been two years since we've been here, and the cars we have are a little bit different," Foster said. "The Mustangs this year are fast. The last time we were here at Barber in the GS class we won, so we're hoping to go back to victory lane."

Jack Roush Jr. in the No. 61 ROUSH Performance Products Ford Mustang Boss 302R qualified second at Barber with a time of 1:37.004 (85.357 mph). Roush has finished third in each of his two races at Barber.

"Coming off our first win at Homestead-Miami Speedway last month, we're coming to Barber trying not to be arrogant," Roush said. "Personally, this is one of my favorite tracks, as I've finished third in both of my races here. We hope to change that a little this year and go for the victory instead. We don't take it lightly."

Qualifying third was defending race co-winner Bret Seafuse, who turned in a time of 1:37.223 (85.165 mph) in the No. 37 Trumansburg ShurSave Ford Mustang Boss 302R he shares with James Gue. Fourth was rookie Ryan Winchester, at 1:37.369 (85.037 mph), in the No. 59 Rehagen Racing Products Ford Mustang GT, co-driven by defending series champion Ken Wilden.

Alabama-based APR Motorsport, located in Auburn, was the fastest team not running a Mustang. Jordan Taylor, in the No. 01 APR/BBS Audi S4, was fifth with a time of 1:37.534 (84.893 mph). GS points leader Charlie Putman will start 16th.

While veterans secured spots in the GS front row, a pair of rookies topped the first and second positions in the Street Tuner (ST) class. David White, in BimmerWorld/GearWrench's No. 80 Performance Friction/RAYS Engineering BMW 328i, set a time of 1:41.644 (81.461 mph) to earn his first career pole position. Second was Eric Foss in the No. 27 Aventura Technologies/Freedom Autosport MAZDASPEED3, with a time of 1:41.884 (81.269 mph).

Both White and Foss are making their third career Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge ST starts. White, who co-drives with team owner James Clay, said he struggled up until his qualifying run, but had the car together when he needed it the most.

"I had been struggling up to the qualifying session with lap times," White said, "but we worked on the setup and pulled it all together. For me, it was a perfect lap, and it feels great to be on the pole."

Foss, a driving instructor who calls Barber his second home track, is making his first-ever start with Freedom Autosport. He will co-drive with Randy Pobst.

"The car was good during qualifying," Foss said. "We're struggling with long runs though; we hope to have that fixed by the race. Randy has been great, and we've agreed on every change we've made this weekend so far. Mazda and Freedom Autosport have given us a good chance to run up front; we just need to do our part on Saturday."

On the second row will be Mike Sweeney, who turned in a time of 1:42.247 (80.980 mph) in the No. 171 APR/BBS Volkswagen GTI he'll share with Mike Halpin, and Derek Whitis, who lapped the circuit at 1:42.321 (80.922 mph) in the No. 25 Aventura Technologies/Freedom Autosport Mazda MX-5. Whitis and co-driver Tom Long are coming off the ST win at Homestead-Miami. ST points leader David Thilenius will start eighth.

The two-and-a-half hour Barber 200 will take the green flag at 4 p.m. CT Saturday.

From Michael Harker / Grand-Am