Santos Wins Pole for Saturday’s “Phoenix Copper Cup”

2017 USAC Silver Crown Series Top Story Logo

By Richie Murray
Phoenix, Arizona………Bobby Santos picked up right where he left off in his last trip to Phoenix Raceway eight years ago, posting the fastest time in USAC Silver Crown presented by TRAXXAS ProSource Qualifying to win the pole for Saturday’s “Phoenix Copper Cup.”

Franklin, Massachusetts’ Santos, the 2009 winner of the USAC National Midget portion of the “Copper World Classic,” set the mark at 25.362 seconds, just a tick under 142mph and narrowly missing Dave Steele’s 2004 mark of 25.317.

“We cut a pretty good lap,” Santos said.  “On the first lap, the car was tight and I anticipated it to be tight again on the second lap.  But it came in a little better on that second lap. I wasn’t anticipating that.  Overall, we had a great run.  I’m really excited to be back here at Phoenix.  I really love coming here.”

Starting alongside Santos on the front row will be two-time series champ Kody Swanson of Kingsburg, California.

Tucson, Arizona native Jerry Coons, Jr. and defending series champ Chris Windom did not make qualifying attempts.  Coons’ Nolen Racing ride experienced clutch problems.  Windom was uninjured after heavy contact with the back straightaway wall in practice, putting his Kazmark Racing No. 92 on the sidelines for the remainder of the weekend.
The 100-lap “Phoenix Copper Cup” gets underway Saturday, April 29 at 3pm Pacific time.
“PHOENIX COPPER CUP” PROSOURCE QUALIFYING RESULTS:
ROW 1:
Bobby Santos, 22, DJ-25.362
Kody Swanson, 63, DePalma-25.499
ROW 2:
Davey Hamilton, 99, RPM/Gormly-25.607
Justin Grant, 91, Hemelgarn/Carli-25.609
ROW 3:
Aaron Pierce, 26, Pierce-25.666
Tanner Swanson, 201, Nolen-25.682
ROW 4:
David Byrne, 40, Byrne-25.768
Damion Gardner, 6, Klatt-26.078
ROW 5:
Henry Clarke, 75, Rose-26.342
Davey Hamilton, Jr., 98, RPM/Gormly-26.656
ROW 6:
Joe Axsom, 120, Nolen-26.906
A.J. Russell, 3, Finkenbinder-27.390
ROW 7:
Patrick Lawson, 2, Lawson-27.416
Toni Breidinger, 80, Breidinger-28.067
ROW 8:
Shane Butler, 15, Thompson-30.978
Jerry Coons, Jr., 20, Nolen-NT
WILL NOT START:
Chris Windom, 92, Kazmark-NT
USAC SILVER CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP (presented by TRAXXAS) RACE RESULTS: April 28-29, 2017 – Phoenix, Arizona – Phoenix Raceway – “Phoenix Copper Cup”2017 USAC Silver Crown Series Top Story Logo
      PROSOURCE QUALIFYING: (April 28) 1. Bobby Santos, 22, DJ Racing-25.362; 2. Kody Swanson, 63, DePalma-25.499; 3. Davey Hamilton, 99, RPM/Gormly-25.607; 4. Justin Grant, 91, Hemelgarn/Carli-25.609; 5. Aaron Pierce, 26, Pierce-25.666; 6. Tanner Swanson, 201, Nolen-25.682; 7. David Byrne, 40, Byrne-25.768; 8. Damion Gardner, 6, Klatt-26.078; 9. Henry Clarke, 75, Rose-26.342; 10. Davey Hamilton Jr., 98, RPM/Gormly-26.656; 11. Joe Axsom, 120, Nolen-26.906; 12. A.J. Russell, 3, Finkenbinder-27,390; 13. Patrick Lawson, 2, Lawson-27.416; 14. Toni Breidinger, 80, Breidinger-28.067; 15. Shane Butler, 15, Thompson-30.978; 16. Jerry Coons Jr., 20, Nolen-NT; 17. Chris Windom, 92, Kazmark-NT.