NEWS FLASH: Francis breaks two minutes, captures Sebring pole

February 29, 2020

Ernie Francis Jr. broke the two-minute barrier for the first time in qualifying at Sebring International Raceway, capturing the pole position for the opening Trans Am by Pirelli race of the 2020 campaign.

Riding a streak of six-consecutive Trans Am championships, Francis turned a lap of 1:59.266-seconds in the No. 98 One South Wealth Advisors Ford Mustang. He broke Lawrence Loshak’s year-old mark of 2:00.427-seconds.

Francis will share the front row with 2015 Sebring pole winner Amy Ruman, who ran 2:03.040-seconds in the No. 23 McNichols Co. Chevrolet Corvette.

Adam Andretti qualified third, 2:03.259-seconds in the No. 43 ECC/Anchor Bolt & Screw Dodge Challenger. Joining him on the second row is Simon Gregg, driving the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro.

Eight different teams representing four manufacturers were in the top eight positions.

Chris Dyson did not qualify after his No. 20 Plaid Ford Mustang was badly damaged in an incident late in Saturday morning practice. The New Yorker expects to have the car ready for Sunday’s 100-mile race, which takes the green flag at 11:10 a.m.

Erich Joiner won the pole for the debut of the XGT class, running 2:06.030-seconds in the No. 10 Championship Coffees and Tool Porsche 911 GT3 R. He edged out Ken Thwaits, 2:06.728-seconds in the No. 5 Franklin Road Apparel Audi GT GT3 Ultra, and Marc Montour, 2:07.272-seconds in the No. 27 Montour Ltd Aston Martin Vantage GT3.

Tim Kezman led the SGT competitors with a lap of 2:10-seconds in the No. 44 Lemons of Love Porsche 991 GT3 Cup. Lee Saunders was second, 2:10.340-seconds in the No. 84 Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper, followed by Mark Boden, 2:10.832-seconds in the No. 46 Beverage Flavors International Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup.

Tim Horrell broke the GT track record, 2:15.399-seconds in the No. 45 Breathless Racing Porsche GT4 Clubsport, followed by Steven Davison, 2:16.008-seconds in the No. 22 Davinci Plastic Surgery Aston Martin Vantage, and Billy Griffin, 2:16.528-seconds in the No. 14 Griffin Auto Care/Sheehan’s Towing Mustang.