Milka Duno gets ARCA pole
Duno had the second-fastest time in the Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell, but when the time of Venturini Motorsports teammate John Wes Townley was disallowed following post-qualifying inspection Duno was announced as the pole winner.
“This is fantastic," Duno said following qualifying. “We have been trying, trying, trying for the pole ever since Daytona. All day, I made my crew chief (Kevin Caldwell) crazy, saying ‘what do we need to do?’"
The times recorded by four drivers – Townley, Bobby Gerhart, Korbin Forrister and Mark Thompson – were disallowed. Each of those drivers will start at the rear of the field in Friday’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250. The race will begin at 4 p.m. (CST) and will be broadcast live on SPEED.
Duno is the fourth female to win an ARCA pole award, including Patty Moise, Shawna Robinson and Erin Crocker. Moise is the only other female pole winner at Talladega, claiming two poles at the 2.66-mile superspeedway in 1988.
The rest of the top five in qualifying included Mason Mingus, Grant Enfinger, Justin Boston and Caleb Armstrong.
No female driver has won in the ARCA Racing Series in its 61 year history. Will Danica Patrick win the pole for the Cup race at Talladega this weekend? Stay tuned…..