MX-5 Cup: Gallagher claims Monterey pole

Patrick Gallagher did not wait long set a fast lap during qualifying for Rounds Five and Six of the SCCA Pro Racing Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as part of the Monterey Grand Prix. Gallagher's teammate Peter Portante will start Saturday's race beside him, while Drake Kemper will roll off third.

Gallagher wasted no time in getting his No. 44 Howard Concrete Pumping MX-5 up to speed in the 20-minute qualifying session at the 11-turn, 2.238-mile track. Gallagher captured what would be the pole-winning lap on only his third time around the circuit. On that lap he stopped the clock at 1:41.349 (79.496 mph).

"The plan was to get two quick laps early on," Gallagher said. "I don't know if we were able to make that happen. With the jockeying for position that was going on, I just couldn't get a good second lap.

"I can't thank the guys at Atlanta Motorsports Group, Mazda and Howard Concrete Pumping enough for all their support. My crew guys have done an excellent job getting this car prepped and where it needs to be. I think we'll have a good car over the long haul, and I think that will be an advantage tomorrow."

In the No. 24 Intercity Lines MX-5, Portante also wasted little time in putting down a flying lap. He registered a fastest time of 1:41.636 (79.271 mph) on lap three, much like his teammate Gallagher.

"It may sound a little cliché, but the team gave me a really great car," Portante said. "Fortunately, I was able to take advantage of the setup with a good drive. I have a couple things to clean up, but I'll take care of that and see what happens tomorrow. If I were happy with second, I wouldn't show up tomorrow.

"This team is an interesting group. It took a while to get used to the team dynamic, but when we get to work we can really make some things happen. We have some really good drivers, just like many of the other teams out here. If we can work together to finish up front tomorrow, that's all we can ask for."

Kemper also got down to business quickly during the half-hour session. He drove his No. 99 Royal Rugby/Mazda Motorsports Development/BFGoodrich Tires hard right out of pit lane and banked an early fast lap. Kemper's best time ended up tripping the timing clocks at 1:41.651 (79.259 mph).

"The drafting rule being pulled was eye-opening," Kemper said. "I was surprised how difficult it was to get in position to take advantage of the change. I got a small tow from someone ahead of me, which allowed me to put down my quickest laps.

"With the change, it was all about going out on track and setting the quickest lap possible, right away."

John Dean will start fourth for Round Five of the 2015 season. Dean drove his No. 16 Bulb Jacket/PPG/Sick Sideways MX-5 to a fast lap of 1:41.686 (79.232 mph).

Nathanial Sparks will start Saturday's race in fifth in the No. 8 OOTSK Performance/Sick Sideways MX-5. His fast lap was on lap three, which registered as a 1:41.818 (79.129 mph). With his teammates, Dean and Kemper, nearby, it may be tough to get past the Sick Sideways trio off the start.

In the Skip Barber MAZDASPEED Pro Challenge series, Robby Foley will start Saturday's race first in class. His best lap was a 1:43.785 (77.630 mph).

"Since the ban of drafting during qualifying was lifted for this race, I had a plan to work with someone early on," Foley said. "However, with the way we were released that didn't really work out. It's good because it allowed me to focus on my driving.

"We put on new tires and I think we have the setup nailed pretty well. I was able to get my two laps in early, while the tires were at their best, so the rule didn't really have much of an effect on me."

Ben Albano clocked the second best time in the class. He piloted his No. 61 Project Yellow Light/Manfredi Jewels SBMX-5 to a best lap of 1:44.150 (77.358 mph). He was followed by Sam Adams, who turned a quick lap of 1:44.234 (77.295 mph).

Corey Rueth will start Sunday's Mazda NASA Race of Champions from the class pole. His best time was recorded as a 1:45.619 (76.282 mph). In second was David Ziegler, of Baltimore, Ohio, with a fast lap of 1:45.665 (76.249 mph), followed by Matthew Powers with a time of 1:45.820 (76.137 mph).

Round Five of the SCCA Pro Racing Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by BFGoodrich Tires is scheduled for Saturday, at 8:40 a.m. (PDT), with Round Six set to start Sunday, at 9:10 a.m. (PDT).

For additional information on the series, including full results, visit www.MX-5Cup.com.

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Monterey Calif. - Starting line-up for Saturday's Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires Round 5 race, part of the Monterey Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca with position, class, car number in parentheses, driver, hometown, car, fastest lap time, and speed in miles per hour

1,MX,{44},Patrick Gallagher,Thornville Ohio,MX-5,1:41.349,79.496
2,MX,{24},Peter Portante,Plainville Conn.,MX-5,1:41.636,79.271
3,MX,{99},Drake Kemper,Toluca Lake Calif.,MX-5,1:41.651,79.259
4,MX,{16},John Dean II,Sebring Fla.,MX-5,1:41.686,79.232
5,MX,{8},Nathanial Sparks,Spanish Fort Ala.,MX-5,1:41.818,79.129
6,MX,{11},Ara Malkhassian,Houston Texas,MX-5,1:41.936,79.038
7,MX,{4},Kyle Loustaunau(R),Vacaville Calif.,MX-5,1:42.085,78.922
8,MX,{7},Dean Copeland,Bowie Md.,MX-5,1:42.170,78.857
9,MX,{35},Devin Jones,Mooresville N.C.,MX-5,1:42.240,78.803
10,MX,{6},Timothy Paul,Mahopac N.Y.,MX-5,1:42.263,78.785
11,MX,{34},Matt Koskinen(R),Harper Woods Mich.,MX-5,1:42.436,78.652
12,MX,{17},Nick Igdalsky(R),Stroudsburg Pa.,MX-5,1:42.688,78.459
13,MX,{14},Sarah Montgomery,Lafayette La.,MX-5,1:43.081,78.16
14,MX,{32},Keith Jensen(R),Dallas Texas,MX-5,1:43.167,78.095
15,MX,{12},Zach Lee,San Antonio Texas,MX-5,1:43.190,78.077
16,MX,{26},Tim Probert,Houston Texas,MX-5,1:43.352,77.955
17,MX,{72},Charles Paquin,Ottawa Ont. Can.,MX-5,1:43.385,77.93
18,MX,{77},Hernan Palermo(R),Houston Texas,MX-5,1:43.428,77.898
19,MX,{10},Brent Mosing,Lafayette La.,MX-5,1:43.733,77.669
20,MX,{52},Steve Bottom,Newport Beach Calif.,MX-5,1:44.331,77.223
21,MX,{28},Aurora Straus(R),New York N.Y.,MX-5,1:50.779,72.729

1,SBMX,{65},Robby Foley,Randolph N.J.,SBMX-5,1:43.785,77.63
2,SBMX,{61},Ben Albano,Greenwich Conn.,SBMX-5,1:44.150,77.358
3,SBMX,{67},Sam Adams,Richfield Wis.,SBMX-5,1:44.234,77.295
4,SBMX,{68},Nikko Reger,Houston Texas,SBMX-5,1:44.687,76.961
5,SBMX,{63},Bryan Hixon,San Antonio Texas,SBMX-5,1:44.823,76.861
6,SBMX,{62},Kieron O'Rourke,Grand Cayman,SBMX-5,1:47.766,74.762
7,SBMX,{69},Chris Beaufait,Freeland Wash.,SBMX-5,1:49.665,73.467

Image: Patrick Gallagher showed the best speed in the field by taking the pole for Saturday's Battery Tender Mazda MX-5 Cup race at Mazda Raceway.
Credit: Al Merion Padron