Crocker On ARCA Pole
Bobby Gerhart’s quest to win a fifth consecutive pole award at Daytona came to a screeching halt Friday afternoon at Daytona Int’l Speedway when Erin Crocker qualified just over two-tenths quicker, winning the pole for the 44th annual ARCA 200 at Daytona. Crocker, in the #98 Evernham Motorsports Dodge, qualified with a top speed of 182.219 mph over Gerhart, who qualified second at 181.437 mph.
"It’s a thrill to be on the pole here in Daytona,” said Crocker. “I used to come here as a little girl. The plan is right now to run twelve ARCA races and four truck races. Right now we have no sponsor, but if we get one maybe we will run more. Right now the pressure is off. I plan to have fun. The car felt good but we'll see what it does with cars around it. It was a Kasey Kahne car. Not sure when he last used it. I don't know much about it.
“Bobby Gerhart congratulated me but told me to buckle up...I'm not sure what that meant, but I do think that the veterans respect me. I think I have a shot at winning tomorrow based on the car they gave me and the qualifying lap that I ran."
Crocker’s Daytona pole marks her fourth career ARCA RE/MAX Series pole, tying her with Patty Moise with the most poles in series history among female drivers. However, Crocker was not the first female pole winner at Daytona. That honor goes to Moise who won RE/MAX Series poles at Daytona in 1989 and 1990. Crocker also has pole awards at Nashville Superspeedway in her 2005 series debut and two at Kentucky Speedway in 2005 and 2006.
In 13 career ARCA RE/MAX Series starts, Crocker’s career-best finish was second at Kansas Speedway in 2006 and second at Kentucky Speedway in 2005, which ties her with Shawn Robinson as the highest finishing females in series history. Although Crocker is the only female driver in series history who has earned two second place finishes.
Gerhart, who had previously won a record four consecutive Daytona pole awards (2003 through 2006) had to settle for the second starting position in his #5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet.
Bobby Gerhart’s quest to win a fifth consecutive pole award at Daytona came to a screeching halt Friday afternoon at Daytona Int’l Speedway when Erin Crocker qualified just over two-tenths quicker, winning the pole for the 44th annual ARCA 200 at Daytona. Crocker, in the #98 Evernham Motorsports Dodge, qualified with a top speed of 182.219 mph over Gerhart, who qualified second at 181.437 mph.
"It’s a thrill to be on the pole here in Daytona,” said Crocker. “I used to come here as a little girl. The plan is right now to run twelve ARCA races and four truck races. Right now we have no sponsor, but if we get one maybe we will run more. Right now the pressure is off. I plan to have fun. The car felt good but we'll see what it does with cars around it. It was a Kasey Kahne car. Not sure when he last used it. I don't know much about it.
“Bobby Gerhart congratulated me but told me to buckle up...I'm not sure what that meant, but I do think that the veterans respect me. I think I have a shot at winning tomorrow based on the car they gave me and the qualifying lap that I ran."
Crocker’s Daytona pole marks her fourth career ARCA RE/MAX Series pole, tying her with Patty Moise with the most poles in series history among female drivers. However, Crocker was not the first female pole winner at Daytona. That honor goes to Moise who won RE/MAX Series poles at Daytona in 1989 and 1990. Crocker also has pole awards at Nashville Superspeedway in her 2005 series debut and two at Kentucky Speedway in 2005 and 2006.
In 13 career ARCA RE/MAX Series starts, Crocker’s career-best finish was second at Kansas Speedway in 2006 and second at Kentucky Speedway in 2005, which ties her with Shawn Robinson as the highest finishing females in series history. Although Crocker is the only female driver in series history who has earned two second place finishes.
Gerhart, who had previously won a record four consecutive Daytona pole awards (2003 through 2006) had to settle for the second starting position in his #5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet.