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  • Leilani Munter Combines Racing and Dolphin Passions

    Leilani Munter Combines Racing and Dolphin Passions

    [media-credit name=”Photo courtesy of Phil Cavali ” align=”alignright” width=”260″][/media-credit]While passions run high as the ARCA racers take to the track for their season opener at Daytona, Leilani Munter is not only looking forward to her time behind the wheel but cannot wait to share the cause on the hood of her race car.

    The driver of the No. 12 Tony Marks Racing Dodge Charger is combining her passion for speed, as well as her commitment to calling attention to the plight of dolphins by featuring the documentary ‘The Cove’ on her race car.

    “I’m just passionate about a lot of things, like the environment and clean energy,” Munter said. “The way that I found ‘The Cove’ is that I saw the movie a couple of years ago.”

    “As soon as I saw it, I was so moved by it,” Munter continued. “As soon as it ended, I looked at my husband and said “We’re going to Japan to help to end this.”

    “That was my call to action,” Munter said. “My husband and I traveled over there in 2010. I made two trips in 2010 and then another trip over there for three weeks this past September.”

    What Munter saw in her travels to Japan and the cove shook her to her core and became the reason for her desire to combine her racing passion with her call to save the dolphins. Munter’s passion for the issue was most evident as she recalled the story of ‘The Cove.’

    “There is a small cove and the dolphins are migrating past the area,” Munter said. “Thirteen boats go out and bang on poles in the water, which scares the dolphins into the cove.”

    “The dolphins are trapped overnight in the cove,” Munter continued. “Then dolphin trainers from all over the world come and pick out the dolphins they want to go train at dolphin parks.”

    “But what happens to the remaining dolphins is that they end up slaughtering all of them for food.”

    During her trips, Munter is ‘on the ground’ volunteering. She has even risked her own safety to share her concerns for the plight of the dolphins in the cove.

    “I filmed the first slaughter of the year this year,” Munter said. “And I got caught in the typhoon and was without water for five days in Japan.”

    “It was pretty interesting having no drinking water and no showers,” Munter continued. “So, I’ve had some pretty intense experiences over there.”

    “I just became passionate about it and the more that I got to know Ric O’Barry (dolphin activist, former trainer of Flipper, and star of the movie), the more I wanted to help and to get everyone to see the movie.”

    Prior to the Daytona race, Munter has devoted a great deal of time to continuing to try to keep the academy award winning film, as well as the plight of the dolphins, in the public eye.

    “This summer, we did a screening of the movie in San Francisco, who donated the theatre to us,” Munter said. “My brother-in-law, who is a musician with the ‘Grateful Dead’, played a few sets so a lot of their fans came out.”

    “This past December, we went up the Empire State building, as the owner saw the film and was moved to help,” Munter continued. “So, on December 9th, we lit up the Empire State building in red in honor of the dolphins who had died at ‘The Cove.’

    “It was there that I began to think about how cool it would be to have a race car and really get this message in front of the race fans,” Munter said. “One of the key things we want people to understand and take away from the film is the tie to dolphin captivity and the slaughter.”

    “The take away message, besides watching the movie which is my number one call to action, is to not support dolphin captivity and dolphin parks,” Munter continued. “By doing that, you are indirectly supporting the dolphin slaughter.”

    “We want to help fans making the connection between going to see dolphins jump through hoops and the slaughter that occurs for all the other dolphins in the cove,” Munter said. “It is a complicated issue but we hope that we can help fans understand.”

    Munter is not only educating her fans but also her own race team to the dolphin slaughter issue.

    “We held a screening at Tony Marks Racing to help the team and crew know the message,” Munter said. “It was fantastic. One of the guys came to talk to me afterwards and shared that he had no idea that was going on until he saw the film.”

    “That’s something that we want to accomplish and to get people to see the film because that’s how we’ll end the slaughter.”

    Munter knows that the strength of stock car racing, combined with being at Daytona, is one of the best ways to get her message out. In addition, she is thrilled to drive at the storied track and fully intends to take her ‘Cove’ car to Victory Lane.

    “What better way than NASCAR to get a movie out in front of a large group of people all at once,” Munter said. “And Daytona is the best venue ever.”

    “I’m so excited to drive this car,” Munter continued. “I have a good, fast race car and this means more than anything to me. It’s a very special race to me.”

    Munter and Tony Marks Racing currently have a one race deal for the Daytona ARCA race. But they are focused on gaining not only sponsorship but calling attention to other causes in upcoming races as well.

    “We’re definitely focused on ‘The Cove’ car, which is a one race deal,” Munter said. “But Tony Marks and I are hoping to go to at least the nine televised ARCA races that are left. I’m actively talking to sponsors to be involved in that program.”

    “We want to continue to use the race car to send messages,” Munter continued. “We want it to be a vehicle to call people to action and get them to think about things.”

    Munter has one more reason to look forward to her Daytona race. In addition to her passion for racing and dolphins, she will also be celebrating her birthday.

    “I’m looking forward to having a chance to run up front and finish the race in first place,” Munter said. “I don’t think I’d ever be able to top winning the Daytona race in ‘The Cove’ car on my birthday.”

    “But for this weekend, it’s all about the dolphins,” Munter said. “We want to make the world a better place.”

     

  • Frank Kimmel Ready To Go After 10th ARCA Championship

    Frank Kimmel Ready To Go After 10th ARCA Championship

    [media-credit id=4 align=”alignleft” width=”112″][/media-credit]As the ARCA Racing Series enters its 60th year of competition, the history books get re-opened to view how the series has grown. Through the last 20 years, one of the drivers that has stood out is Frank Kimmel.

    Going into 2012, Kimmel has his sights set on his 10th ARCA championship as he won the championship in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 while leading 10,177 laps in 191 races (most of any active driver). Kimmel will look to increase on both of his records, driving the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Toyota with the same colors, yet with a new team in 2012.

    Kimmel announced near the end of last year that he had signed a deal to drive with ThorSport Racing, who will expand their operation to the ARCA Series. ThorSport Racing had run primarily as a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team, finishing second in points last year with driver Johnny Sauter. This marks the first time that they will be in the ARCA Series.

    Beyond the goal of winning the championship, Kimmel is also focused on another record – most all-time career victories in the series. Currently, Iggy Katona holds the record with 79. Kimmel, meanwhile, currently has 74 wins going into the 2012 season.

    “Every year I get asked what’s important to me to achieve for the season,” Kimmel, who finished third in points last season, says. “Winning Daytona is first on the list for me, and it’s important for my entire family. Being the first race for ThorSport Racing, everyone’s working really hard to achieve some wins – period. Daytona would be great and such an accomplishment, but we all know what can happen there. I can honestly remember racing for two years without ever winning at all, and that’s why it means a lot to have 74 wins under my belt now. The first time at Toledo was such a big thing for us. I have a lot to prove this year to win again, since it has been three years since I’ve been to Victory Lane. Iggy Katona is a huge hero of mine; he raced against my dad for years. He’s the man. It’s a privilege to be in the same class of driver as such an ARCA Racing legend as Iggy.”

    Beyond just the win record, Kimmel is also closing in on the most career poles award. Katona currently holds that with 43, while Kimmel has 42. One of Kimmel’s sponsors, Ansell, will be giving out the trophies this year, along with Menards.

    Throughout his career, Kimmel has 233 top-five finishes and 300 top-10 finishes, but also beyond the statistics, could say a lot about ARCA’s history.

    “Getting the first win is the most amazing achievement,” he says. “I raced many years with Terry Shirley in the 02 car, and we only won one. When Terry left to be a crew chief, I didn’t have a team to drive for at all. I thought I’d be driving late models. Then I was picked up by Dan Faldorf and got with Larry Clement. We ended up putting a hodge-podge of races together by the skin of our teeth, and with blood, sweat, and tears, we ended up fifth in driver points and didn’t even go to every race. When we came back the next year and ran full-time for Larry, being manager, driver, and everything, we were second in the points, so we kept climbing. Then the following year, in 1998, we won our first championship. It just goes to show that the competition is always so fierce, it takes a lot to get there and it means so much. Every one of my nine championship trophies have people and a great story behind them. In my tenure of ARCA Racing Series driving, every year is a great battle. It’s going to be a lot of fun competition in 2012.”

  • ARCA: Mikey Kile Joins Andy Belmont Racing For 2012

    ARCA: Mikey Kile Joins Andy Belmont Racing For 2012

    Andy Belmont Racing announced today that Mikey Kile will be driving the No. 14 Andy Belmont Racing Ford for the entire 2012 ARCA season, beginning with the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on February 18th at Daytona International Speedway.

    “This is definitely an exciting time for ABR,” Belmont said. “I have watched Mikey progress each season as a driver and am confident that we will be in the hunt all year. I am also proud that he will be driving our No. 14 Ford this season. The tradition of that number goes back to my days as a modified driver in Pennsylvania.”

    Kile began his career racing in go-karts, before moving up to the modified and late model ranks.

    In 2009, the Westlake, La. native made his NASCAR debut, making six starts in the Camping World Truck Series for Brad Keselwoski Racing. In those six starts, he had three top-15 finishes.

    In 2010, he ran the full schedule for Venturini Motorsports. He got his first ARCA win at Michigan International Speedway.

    “I would say that’s the biggest win of my career – in ARCA,” Kile said of the Michigan win last March. “In 2010 in June, winning the race at Michigan and leading a bunch of laps at Pocono and just running upfront. Mainly, winning the race at Michigan is the best moment so far.”

    Along with the win, he scored two Menards Pole Awards presented by Ansell, seven top-fives and 15 top-10 finishes on his way to finishing fifth in points in 2010.

    “I had a good year in 2010, but I believe that we have the pieces in place to compete for the 2012 ARCA championship,” Kile said. “Andy has done a great job in putting together a quality team and I am really looking forward to the season opener in Daytona.”

    Kile ran a partial schedule for Venturini Motorsports in 2011, while running some races for Turner Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

    For Andy Belmont Racing, they had a good 2011 season, as they won at Springfield, finished fifth in points and won the Bill France Crown Award.

  • Countdown to Daytona: 80

    Countdown to Daytona: 80

    In the countdown to Daytona, there are just 80 more days until the green flag waves. While there have been many drivers in the No. 80 car, including Dave Blaney, Joe Ruttman, Mike Bliss, Randy LaJoie, Carl Long, Ted Christopher, Mario Gosselin, Andy Hillenburg and Aric Almirola, the driver with the most time behind the wheel of that car number was without a doubt Jimmy Horton.

    [media-credit name=”Photo Credit: Curtis Palmer/Wikipedia” align=”alignright” width=”266″][/media-credit]Horton, a driver born and bred in New Jersey, raced in 48 NASCAR Cup races in eight seasons. He was behind the wheel of the No. 80 for 22 races, ranging from 1984 to 1994.

    “It was a good deal,” Horton said of his ride in the No. 80 car. “We started out in the No. 85 and then turned it over to the No. 80 because we couldn’t have No. 85 when we ran Cup.”

    “We started out running Cup with it but backed off a little bit to learn a little more,” Horton continued. “Then we went ARCA racing and we did real well. We won a total of eight ARCA races, five in a row.”

    As with many race car drivers, Horton started racing on dirt tracks close to home. He first started racing in 1974 in Middletown, New Jersey on Saturday nights and at Nazareth, Pennsylvania on Sundays, winning track championships at both tracks.

    Horton’s first asphalt race was at Daytona, which was also his first time ever in the draft.

    “I ran a Busch car in 1985 at Daytona,” Horton said. “We qualified 19th and ended up breaking a motor early. But that was my first real asphalt race that I ran and my first time in the draft.”

    “Bobby Allison helped us,” Horton continued. “At the time there were short fields in the Cup cars. Our first car was a Ford Thunderbird.”

    Horton also ran Dover and Pocono in the Cup series and then went ARCA racing. His first race in ARCA was again at Daytona, where he took the checkered flag.

    Yet in spite of his ARCA success, Horton was unable to return to the Cup Series on a full-time basis. As he described it, he was caught in the ‘middle generation’ of NASCAR drivers.

    “I had my foot in the door with the Cup deal and it was going to take off,” Horton said. “But when I was trying to get in, all the owners wanted older, experienced drivers.”

    “I was 33 years old when Jeff Gordon comes in at 20 years old,” Horton continued. “And everyone jumped over that whole one crop.”

    “I wasn’t alone but they jumped over that whole group and went to the younger drivers,” Horton said. “That middle generation got skipped.”

    In addition to running the No. 80 car, Horton is also known for two other reasons. First, many fans may recognize that he subbed for an injured Darrell Waltrip. The other reason for Horton’s notoriety is for two major crashes in which he was involved, one where he flew off the track at Talladega and the other a major wreck at Atlanta.

    “I drove for Darrell (Waltrip) when he got hurt and I ran real good,” Horton said. “I ran three races and Greg Sacks drove the car until Darrell was able to get back in it.”

    “I’ve had my share of crashes,” Horton said. “I was conscious for that whole time at Talladega when I crashed right off the race track.”

    “I started to get out, but the State trooper put his hand on my helmet and told me I better sit there a minute,” Horton continued. “I told him I’d had about all I could stand and I was getting out.”

    “Two years later, I wrecked at Atlanta and that one hurt me pretty good,” Horton aid. “I had a cracked skull, two broken shoulder blades, and a broken wrist. That one hurt me.”

    “But we mended good and went racing again.”

    At age 55 years, Horton is still honing his craft. For the 2011 season he ran close to 60 races, at his regular dirt track on Saturday nights and some select special races, winning one race and finishing fifth in points.

    “I’ve always said when I don’t win a race in a year, I’ll retire,” Horton said. “I’ve been lucky the past two years that I’ve won a race a year, so I’ll keep going.”

    “Next year, we’re just going to run selected races and I’m looking for a ride to run a full schedule,” Horton continued. “Right now I work building racing radiators and all parts for the race cars.”

    But for Horton, sitting behind the wheel of the No. 80 car was one of the most special times in his life.

    “The 80 car was a real good deal,” Horton said. “The 80 number has been good to me.”

  • ARCA: Ty Dillon Crowned Champion, Chris Buescher Wins The Race

    ARCA: Ty Dillon Crowned Champion, Chris Buescher Wins The Race

    Following a wreck on the final lap, Chris Buescher was able to find his way to victory lane for his third victory of the season in the Federated Car Care 200. The victory gave Buescher the ARCA Racing Series Rookie of the Year title, two points over Ty Dillon.

    Dillon finished second in the race and despite not winning the rookie of the year title, he was able to become the youngest champion in ARCA history. The 19-year-old became the first rookie champion since Andy Hillenburg in 1995.

    The race looked to belong to Brennan Poole, who had won atSalemearlier this year in his ARCA debut.Poolehad made the pass on Dillon in the fourth turn on lap 197, after making slight contact side-by-side.

    Poole was able to lead till lap 199, before Dillon bumpedPooleout of the way on lap 200. In an unseen twist, Dillon’s car stalled and Buescher, who was running third at the time, was able to past both Dillon andPoolebefore the lap 200 caution. Dillon was able to get the car back going to keep second behind Buescher.

    Buescher held on to the lead through the green-white-checkered to get his third victory in a row at Toledo Speedway.

    Dillon got second, followed by Chad McCumbee, pole sitter Tom Hessert and Grant Enfinger.

    Ryan Wilson was sixth, followed byClintKing,ChadHackenbracht, Charles Evans Jr., and Jared Marks.

    Poolewould finish the race in 15th.

    The ARCA Racing Series will wrap up the 2011 season with the Championship Awards Banquet at theNorthernKentuckyConvention CenterinCovington,Ky., nearCincinnati, on Saturday, December 10.

  • ARCA: Max Gresham and Mason Mingus and Ready For Salem Speedway

    ARCA: Max Gresham and Mason Mingus and Ready For Salem Speedway

    Max Gresham is ready to get back behind the wheel of an ARCA Racing presented by Menards series car as he will team up with Venturini Motorsports for the Ford Dealers Fall Classic at Salem Speedway in Indiana.

    “I’m excited to go back to Salem,” Gresham said. “It’s been a good track for me. I won a pole at Salem in my first ever ARCA race and we ran really well this past spring in the No. 25 Venturini car. I like going back to tracks where I have run well in the past. It’s great when you go with a team like Venturini Motorsports because they always run well there too. My Venturini Motorsports teammate, Brennan Poole, won the spring race at Salem. Hopefully, we can go in and get my first win in ARCA this season with them this weekend.”

    Gresham hasn’t found the winning success like his teammate Poole, however he has come close. In Jne, Gresham finished second at Michigan International Speedway and last month, finished sixth at Pocono Raceway after winning the pole.

    “I for sure love the high banks and high-speed race tracks,” Gresham added. “They tend to suit my style and things seem to work out for me at them. It’s a lot of fun to throw an ARCA car right up against the wall at a place like Salem. It’s definitely a challenge, but when the race is over, you think ‘wow, that’s a lot of fun.’ Salem is a challenge, but it’s really enjoyable.”

    Despite the lack of ARCA starts this year, Gresham has been busy as he drove the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to a fifth-place finish in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event at Greenville-Pickens Speedway last weekend, holds a 65-point lead in that division’s championship standings.

    With no pressures of having to work about the points, Gresham only has one thought on his mind.

    “The expectations are the same as they always are,” Gresham said. “Billy Venturini and his guys are going up there to win. That’s what they do and that’s what I am going to try to do for them.”

    Meanwhile for Mason Mingus and Win-Tron Racing, a good run is the key for their effort as Mingus will be making his first ever ARCA Racing Series start.

    “I have heard a lot about Win-Tron racing and seen that they have had a very good track record in the past,” he said. “That helps me to have confidence that I will be able to adjust very quickly because they will have a good car when they show up to the track. I’m just thankful for the opportunity.”

    This 16-year-old does come with experience as he has raced in the Champion Racing Association Super Late Model Series and is a former winner at Salem Speedway in the Ken-Ten Series in June 2010.

    Salem Speedway definitely ranks near the top of the list of my favorite tracks to race at,” the Brentwood, Tennessee native said. “I have only been able to race at Salem one time, but I had a lot of success there. It is a very tough track to race on but as long as we are able to save tires and have a consistent car it is a lot of fun.

    “Being that this will be my first time in an ARCA car it will be a big learning experience. I intend to be patient throughout the race and take opportunities when they come. Although it will be a different experience than driving a late model I will do everything I can to be competitive enough to win the race.”

    Win-Tron Racing this year has ran with a mixture of drivers as Mingus marks the fifth different driver to drive the No. 32 Champion Brands Toyota Camry this year.

    “It’s always exciting to bring a driver to ARCA for the first time,” Win-Tron Racing co-car owner Nate Thiesse said. “Mason comes to our team on the heels of a healthy season in the CRA Super Late Model Series and an extensive resume that resonates back years. Obviously, his experience at Salem will play into our advantage initially as far as him getting up to speed, but he’s up against some competition he’s never had to face before and a car he is unfamiliar with.

    “Despite those scenarios, there is potential for him to earn a lot of respect and potentially gleam in the limelight. While we know that our team is capable of winning races, we haven’t set our expectations that high for Mason. We just want him to learn, have fun and hopefully we’ll leave somewhere inside the top-10. If we can do that, we’ll consider the weekend a great success.”

    While they are just looking to have a good solid night, a win is something that is very well possible.

    “We’re not saying that Mason can’t win the race on Saturday night,” Thiesse added. “We just don’t want to put that kind of pressure on him in his first race. Salem though is a track where strange things have happened and a place that has bred first-time winners, so anything is possible. The biggest goal for this weekend is for him to be safe, have fun and bring the car home in one piece.”

    The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic by Federated Car Care (200 laps / 111 miles) is the 17th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. Practice begins Saturday, September 17 with an hour and a half practice session planned from 1:05 p.m. – 2:35 p.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin at 4:00 p.m.

    The field will take the green flag later in the evening at approximately 7:15 p.m. The event will not be televised but race coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,329th 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.

  • Max Gresham and Ty Dillon Make Up Front Row For Pennsylvania ARCA 125

    Max Gresham and Ty Dillon Make Up Front Row For Pennsylvania ARCA 125

    Max Gresham captured the pole on Friday for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Pennsylvania ARCA 125 at Pocono  Raceway with a lap of 53.535 seconds.

    This marks the second Meanards Pole Award presented by Ansell for the 18-year old Georgia driver of the No. 25 World Crown 300 at Gresham Motorsports Park Toyota in 10 career starts. It also marks the third pole for Venturini Motorsports at Pocono in the past two years as Mikey Kile won the pole last June while Brennan Poole won the pole this June. Venturini Motorsports has won the Menards Pole Award now four times this year with four different drivers: Josh Richards, Poole, Ryan Blaney and now Gresham.

    “It was a dandy of a lap,” Gresham said. “Everything just lined up perfectly, and (Venturini Motorsports general manager) Billy (Venturini) had the car just right and we had the clouds perfect. The Toyota Camry was on a rail and I drove it for everything it had. Billy’s really happy with it right now. Hopefully, the car’s as good tomorrow as it is right now. I’m looking forward to having a good run tomorrow.”

    The car that Gresham is driving is the same car that he drove to a second-place finish earlier this year at Michigan International Speedway in June, when he got passed on the last lap by rookie Ty Dillon.

    “Michigan was 100 laps, and that’s 75 more miles – a two-pit stop race,” he said. “This one’s only one, so you only have one chance to get the car right if you need adjustments so it makes it a little more difficult. I’ve got to make sure I relay all of the info I need to Billy, and make sure I tell him everything I need for the race and throughout the race, so when we make our one pit stop, we’ll be ready.”

    Dillon would qualify second after holding the provisional pole most of the session, 0.011 seconds off of his third consecutive pole in the series.

    “I guess when it’s that close, it’s not too bad of a heartbreaker,” the driver of the No. 41 RCR/CIPT Chevrolet said. “Our car’s really fast, so this doesn’t discourage me much. (Venturini) has really fast equipment too, and they were one of the fastest cars here last time. We brought a brand new car, which I believe is twice as fast as the car we had here last time.

    “We were able to lead laps and run up front the whole time last time, so we ought to be able to lead all the laps. I’m so confident in this race car. I can’t thank (crew chief Scott) “Flash” (Naset) and all the guys enough and I’m just so happy for the team.”

    With the qualifying points in the books, Dillon extends his points lead over nine-time series champion Frank Kimmel to 370 points. Kimmel qualified the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford in 11th.

    Casey Roderick, making his first start with Randy Hill Racing, qualified third (53.967 seconds), followed by Chris Buescher and Ryan Wilson. Gresham’s teammate Kyle Fowler would qualify sixth, followed by  Tim George Jr., Grant Enfinger, Chad McCumbee, and Tom Hessert comprise the remainder of the top 10.

    The Pennsylvania ARCA 125 begins at 3 p.m. tomorrow, with live television coverage airing on SPEED. ARCARacing.com will feature live timing and scoring coverage of the 50-lap, 125-mile race, which will be the 53rd for the ARCA Racing Series on Pocono’s 2.5-mile triangle.

    2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Event #13
    Pocono Raceway, Long Pond Pennsylvania, 8-6-11
    Pennsylvania ARCA 125
    August 5, 2011 / 6:48 PM
    POS NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN TIME SPEED
    1 25 Max Gresham/Griffin GA 53.535 168.114
    2 41 Ty Dillon/Lewisville NC 53.546 168.080
    3 08 Casey Roderick/Lawrenceville GA 53.967 166.769
    4 17 Chris Buescher/Prosper TX 54.242 165.923
    5 32 Ryan Wilson/Randleman NC 54.290 165.776
    6 55 Kyle Fowler/Smyrna GA 54.331 165.651
    7 31 Tim George Jr./New York NY 54.411 165.408
    8 36 Grant Enfinger/Fairhope AL 54.509 165.110
    9 1 Chad McCumbee/Holden Beach NC 54.629 164.748
    10 52 Tom Hessert/Cherry Hill NJ 54.692 164.558
    11 44 Frank Kimmel/Clarksville IN 54.749 164.387
    12 58 Chad Hackenbracht/New Philadelphia OH 54.761 164.351
    13 82 Sean Corr/Goshen NY 55.184 163.091
    14 6 Robb Brent/Shelby Township MI 55.517 162.113
    15 15 John Blankenship/Knoxville TN 55.613 161.833
    16 35 Tom Berte/New Berlin WI 55.754 161.423
    17 68 Will Kimmel/Sellersburg IN 55.803 161.282
    18 59 Buster Graham/Lafayette LA 56.027 160.637
    19 57 George Cushman/Waterville NY 56.249 160.003
    20 43 Kyle Martel/Lebanon PA 56.431 159.487
    21 5 Bobby Gerhart/Lebanon PA 56.502 159.286
    22 7 Brandon Kidd/Manlius NY 57.015 157.853
    23 03 Kory Rabenold/Slatington PA 57.058 157.734
    24 3 Brent Brevak/Ashland WI 57.113 157.582
    25 63 Milka Duno/Caracas Venezuela 57.451 156.655
    26 23 Nick Igdalsky/Long Pond PA 57.539 156.416
    27 12 Maryeve Dufault/Sorel Quebec 57.780 155.763
    28 50 Steve Fox/Hazleton PA 58.192 154.660
    29 07 Brian Kaltreider/Reading PA 58.413 154.075
    30 28 Ron Cox/Soddy Daisy TN 58.799 153.064
    31 34 Darrell Basham/Henryville IN 59.091 152.307
    32 75 Benny Chastain/Tallahassee FL 59.326 151.704
    33 11 Ed Pompa/Ballston Spa NY Provisional
    34 48 James Hylton/Inman SC Provisional
    35 10 Rick Clifton/Circleville OH Provisional
    36 06 Don Thompson/Carlisle PA Provisional
    37 26 Brad Smith/Shelby Township MI Provisional
    38 94 Con Nicolopoulos/Columbus MI Provisional
    39 69 Brent Cross/Cortland NY Provisional
    40 29 Rob Jones/Bowie MD Provisional
    41 95 Michael Leavine/Bullard TX Provisional
  • ARCA: Max Gresham Tests at Lucas Oil Raceway For Venturini Motorsports

    ARCA: Max Gresham Tests at Lucas Oil Raceway For Venturini Motorsports

    In anticipation for the Ansell Protect Gloves 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway on Thursday July 28th, Max Gresham took some time to test and get a feel for the track.

    [media-credit name=”arcaracing.com” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit]”We really sucked the first four hours of the test,” Gresham said. “We were horrible. The car wasn’t anywhere I needed it to be. Everyone was working really hard to get it close and we just weren’t getting it.

    “Then (team manager) Billy Venturini and (crew chief) Kevin Caldwell put their heads together and figured out what we needed. Once they got things worked out, the car really came alive. We picked up a full second on old tires. It was great to make some fast times, especially on old tires. I know Billy and the crew will work this piece and get it even better for when we come back for the race. They always do.”

    Gresham, who finished second in the last ARCA start at Michigan International Speedway last month, will be one of the drivers who will participate in the first ARCA race at the 0.686-mile raceway since 1985. It marks the eighth race there in ARCA history and will be televised live on SPEED.

    “It’s going to be a first for everyone,” Gresham said. “I believe it’s going to be an eye-opener for everyone. I think everyone is going to be surprised how different this track is and what it takes to get around it.

    “This is by far one of the most unique short tracks that I have been to. I’ve never been to a short track as flat as this one is and run right up against the wall. That makes it different, an animal all its own. You’ll never find another track like this one anywhere. I’m definitely looking forward to racing here.”

    The next race for the ARCA Series is Saturday July 9th at Berlin Raceway for the Hantz Group 200, where Gresham will be behind the wheel of the No. 25 for Venturini Motorsports. Live timing and scoring coverage for the 10th race of the season will be available through ARCARacing.com beginning at 8:30pm.

    ARCA Racing Series practice begins at 2:30 p.m., and will last for 90 minutes. Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell follows at 5, and the ARCA Racing Series drivers will participate in an autograph session at 6:15, just before the race. ARCARacing.com will feature live timing and scoring coverage of all events.

  • ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards Returns To Winchester Speedway

    This weekend’s ninth race of the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season marks the return to Winchester after spending three years without going there.

    After success last year and an eighth place finish back in May at Toledo Speedway, Dakoda Armstrong will once again team up with Cunningham Motorsports for the Winchester 200 presented by Federated Auto Parts at Winchester Speedway in Indiana on Saturday.

    Crew Chief Paul Andrew is expecting good things following a test last week at the half-mile, 37-degree banked track.

    “We did have a good test,” said Andrews. “We started with our Salem setup and tuned on it from there. Winchester is very similar to Salem, just much smoother. Our times on the longer runs were very consistent and our mock qualifying lap was good. With the history of the track and all of the laps that Dakoda has on the track, we are hoping for good things.”

    The Newcastle, Indiana native has had success in ARCA before as he was crowned the 2010 ARCA Racing Series Rookie of the Year with two wins – Talladega and Salem.

    This marks the first race for the ARCA Series at Winchester Speedway since 2007.

    “It’s important for the ARCA Racing Series to go back to Winchester Speedway,” ARCA president Ron Drager said. “It’s exactly the type of Midwestern facility where the ARCA brand is well-known and has the chance to be successful. Winchester is big enough and fast enough to play to the very nature of our cars.”

    When Armstrong got the news, he jumped at the opportunity to run it.

    “(I am) excited about racing again at Winchester,” Armstrong said. “I really like the track. After our test last week and the similarities Winchester has to Salem, where we run well, I am expecting a good run.”

    Meanwhile, series veteran Frank Kimmel has a lot of experience at Winchester and leads the series in victories at Winchester with five.

    “Winchester is exactly the kind of track we need to be racing at,” the Indiana,native said. “It’s perfect for these big heavy stock cars, and what a show. I think Winchester is one of the best half-miles in the country, bar none. When it was repaved, I thought it wasn’t going to be as good, but it actually got a lot better. It made a lane in the middle and made it a really racy race track.”

    Racing began at Winchester in 1914 as it was originally a flat half-mile dirt oval, with the banking added in 1922. It would then become an asphalt oval in 1952, followed by a re-paving in 1995.

    “Before they repaved it, it was a lot like Salem where you had really only one good lane to work with – through the middle in one and two and higher up in three and four,” Kimmel said. “But now, you can put the car about anywhere on the track. You can actually pass someone without running them over.”

    The return to Winchester marks the first race at the track on the short track radial tire, which Hoosier introduced in 2008.

    “The speeds will be up,” Kimmel, who sits second in points behind Ty Dillon, said. “The radial is just a better tire than the bias-ply so I’m curious to see how that could affect the outcome.”

    The Winchester ARCA 200 presented by Federated Auto Parts is a one-day event, with a 90-minute practice session beginning Saturday at 1:45 p.m. Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell will take place at 4:45, with a 45-minute autograph session at 6:45. The 200-lap, 100-mile event begins at 8. Live timing and scoring for all of the events will be featured at ARCARacing.com.

  • Brennan Poole and Ty Dillon Make Up Front Row For Pocono ARCA 200

    Last month, Brennan Poole made his first start at Salem Speedway and won. This weekend for his second start at Pocono, he is on the same route as he led practice and won the Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell for the Pocono ARCA 200.

    “It’s a lot of fun,” the Woodlands, Texas native said. “This is the biggest track I’ve ever been to, ever made laps on. It’s really exciting; this is really fast. The car’s been great all weekend. Billy Venturini’s given me a great race car. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. We’re just going to have to take it one lap at a time. We’ve got 80 laps, so we’ll see how it pans out.”

    The 20-year old qualified his No. 25 Lacy Green/Scott Dobrin RE/MAX Toyota with a lap of 53.807 seconds (167.264 mph), beating Ty Dillon by 0.526 seconds for his first career pole. Poole’s lap marks a new track record since July 2003 with Kyle Busch set it at 170.849mph.

    This marks the second pole in a row for Venturini Motorsports as they won the pole last weekend with Josh Richards at Chicagoland. This also marks their second in a row for Pocono Raceway as they won the pole last June with Mikey Kile.

    This car is a brand new for the team as it was only completed Wednesday at 4:30a.m., less than 55 hours before the first practice. Poole led that opening practice with a best lap of 53.989 seconds, nearly one-half second ahead of Frank Kimmel. Poole credits all the practice that he did on the video games.

    “I’ve watched a ton of video over the last week and I’ve been playing a lot of Xbox,” he said. “I probably ran about 500 laps before I even got here, on the computer. I started doing everything I possibly could before I got here as a driver. It helps out when you have great guys who can give you great cars. It makes your job a lot easier.”

    Kimmel, meanwhile, qualified third, followed by Chris Buescher and Grant Enfinger.

    “I’m pretty happy with our Ansell/Menards Ford,” Kimmel said after practice earlier in the day. “We’re a little tight in the corners in race trim and we continued to make adjustments to free it up. On that last qualifying run I think (crew chief) Bill (Kimmel) freed me up too much. I think we’ll be good on old tires, though. That will set up nicely for long green flag runs.”

    Venturini Motorsports’ Hal Martin qualified sixth, followed by Tim George Jr., Chad Hackenbracht, Bobby Gerhart and Sean Corr.

    The Pocono ARCA 200 begins at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow, with live timing and scoring coverage available at ARCARacing.com. SPEED will air same-day delay television coverage of the race at 8 p.m.