Former series champion Jay Payne shattered the Gateway International
Raceway elapsed time record Saturday night with a 5.920-second moonshot
that highlighted the opening round of the JEGS ProMod Challenge.
Payne's pass was the quickest of his career and is second only to Josh
Hernandez's 5.914, which was posted last year in Gainesville, Fla.
Should Payne better Hernandez's year-old mark during Sunday's action,
he'll pick up a valuable 20 bonus points in the JEGS standings, which
have tightened considerably in the last seven days. Hernandez himself
will have the first chance to slow Payne and his Valvoline Camaro down
as the two champs tangle in Round 2.
Season-long leader Joe Baker is still on top after beating Taylor
Lastor in Round 1, but Payne, Tony Pontieri, and Eddie Ware could all
pass him Sunday if the wins go their way.
The most interesting match-up of the quarterfinals will pit Pontieri
against Baker with the No. 1 ranking on the line. Pontieri was second
quickest of the first round with a 5.980 so Baker, who got by Taylor
Lastor with a 6.324, will need to rise to the challenge.