Photography by Larry Lawrence
DU QUOIN, IL (July 4, 2015) – Bryan Smith topped the charts in timed qualifying Saturday evening at the Du Quoin State Fairground Mile. Smith clocked a time of 35.961 seconds on his factory back Crosley Brands Kawasaki to earn the best time of the two qualifying sessions. Defending champ Jared Mees was second on the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson/Rogers Racing. The biggest surprise of timed qualifying was Shawn Baer taking third on the SBR/Straight Arrow KTM LC8 with a 36.139 seconds.
“Things are coming around pretty well,” said Smith, who was the only rider able to dip into the 35s. “The second session got pretty dry and I wasn’t fastest in that. I knew that session was going to be slower so I didn’t go out and hang it out too much. It’s going to be interesting. There’s a little bit of rubber down, but it’s really slick. The groove will come in, but I imagine everyone is going to be chasing that little bit of fluff on the outside.”
Mees is leading the series by three points over Sammy Halbert. New daddy Kenny Coolbeth, Jr. is third in the standings. Smith is hoping to narrow his gap on the lead. He comes into Du Quoin in sixth, but just 14 points out of first.
Du Quoin (Ill.) Mile Top 10 Qualifying times
1 42 Bryan Smith Kawasaki EX650 35.961
2 1 Jared Mees Harley-Davidson 36.139
3 32 Shawn Baer KTM 990 Super Duke 36.228
4 6 Brad Baker Harley-Davidson 36.235
5 17 Henry Wiles Harley-Davidson 36.857
6 7 Sammy Halbert Kawasaki 740 36.947
7 15 Nichole Mees Harley-Davidson 36.977
8 23 Jeffrey Carver Jr. Kawasaki 740 37.033
9 59 Willie McCoy Harley-Davidson 37.039
10 77 Kyle Johnson Kawasaki EX650 37.065
