The need for even more speed

NEWTON - Being No. 1 to start a race isn't good enough for ARCA Series points leader Ty Dillon.

Dillon captured the pole for the second straight year at the ARCA Series Prairie Meadows 200 at Iowa Speedway, but even with only a few hours between Saturday's qualifying and race there was still work to be done to earn his fifth win this season.

The 19-year-old driver for Richard Childress Racing was clocked at 134.277 miles per hour for qualifying, which is good for 23.459 a second lap. It was the fourth pole of this season and fifth of his ARCA career, consisting of 14 starts. His first ARCA start was at the Iowa Speedway last year, and he placed second.

"We've had a fast car as soon as we unloaded," said Dillon, who mentioned Iowa Speedway is one of his favorite tracks. "Being as excited to come to this race track helped out.

"All our guys are pumped up."

Plenty of work has to be done between time trials and the main event. The team constantly tries to alter the car for maximum performance.

"We were a little tight in qualifying so we're going to adjust a little bit," Dillon said. "Just try to keep getting  faster. We can't quit working on this car. Even though its really fast, we have some things we can work on to get even better.

Dillon has his own preparations during the short window between qualifying  and the green flag. With temperatures rising well above 90 degrees, staying hydrated is big along with identifying a game plan for competition.

"Take a power nap," Dillon said with a laugh. "Try to cool down and get as much fluids as I can in my body.

"Just get relaxed and take everything slow, trying to get in my head what's going to go on in the race. "

Dillon dominated the field, leading the first 111 laps and 193 of the 200 total laps. Chris Buescher, who finished third, was the only other driver to lead.