Ron Silk, looking to get his NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour points lead back, will start on the point for Saturday’s New Hampshire 100 after winning the Coors Light Pole Award Thursday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Silk had a top lap of 29.764 seconds (127.967 mph) around the 1.058-mile oval. It was the fifth career pole for the Norwalk, Conn., driver, who won at the ‘Magic Mile’ in 2009.
The New Hampshire 100 will be carried by SPEED Saturday at 1 p.m., prior to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.
Silk finished 15th at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Conn., last week to drop 12 points behind Todd Szegedy in the championship standings. Szegedy, who won at Lime Rock and earlier this season at New Hampshire, qualified eighth Thursday.
Eric Beers, who was fastest in Thursday’s practice, qualified second with a lap of 29.793 (127.842), followed by Justin Bonsignore at 29.799 (127.816). NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman, the defending race winner, and Erick Rudolph rounded out the top five.
Rowan Pennink, Matt Hirschman, Szegedy, Woody Pitkat and rookie Patrick Emerling completed the top 10.
The New Hampshire 100 is set to go green Saturday at 12:45 p.m.