ANDERSON, Ind. — Defending Lucas Oil Little 500 champion Tyler Roahrig shattered the existing qualifying record for the annual event.
After the rain showers on Thursday the drivers had to deal with changing track conditions for CB Fabricating Pole Day at Anderson Speedway.
Roahrig broke the existing one-lap and four-lap records set in 2011 by Aaron Pierce.
He turned the fastest lap at 10.799 seconds and four laps in 43.477 seconds.
Brian Gerster earned his best ever qualifying spot and will start in the middle of the front row with three-time Little 500 Kody Swanson starting in the third position.
A total of 39 cars took time with the fastest 15 locked into Saturday’s starting field.
The field of 33 will be set during “bump day” on Friday for the 74th running of the Lucas Oil 500 on Saturday.
“Setting track records were a priority,” Roahrig said following the record-setting run. “I was pretty worried because we didn’t get much practice and we couldn’t get a clean lap.
“It wasn’t quite what we expected, running that fast for that many laps,” he said. “I drove it really hard, so I’m pretty proud of that.”
Roahrig said despite the rain the quarter-mile oval “rubbered” up really well.
“It make for a great track, I didn’t expect it to be that first,” Roahrig. “Always good to start on the front row.”
Gerster turned four laps in 44.291 seconds.
“It’s exciting to be starting on the front row,” he said. “It’s an honor to be starting between Tyler (Roahrig) and Kody (Swanson).
“The car was consistent through the whole run,” Gerster said. “We worked hard over the winter and the guys did a great job managing our tires.”
Swanson said he wished his qualifying run was faster.
“I have no complaints,” he said. “I felt like we had a good handle on the car during practice, but the conditions changed.”
Swanson said the team gave him a good car and they have 500 laps (Saturday) to figure it out and keep the car upfront.
Caleb Armstrong, Dakoda Armstrong and C.J. Leary will start in the second row.
Emerson Axsom led the strong group of rookie of the year contenders and will start seventh with fellow rookie Ryan Newman starting eighth.
It took a one-lap average time of 11.2 seconds to lock into the top 15, a record for the Little 500.
Three-time race winner Jeff Bloom only posted the 34th fastest time in an effort to make the starting field for the 43rd time.
Qualifying results: 1) Tyler Roahrig; 2) Brian Gerster; 3) Kody Swanson; 4) Caleb Armstrong; 5) Dakoda Armstrong; 6) C.J. Leary; 7) Emerson Axsom; 8) Ryan Newman; 9) Derek Bischak; 10) Bobby Santos III; 11) Jacob McElfresh; 12) Shane Hollingsworth; 13) Tanner Swanson; 14) Kyle O’Gara; 15) Jerry Coons Jr.; 16) Isaac Chapple; 17) Davey Hamilton Jr.; 18) L.J. Grimm; 19) Ken Schrader; 20) Brian Tyler; 21) Shane Butler; 22) Aaron Willison; 23) Billy Wease; 24) Eric Gordon; 25) Brady Bacon; 26) Travis Welpott; 27) Bryan Gossel; 28) Tony Main; 29) Larry Kingseed Jr.; 30) Tommy Nichols; 31) Justin Harper; 32) Quintin Saayman; 33) Mike Anderson; 34) Jeff Bloom; 35) Chris Jagger; 36) Doug Fitzwater; 37) Tom Paterson; 38) Scott Hampton; 39) Dalton Armstrong