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CGRFS Grabs Two Top-Five Starts at NHIS

LOUDON, N.H. (June 29, 2007) -After finishing the first NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series (NNCS) practice of the weekend inside the top 10 at New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) early Friday afternoon, Reed Sorenson and Juan Pablo Montoya made their two trial laps around the 1.058-mile oval later that same day to turn their top-10 practice runs into top-five starting positions for Sunday’s NNCS race.  Sorenson will line up third in the No. 41 Target Dodge to take the initial green flag on Sunday with his teammate Montoya and the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge just two spots behind him in fifth. 

Both drivers spent a good portion of the early afternoon running inside the top 10 during the first NNCS practice session of the weekend.  Out of 49 drivers total working to make Sunday’s show, Montoya wrapped up the session eighth fastest (29.683 seconds/128.316 mph) and Sorenson finished 10th fastest (29.694 seconds/128.268 mph).  David Stremme wasn’t far behind either, as he wrapped up first practice 14th fastest in the No. 40 Coors Wide Mouth Can Dodge (29.735 seconds/128.091 mph).

Come qualifying time, the Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) Dodges were ready to roll and their trial runs proved just that.  Stremme made the first attempt and initially landed in the 11th spot after making a 29.867-second lap at 127.525 mph.  Sorenson followed up just after his teammate and grabbed the outside pole with a 29.620-second lap at 128.589 mph.  Montoya finished up the CGRFS effort, lapping the Loudon track in 29.661-seconds at 128.411 mph in his career-first stock car appearance at the New Hampshire track.   

As the 49th car made its laps around NHIS, the CGRFS cars sealed their starting-grid positions with Sorenson third, Montoya fifth and Stremme 24th. 

The top five marks Sorenson’s best start to date in his young NNCS career.  Montoya’s top five also made him the top qualifying NNCS rookie of the weekend.

The NNCS teams will have two more practice sessions on Saturday morning and will then go racing in the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at 2:30 p.m. ET Sunday. The race will broadcast on TNT, MRN (radio) and Sirius Satellite Radio channel 128 (1 p.m. ET, LIVE).
 
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5/3/2007
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