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Michelin Pilot Challenge

Multimatic Mustang Takes CTSC Pole at Daytona

Multimatic Mustang takes CTSC GS class pole at Daytona…

Photo: John Dagys

Photo: John Dagys

Jade Buford took the overall and GS class pole driving the No. 15 Multimatic Motorsports Ford Mustang Boss 302 R for Friday’s BMW Performance 200, the opening round of the 2014 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge season.

The 15-minute GS session was basically a one-lap shootout after a red flag took up the majority of the session. The session was red flagged due to a track inspection for oil down.

Buford, who captured his seventh career CTSC pole, set a fastest time of 1:55.824. He’ll co-drive with Scott Maxwell in the two-hour, 30-minute race.

“We didn’t have the highest hopes coming into qualifying,” Buford said. “The BMWs and Porsches have been really strong on their own. It would take a little bit of strategy to set up a lap, but we got at least one lap that counted.”

Second was Nick Longhi at 1:56.105 in the No. 13 Rum Bum Racing Porsche 997 entry. Longhi co-drives with Matt Plumb, and was one of only three GS drivers able to set a flying lap before the red flag.

Rounding out the top three was Trent Hindman at 1:56.230 in the No. 46 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3. He’ll share the car with John Edwards.

Fall-Line led both of Wednesday’s practice sessions, and Hindman was in line to lead Practice 3 Thursday morning before being pipped at the last minute by Rum Bum’s No. 03 BMW M3 driven by Hugh Plumb.

A Mustang won this race overall last year, the ROUSH Performance entry co-driven by Jack Roush Jr. and Billy Johnson. Roush Jr. is not back to defend, while Johnson starts outside the top 10 in class in the No. 158 Multimatic Mustang he co-drives with Ian James.

In ST, Jeff Mosing took the class pole in the No. 56 Murillo Racing BMW 328i at a 2:04.769. He’ll co-drive on Friday with Eric Foss.

Chad Gilsinger brought the No. 93 HART Honda Civic Si up to second at 2:04.861, in a car he’ll share with Michael Valiante.

Tyler Cooke, who co-drives with Gregory Liefooghe, clocked in third in the No. 81 Bimmerworld BMW 328i at 2:04.873.

The No. 33 Skullcandy Team Nissan Altima, which won ST in 2013 with co-drivers Vesko Kozarov and Lara Tallman, will line up fourth for the 2014 edition with Kozarov and former Nissan GT Academy winner Bryan Heitkotter behind the wheel.

A 30-minute warmup session will occur Friday at 9:45 a.m. before the green flag drops at 1:45 p.m. ET.

RESULTS: Qualifying

Tony DiZinno (@tonydizinno) is Sportscar365's North American Editor, focusing on coverage of the IMSA-sanctioned championships as well as Pirelli World Challenge. DiZinno also contributes to NBCSports.com and other motorsports outlets. Contact Tony

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