Sergio Pena highlighted an action-packed day in Toyota Speedway at Irwindale on Friday as he captured the pole for Saturdays NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown. In his first competition in a NASCAR K&N Pro Series race car, the 16-year-old Pena captured the 21 Means 21 Pole Award presented by Coors Light for the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown with a fast lap of 18.390 seconds (97.879 mph) during qualifying Friday evening. Pena, a member of the Drive for Diversity initiative, earned his way into the event by competing in a qualifying race among his three teammates at Revolution Racing in similarly prepared cars from one of Toyota Speedways entry divisions on Thursday evening. A run-away win in that run-off allowed Pena a shot at competing on Friday. Penas pole run bested that of 2007 NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown winner and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano. Logano qualified second at 18.421 (97.715). The second row for Saturday nights 225-lap NASCAR K&N Pro Series race will consist of Greg Pursley (18.475 seconds/97.429 mph) and Eric Holmes (18.498/97.308). Sean Caisse was the fifth-fastest qualifier (18.520/97.192). Friday nights action at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale concluded with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series last-chance ‘Open’Â race to determine the final six starting positions for Saturdays feature. Michael Self came away victorious while Justin Philpott earned the final slot. The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown is scheduled to run Saturday [Tonight], Jan. 30th and can be seen on SPEED at 10:00pm/et.(NASCAR)(1-30-2010)
