LAS VEGAS — Canadian Aaron Willison finds himself in a familiar position at the BITNILE Open Wheel Showdown, where the 2023 $50,000 race winner has earned the pole for Saturday’s second annual event after snaring the 10-lap Firstline Systems Pole Shuffle.
Willison was one of six 12-lap heat race winners on the .375-mile Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Willison then outmatched Good Boy Vodka fast time qualifier JoJo Helberg in the shuffle for the pole position.
“Yeah, that was fun. Honestly track position – we had a good draw and got to start on the pole. I just knew I had to hit my marks and not miss the bottom. It was a good time there,” Willison said. “We’re just starting to establish a trend the longer the cars have been on the track to come to a decision for a baseline for tomorrow night. It’s awesome to have this platform to race on, to have all of North America gathered in one place to duke it out.”
Helberg led the way in time trials with a new track record, storming to a 11.572-second lap at 116.66 mph. Helberg then won the opening CSI Shocks heat race one, with both Jeff Montgomery and Ryan Litt experiencing difficulties that relegated them to a C Main position.
Willison won the BR Motorsports heat race two, while Bobby Santos won the Elliott’s Custom Trailers heat three. A spin for Indiana USAC champion C.J. Leary will have him coming out of Saturday’s B Main.
Casey Tillman won the Wilwood Brakes heat race four and Kody Swanson won the Racing Optics fifth heat race. Jake Trainor won the Sweet Manufacturing heat race.
Litt made quick work of the 15-lap C Main, presented by RX Help Centers, and will continue his alphabet soup effort on Saturday.
Klotz Modified action was led in qualifying by Las Vegas’ Aaron McMorran, who then drew the one pill in the redraw. All three heat races were presented by Cometic Gasket, with Aaron McMorran, Kyle Jacks and Rich Lindgren snaring victories.
Watch Saturday’s event on SPEED SPORT TV.