Category: Other Series Racing

COOPERSVILLE, Michigan (June 9, 2011) – – Any champion would tell you that there is a point in their career where they will suffer some bad luck. For Johnny VanDoorn, he’s experienced his fair share of misfortune thus far in 2011 to comprise the remainder of the Champion Racing Association (CRA) season.

The Coopersville, Michigan native though will look to shake the monkey off his back and put his Kaos Motorsports team in contention for Sunday’s Seal Wrap 100 at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

Giving VanDoorn some much needed confidence heading into the weekend will be the refreshment of victory two weeks ago at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway where VanDoorn returned to the cockpit for some Late Model racing and notched his first triumph of the year.

“I’m ready to shake the bad luck and get our season back on track,” offered VanDoorn driver of the No. 61 Paragon Corvette Reproductions / Baker Engineering / JEGS.com Chevrolet. “Sometimes in racing you can’t explain the bad luck. It’s just been one of those years so far, but we’re not giving up by any means. We’re going to Lucas Oil Raceway to show that we mean business.”

The former CRA Rookie of the Year added, “I have to thank everyone on the Kaos Motorsports team for continuing to give 150 percent every day at the shop. We will bounce through these holes and find ourselves where we belong. We also cannot begin to appreciate the support of our sponsors. They have stood behind me and this team despite the bumpy road we’ve had. Hopefully we can turn it around for them and us on Sunday afternoon.”

JVD and Co. continue to be appreciative to have the support of Baker Engineering, Earth Service and Supply, Jegs.com, Magic Transportation, Paragon Corvette Reproductions, Port City Racecars and R and R Wire Loom as sponsors on their Chevrolet bowtie.

The Seal Wrap 100 is set for this Sunday, June 12, 2011. Racing kicks off at 2:30 p.m. with the CRA Super Series feature set to be the third of four racing battles of the day.

In 66 races, VanDoorn has posted six poles, eight wins, 25 top-fives and 47 top-10 finishes including back-to-back CRA championships in 2009 and 2010.

For more information on Johnny VanDoorn, please visit JohnnyVanDoorn.com.

For additional input on the Champion Racing Association (CRA), please click on CRARacing.net.

LONG POND, Pennsylvania (June 9, 2011) – – On the heels of their first career top-10 finish together in only their sixth ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards event last Saturday night at Chicagoland Speedway, Rookie of the Year candidate Maryeve Dufault and her Tony Marks Racing (TMR) are hoping to carry the momentum to Pocono (Pa.) Raceway for Saturday’s running of the Pocono ARCA 200 in the No. 12 VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger.

The recent finish also moved the Sorel, Quebec Canada native inside the top-10 in the championship standings and the freshman team is motivated to keep the climb going in the seventh race of the season.

Dufault has never raced at the tricky 2.5-mile triangle but that doesn’t faze the full-time female ARCA competitor as she’s leaning on the experience of her TMR team to guide her through the first of two races there this season.

“Chicagoland was such a great experience and we want to keep it going this weekend at Pocono,” said Dufault, driver of the No. 12 VR-12 / Dodge Motorsports Dodge Charger. “I’ve never been to Pocono Raceway but there are several members of my team that have. I’m relying on their experience plus what I take in during practice on Friday to help us produce a good run on Saturday.”

The goal remains the same this weekend at Pocono, finish the race.

“We went into Chicagoland with the same goals and expectations that we have for this weekend at Pocono and we left their with a top-10 run. We know we still have a lot to learn, myself included. Whatever we don’t achieve, we’ll look to capitalize on it when we return to Pocono in August.”

She added, “After practice, I’ll talk with some of my other competitors and see if they can help me with any struggles I may be having. What is so great about the ARCA Racing Series is that the veteran drivers are willing and able to help. It’s definitely been appreciated.”

With the halfway mark of the 2011 season on the horizon, Dufault is quick to praise her team for their efforts thus far and looks forward to building a platform with them as the year soldiers on.

“We’ve experienced some ups and downs, but we expected that,” Dufault sounded. “As a team though we kept each other confident, brought fast cars to the race track each and every week and have made strides along the way. We have excellent sponsors in VR-12 and Dodge. As long as continue to make gains and produce finishes we’re all happy with that it will be a season that we’re all proud of.”

As for car owner Tony Marks, he is optimistic about Saturday’s Pocono ARCA 200 but is confident in the ability of his team and driver. “It’s another new track, so I know we’re going to have a little bit of a learning curve,” said Marks. “Maryeve did a great job last weekend at Chicagoland. We just have to go to Pocono this weekend and do the same thing that we did last weekend and (hopefully) the finishes will be what we’re looking for.”

The Pocono ARCA 200 (80 laps / 200 miles) is the seventh of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 52nd ARCA race at Pocono Raceway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, June 10 with a one hour and fifty minute practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin later in the day at 2:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. The event will be televised same-day delayed on SPEED beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST. Live timing and scoring throughout the 1,319th race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com.  All times are local.

For additional information on TMT, Inc. please visit; tmtcompanies.net.

For more on Maryeve Dufault, please log onto Maryeveracing.com.

To learn more about Tony Marks Racing, please click over to Tmr-racing.com.

See the buzz that VR-12 is creating by clicking over to their website at VR-12.com.

Quench yourself with Victory Water, see how at Victoryh20.com.

About Tony Marks Racing (TMR):

Tony Marks Racing was founded in 2009 through the passion for racing of team owner and former driver Tony Marks.  Marks is the successful owner of TMT, Inc., a logistics, warehousing and packaging company with over 400 employees whose customers are mainly comprised of Fortune 100 companies.

Marks began his racing career in 1985 getting behind the wheel of everything from drag racers, Dirt Late Models, SCCA Formula Fords, USAC F2000 Open Wheel and ARCA cars.  Tony personally raced until 2005 amassing numerous wins, championships and track records along the way until he then changed his focus from driver to owner and began building racing programs for his children Jared (16 years old) and Rachel (13 years old).  Under the auspices of TMR, Jared began his racing career in 2002 in quarter midgets and now competes in late model, CRA, ASA and ARCA Series events while Rachel continues her development program racing quarter midgets and Bandoleros.

TMR has been at the forefront of charitable giving through its’ “Driving Against Hunger” and “Million Meal Challenge” race programs which have raised over $200,000 for Forgotten Harvest in 2010 at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events at Michigan International Speedway.

For the NASCAR events TMR along with TMT, Inc. partnered with Forgotten Harvest for the “Million Meal Challenge For Our Kids” which helps to bridge the hunger gap while schools are out of session and feeds 20,000 children per day in the Detroit metro area. Forgotten Harvest was significantly displayed on the entry of Chase Austin during both the Truck and Nationwide events at Michigan International Speedway along with logos of “Million Meal Challenge” sponsors Walgreen’s, United Race Group, Holyfield’s Choice Alka-Power Water and Vitamin Spice.  Evander Holyfield was also instrumental in the challenge, acting as Grand Marshall for the August race and announcing his “Fight Against Hunger” on behalf of Forgotten Harvest.

As the first race team to “Drive Against Hunger” through their partnership with Forgotten Harvest, TMR plans to continue their alliance with Forgotten Harvest and once again “Drive Against Hunger” during the 2011 season.

LONG POND, Pennsylvania (June 8, 2011) – – Slatington, Pennsylvania native Kory Rabenold will return to ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards competition this weekend after a two-year hiatus in Saturday’s Pocono ARCA 200 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.

The return of Kory Rabenold Racing (KRR) and Rabenold himself to the track couldn’t have come at a better time. Leaning on his hometown track and the gracious support of his family-owned team, Rabenold looks for a solid finish that could potentially open some doors for future races down the road.

Rabenold in his No. 03 RabenoldRacing.com / Buzzy’s Auto BodyChevrolet Impala will make his 24th career ARCA start and seventh overall at the 2.5-mile triangle. In those previous six outings, the 22-year old has delivered three top-20 finishes including a solid 12th in his inaugural Pocono (Pa.) Raceway debut in 2007.

“We’re just thankful to be heading to the track this weekend,” said Rabenold. “It’s because a lot of dedication, time and effort that we’re able to get on the track this weekend. We don’t have a lot of sponsorship but in order to get sponsors, you have to be visible and try and stand out from the rest. That’s our goal this weekend. We’re going to the track with a story and hoping for a good finish that could allow us to come back in August.”

With father Buzzy Rabenold calling the shots as crew chief, the family-owned team knits together for round seven of the season knowing that returning to Pocono (Pa.) Raceway on their own platform is exactly the way he started his ARCA career.

“When I first came to Pocono in 2007, it was our family owned team. We had some sponsorship because the economy was better. We qualified 22nd, stayed out of trouble and finished 12th. It was a good day. Hopefully we can stay out of trouble and have a similar performance on Saturday.”

This family-owned team turned to another ARCA family-owned team in the ARCA Racing Series for some advice on their automobile. Sheltra Motorsports, the 2010 ARCA Racing Series championship organization recently assisted KRR.

“We’re extremely thankful to Jon (Wolfe) and Sheltra Motorsports for giving us some assistance. It’s always nice to have a caliber team like that, take some time for us. We may not have the same type of equipment that they won the championship with, but one thing is for sure, we have their same determination and passion!”

Kory Rabenold Racing would like to thank the following local marketing partners who have leaped aboard the team’s Chevrolet bowtie for Saturday’s contest: Buzzy’s Auto Body, Dynamite Woodworking, Mama’s Pizza of Slatington PA, Springhouse Eye Care, Ecco Communications, Brooksy’s Beers & Barrels Drive Thru, Interstate Batteries of Allentown and Thomson’s Meat Market.

The Pocono ARCA 200 (80 laps / 200 miles) is the seventh of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 52nd ARCA race at Pocono Raceway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, June 10 with a one hour and fifty minute practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin later in the day at 2:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. The event will be televised same-day delayed on SPEED beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST. Live timing and scoring throughout the 1,319th race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com.  All times are local.

LONG POND, Pennsylvania (June 8, 2011) – – Slatington, Pennsylvania native Kory Rabenold will return to ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards competition this weekend after a two-year hiatus in Saturday’s Pocono ARCA 200 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.

The return of Kory Rabenold Racing (KRR) and Rabenold himself to the track couldn’t have come at a better time. Leaning on his hometown track and the gracious support of his family-owned team, Rabenold looks for a solid finish that could potentially open some doors for future races down the road.

Rabenold in his No. 03 RabenoldRacing.com / Buzzy’s Auto BodyChevrolet Impala will make his 24th career ARCA start and seventh overall at the 2.5-mile triangle. In those previous six outings, the 22-year old has delivered three top-20 finishes including a solid 12th in his inaugural Pocono (Pa.) Raceway debut in 2007.

“We’re just thankful to be heading to the track this weekend,” said Rabenold. “It’s because a lot of dedication, time and effort that we’re able to get on the track this weekend. We don’t have a lot of sponsorship but in order to get sponsors, you have to be visible and try and stand out from the rest. That’s our goal this weekend. We’re going to the track with a story and hoping for a good finish that could allow us to come back in August.”

With father Buzzy Rabenold calling the shots as crew chief, the family-owned team knits together for round seven of the season knowing that returning to Pocono (Pa.) Raceway on their own platform is exactly the way he started his ARCA career.

“When I first came to Pocono in 2007, it was our family owned team. We had some sponsorship because the economy was better. We qualified 22nd, stayed out of trouble and finished 12th. It was a good day. Hopefully we can stay out of trouble and have a similar performance on Saturday.”

This family-owned team turned to another ARCA family-owned team in the ARCA Racing Series for some advice on their automobile. Sheltra Motorsports, the 2010 ARCA Racing Series championship organization recently assisted KRR.

“We’re extremely thankful to Jon (Wolfe) and Sheltra Motorsports for giving us some assistance. It’s always nice to have a caliber team like that, take some time for us. We may not have the same type of equipment that they won the championship with, but one thing is for sure, we have their same determination and passion!”

Kory Rabenold Racing would like to thank the following local marketing partners who have leaped aboard the team’s Chevrolet bowtie for Saturday’s contest: Buzzy’s Auto Body, Dynamite Woodworking, Mama’s Pizza of Slatington PA, Springhouse Eye Care, Ecco Communications, Brooksy’s Beers & Barrels Drive Thru, Interstate Batteries of Allentown and Thomson’s Meat Market.

The Pocono ARCA 200 (80 laps / 200 miles) is the seventh of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 52nd ARCA race at Pocono Raceway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, June 10 with a one hour and fifty minute practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin later in the day at 2:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. The event will be televised same-day delayed on SPEED beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST. Live timing and scoring throughout the 1,319th race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com.  All times are local.

LONG POND, Pennsylvania (June 8, 2011) – – Mark Gibson Racing (MGR), a long-time fixture in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will return to competition Saturday at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway after a brief sabbatical with a freshman driver behind MGR’s symbolic No. 59 Dodge Charger in the Pocono ARCA  200.

Buster Graham, a former Hydroplane racer will make his inaugural ARCA Racing Series start at one of the sanction’s toughest tracks. Thankfully, the experience of crew chief and car owner Mark Gibson gives the newly turned pavement driver some much welcomed confidence and appreciation heading to the track described as the “Tricky Triangle.”

“It’s completely night and day between boat racing and stock car racing but, I’m having a blast,” said Graham, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana. “Mark (Gibson) has mentally prepared me for Pocono this weekend. I hear its one heck of a track. I’m ready though. I’m going in with an open mind and eager to learn and produce a good finish.”

To prepare for his transition to ARCA, Gibson and Graham have been competing in the ever potent USARacing Pro Cup Series where the duo has competed in three events thus far in 2011. Despite his limited experience behind the wheel of a stock car, Graham has impressed producing three top-15 runs including a top-10 run at Dillon (S.C.) Motor Speedway in his first ever stock car contest.

“Mark forewarned me that the USAR Series is very competitive and boy was he ever right,” the former Supercross competitor explained. “I cannot tell you though the input and experience I’ve learned in just a short amount of time. I wouldn’t be coming to Pocono this weekend if Mark (Gibson) didn’t think I was ready.”

Batter’s Dream will adorn the primary marketing role of Graham’s No. 59 entry in the seventh race of the 2011 ARCA season.

Batter’s Dream is an automated ball feeding system (pitching machine) that allows baseball hitters and softball hitters to maximize time in the batting cage by getting more quality cuts without fixing a tee. One of the key benefits of the Batter’s Dream batting machines is that it allows batters the freedom to focus on rhythm, stance, timing and swing speed without the need for a second person. Simply put, Batter’s Dream is the most effective, simple and easy-to-use soft toss system ever invented to help improve a hitter’s mechanics and increase their batting average.

“I’m thankful to my father in-law Don Mashburn and everyone at Batter’s Dream for jumping aboard for my ARCA debut this weekend. It truly is an amazing product. We’re going to actually bring it to the track and have some fun with it. Hopefully we can bat our way to a good finish.”

When asked of his goal for Saturday afternoon, Graham remained heavily optimistic.  “I would be satisfied with a top-20, but be thrilled with a top-15. Mark has the experience at Pocono, so I think it will be good to tell him what I’m feeling and he can help me translate it in the car. Overall, it will be a good weekend if we make gains start to finish and take the checkered flag.”

Gibson, a four time winner in ARCA is looking forward to returning “home” and showing Graham the ropes.

“The ARCA Racing Series has been so good to me and my career over the last couple of decades. It’s nice to be coming back at Pocono. Buster obviously has a lot to learn, but he accepts that and is eager to please. As long as he stays focused and confident in himself, we’ll be fine this weekend.”

The Pocono ARCA 200 (80 laps / 200 miles) is the seventh of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 52nd ARCA race at Pocono Raceway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, June 10 with a one hour and fifty minute practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin later in the day at 2:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. The event will be televised same-day delayed on SPEED beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST. Live timing and scoring throughout the 1,319th race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com.  All times are local.

For more on Batter’s Dream, please visit Battersdream.com.

LONG POND, Pennsylvania (June 8, 2011) – – Despite a less than desirable finish last Saturday night at Chicagoland Speedway, Matt Merrell and his Win-Tron Racing team throttle back to Pocono (Pa.) Raceway for Saturday’s Pocono ARCA 200 looking to better Merrell’s previous best finish at the 2.5-mile triangle in 2009.

Should Merrell complete the task in his No. 32 Champion Oil Toyota Camry, he will become the second first-time winner in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards this season. In 2009, Merrell surprised many in the garage with back-to-back top-five finishes in his only two Pocono (Pa.) Raceway starts.

After delivering a fifth place finish in the June event, Merrell returned in August with a vengeance and nearly pulled off the upset but had to settle for second behind eventual race winner and series champion Justin Lofton.

“I’ve had Pocono circled on my calendar,” said the Portland, Texas native. “I just love that place. Some drivers love it, some hate but it’s a track that just fits me perfectly. I’d like to put together another strong finish for Win-Tron Racing and Champion Oil.”

The 26-year old added, “It’s a place where you need to have a lot of finesse and some big horsepower. The front straightaway is so long that it provides a perfect passing zone if you can get the run off turn four that you need. I know Mike (Chaffee, crew chief) knows what I’m looking for in our No. 32 Champion Oil Toyota Camry.

After six races, Merrell secures sixth in the championship standings but is a mere 40 points from sitting in third.

“We were jolted in the point standings after our bad luck at Chicagoland Speedway last weekend, so we need to rebound in a big way. A win would definitely help that mission.”

Other than a last lap spin at New Jersey Motorsports Park from another competitor which resulted in a 14th place finish and the blown right front tire last Saturday night at Chicagoland Speedway which resulted in a frustrating 24th place run, Merrell and his Lakeville, Minnesota-based team have muscled three top-fives and four top-10 finishes still signifying that the team is championship caliber.

“We may be a little down, but we’re not out and we’re not going down without a fight,” offered Merrell. “This is a phenomenal team who never gives up, even when it’s easier to. Pocono comes at a perfect opportunity to put our season back on track.”

Nate Thiesse, co-owner of Win-Tron Racing offered his thoughts on Saturday’s race. “I know this is a race that Matt has been counting the days down. We all were impressed on how quick Matt adapted to such a difficult track. We’ve had some misfortune the last two races, but I couldn’t agree more with Matt (Merrell) that Pocono is the right place to put the Win-Tron Racing team back on the radar screen.”   The first of two Pocono contests of the year signifies the sixth race that Champion Oil will heed the role as the primary sponsor for the Lakeville, Minnesota-based team. Headquartered in Clinton, Missouri Champion Oil, a division of Champion Brands LLC produces and blends more than 300 products including fuel, oil and engine additives and lubricants for the automotive, heavy truck, agricultural and specialty markets. Merrell will make his 20th career start in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards at Pocono Raceway this weekend. In his previous 19 outings, Merrell has eight top-fives including runner-up finishes of second at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway and Pocono (Pa.) Raceway (August) in 2009 and 10 top-10s. His best start position for Win-Tron Racing occurred at the tricky triangle of Pocono (Pa.) Raceway where he qualified his No. 32 CollinsHope.org Dodge Charger second in June of 2009. The Pocono ARCA 200 (80 laps / 200 miles) is the seventh of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 52nd ARCA race at Pocono Raceway is a two-day show. Practice begins Friday, June 10 with a one hour and fifty minute practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin later in the day at 2:05 p.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 11. The event will be televised same-day delayed on SPEED beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST. Live timing and scoring throughout the 1,319th race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com.  All times are local.

Further information including driver opportunities with Win-Tron Racing is available by visiting win-tronracing.com or contacting Nate Thiesse at 952.469.1839.

For more on Champion Oil, Champion Brands LLC and their products, please logon to championbrands.com or championsusechampion.com.

ModSpace Ford looking for that ‘Hometown Edge’ at Pocono Raceway

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 7, 2011) — The only thing better than coming to the race track Andy Belmont Racing considers home is being at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway with momentum.

After a successful start in the first six races in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, Chad McCumbee driver of the No. 1 ModSpace Ford will try to add a visit to victory lane to the teams return “home” to Pennsylvania this weekend.

McCumbee and ABR may have a hometown advantage entering the Pocono ARCA 200. After all, Belmont’s racing career started in Langhorne, Pa., and the track is the home track of his team sponsor, the Modular Space Corporation located in Berwyn.

The homecoming for team owners Andy and Jennifer Belmont should produce one of the more vocal fan reactions they will see this year. Aside from being the hometown boy, it was in Pennsylvania where his 1992 NASCAR Cup Series team was housed before moving south to North Carolina.

“I am very excited about our momentum going into what has always been our home track,” Belmont said. “Jennifer and I are truly honored to have this group of guys working on the No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion. Wayne Carroll, crew chief, has done a phenomenal job with this team.”

The No. 1 ModSpace Ford has been consistently quick all season, and at the 2.5-mile triangle that is Pocono, expect a blue blur of a race car to again challenge the status quo and for McCumbee to dust off the record books in his sponsor’s backyard.

McCumbee made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at the track behind the wheel of the No. 45 Petty Enterprises Dodge in 2007, but he is no stranger to the “Tricky Triangle,” site of Saturday’s race.

“It has been one of my best race tracks,” McCumbee said. “It is a place that has been pivotal in the forward movement of my racing career. It is a real special place.”

The former Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series driver has made 10 total starts at the track and is a former winner there in the ARCA Racing Series in 2007.

His win in 2007 was his second career win in the series and with ABR. In six career ARCA Racing Series starts there, McCumbee has four top-fives and four top-10s. Last year, he finished 17th, qualifying 18th in the 50-lap event. McCumbee has an average finish of 7.0 and an average start of 12.7 at Pocono.

According to Supply, N.C. native, he would like nothing better than to put on a great show for ModSpace and his owner’s home track.

“The race at Pocono Raceway will be exciting for ModSpace, and the ABR team,” William Mann director of motorsports for ModSpace said. “The road-course training that Chad has done this season will come in handy this weekend. This track can be very challenging with all three turns having different degrees of banking.

“Andy and Jennifer Belmont always do a great job in preparing their teams cars. Chad can run strong! We look forward to seeing Chad back on the podium.”

McCumbee comes into Round 7 of the 2011 ARCA Racing Series schedule at Pocono ready to build upon the momentum he’s created through the first third of the season. He seems to be on track to a pretty good season. McCumbee finished third at New Jersey Motorsports Park and followed up with a fourth-place result last weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. He is third in the point standings, currently tied with former ABR driver Grant Enfinger.

Belmont’s family, friends and hometown fans will see his team hit the track for practice Friday at 10 a.m. (ET). Menards Pole Qualifying Presented by Ansell for Saturday’s Pocono ARCA 200 is set for 2:05 p.m. (ET). The green flag expected at 1:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday for the Pocono ARCA 200.

Cornelius, NC – The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards heads to Pocono Raceway for the first time this season for the Pocono ARCA 200. Pocono is easily considered to be one of the more difficult tracks on the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. It has been referred to as “The Tricky Triangle” over the years, and with just cause. Each turn at the famed track is designed to be distinctively different from one another, which produces some challenging qualities for race teams.

Frank Kimmel knows all too well how tricky Pocono Raceway can be. He has won there on three occasions in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since 1997, but he suffered a horrendous crash in 2008 that left him battered, bruised and in the hospital. Most men would have been rattled after such an event but not the nine time ARCA Racing Series Champion Frank Kimmel. His confidence never wavered. Since the crash he has collected three top 10 and two top 5 finishes in four starts.

“Pocono’s a hard track to get around, yet very fast. As a driver, you’ve almost got to anticipate getting a little frustrated there, because of each corner being different. If you can run smooth through two out of the three turns you’ll probably end up with a nice finish,” commented Kimmel.

Frank Kimmel will be behind the wheel of the Roush-Yates powered No. 44 Ansell-Menards Ford this coming Saturday. Last weekend Kimmel drove his Ford to a solid 7th place finish at Chicagoland Speedway after a lengthy rain-delay postponed the race late into the night. As it currently stands, Frank sits 2nd in the overall ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards point standings. Kimmel only trails the current leader, Ty Dillon, by 125 points.

“There will be several folks from Ansell at the track watching the race this weekend. It would be awesome if we could win on Saturday and have them in victory lane to celebrate afterwards”, said Frank. “I feel very fortunate to have two fantastic partners in Menards and Ansell that continue to support me every race weekend”.

Currently, Frank Kimmel ranks fourth on the all-time career wins list at Pocono Raceway for the ARCA Racing Series. On Saturday June 11th, he returns to the two-and-a-half mile triangle, where he looks to climb that list with his fourth win. It won’t be an easy task, but Frank will be up to the challenge.

Watch for Frank Kimmel as he goes for his fourth win at Pocono Raceway driving the No. 44 Ansell-Menards Ford on June 11th for the Pocono ARCA 200 in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Also, be sure to visit a Menards location to purchase your next pair of Ansell Gloves. More information can be found at www.frankkimmel.com http://www.ansellracingus.com/ www.ansellracingus.com, http://www.menardsracing.com/ www.menardsracing.com and http://www.arcaracing.com/ www.arcaracing.com.

Additionally, be sure to visit your local Menards in Central Indiana to take advantage of the in-store ticket sales promotion for the Ansell Protective Gloves 200, which begins June 1 and runs through July 27. In addition to the discounted, advance ticket sales promotion, the drive-to-retail contest promo will run, in stores, July 1 through July 20.

The Grand Prize winner gets to waive the green flag to start the Ansell Protective Gloves 200. Winning entry also receives: two (2) Suite Passes for the July 28 ARCA/USAC double-header at LOR, two (2) Suite Passes for the July 29 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at LOR, two (2) Suite Passes for the July 30th NASCAR Nationwide Series race at LOR, and two (2) Suite Passes for the August 1st NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

First Prize (3 Winners) receive tickets to the July 28th ARCA/USAC double-header at LOR, July 29th NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series race at LOR, and the July 30th NASCAR Nationwide Series race at LOR. Second Prize (10 Winners) will receive a pair of Ansell Gloves.