March 21^st, 2003

`Chook raffle’ takes Luff from pole to fourth

THE ballot draw used to allocate grid positions in the V8Brutes category has once again relegated a pole-winner down the order, this time it’s reigning champ Warren Luff.

A three-pronged attack by South Australian brewer Coopers Brewery, now teamed up with title front runners Nilsson Motorsport, is looking to be a fruitful one with Luff the fastest qualifier.

In three hot laps, Luff posted a time in the green Coopers Pale Ale Ford Falcon AU XR8 that nobody could better. His 1 min 40.1033, which was 1.2 seconds faster than his 2002 pole position time, left the champ slightly disappointed as he was eager to break into a 39.

“But hey, what’s it really matter? The chook lotto grid draw will determine our starting positions,” Luff acknowledged.

He was right of course, and the ballot draw saw local driver Gary Baxter claim pole position for Holden.

Damien White (Falcon) was the second-fastest qualifier for tomorrow's seven-lap first race, ahead of Baxter and Charles Kovacs (Holden).

Luff will start race one out of position four, and 11^th in the second race.