Lyn-Z Fastest In Better Half Dash Qualifying

Defending Better Half Dash Champion Lyn-Z Pastrana clocked the fastest time in Monday’s qualifying session and will be a favorite to win back-to-back Better Half Dash on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s frontstretch quarter-mile during Bojangles’ Pole Night Thursday.

Pastrana, wife of NASCAR Nationwide Series driver and action sports superstar Travis Pastrana, said she is happy with her qualifying effort, a 20.257 second lap, but also aware of how much different the racing will be under more crowded race conditions.

“It feels pretty good to win qualifying. Having the fastest qualifying lap will definitely give me a little confidence for the race, but I think this last practice session – where we do some mock racing – will really set the tone,” she said. “Driving out there by yourself is one thing, but driving out there with all the girls is a whole other deal.”

Pastrana was followed in qualifying by Michelle Gilliland, Ashley Stremme, Wendy Venturini and Heidi Stoddard to round out the top five. The remaining drivers, in order of qualifying times were Gina Cope, Kristen Yeley, Amy Gordon, Jessica Parks and Melanie Self.

Despite a qualifying effort more than three-tenths of a second ahead of second place, Pastrana won’t know until Thursday if she’ll be sitting on the pole when the 25-lap charity race supporting Motor Racing Outreach and Speedway Children’s Charities goes green. That honor will be determined by fan donations. Fans can make a donation to their favorite Better Half Dash driver at www.betterhalfdash.com. The driver with the most individual donations will have the option of starting on the pole.

The Better Half Dash is scheduled to go green at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday as part of an action-packed Bojangles’ Pole Night that also includes NASCAR Whelen Modified drivers taking the track for the UNOH Southern Slam 150 and drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying to set the field for Saturday’s Bank of America 500.

Tickets are still available for all October race events at Charlotte Motor Speedway and can be purchased online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Fans can catch all three days of racing, including Bojangles’ Pole Night, the Dollar General 300 and the Bank of America 500 with packages starting at just $99.