Tuesday
Kimmel Ready to Return to Winning Ways at Kansas Speedway
Press Release
Kimmel is no stranger to victory lane at Kansas Speedway; in fact, he became the first driver in the history of the track to make a trip to victory lane in 2001. Kimmel pulled double duty that day competing in and winning the NASCAR Winston West event before climbing into his ARCA car where he dominated the race before a broken valve spring forced him to a second-place finish. Since then, he has returned to victory lane two times (2002, 2006) in ARCA Racing Series competition at the 1.5-mile oval.
“When we first started racing at Kansas, I felt very comfortable with the racetrack,” explained Kimmel. “We got to run the very first event, the NASCAR Winston West race, and actually ended up winning that race. I think that when you have success early at a track, it’s a track you look forward to going back to. Kansas is no exception to that.”
Two ARCA Racing Series notches in the win column at Kansas Speedway aren’t the only records the nine-time champion boasts; he also claimed two pole awards (2002, 2003) while earning seven top-five finishes in nine series starts at the track. With an average start of 4.6 and finish of 5.7, Kimmel will certainly be a favorite to take the checkered flag in the Kansas Lottery 150.
On-track activities for the Kansas Lottery 150 will begin on Thursday, September 30 with practice from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. CDT and qualifying at 1:00 p.m. The green flag will drop for 100 laps of action at 4:00 p.m. CDT. The Kansas Lottery 150 will be broadcast LIVE on SPEED with live timing and scoring and audio streaming on ARCAracing.com during the event.
“Kimmel’s Top-10″
Kimmel has had several great battles throughout his ARCA career. This weekend Kimmel takes a look back and reflects on his “Top-10 Toughest Past ARCA Competitors.” Kimmel describes that there have been several other competitors that could have made this list, but these were the first that came to mind. So, in no particular order here is “Kimmel’s top-10 toughest past ARCA competitors.”
10. Tim Steele
9. Bob Strait
8. Bobby Bowsher
7. Joey Miller
6. Bill Baird
5. Bob Keselowski
4. Justin Allgaier
3. Ken Schrader
2. Bob Dotter
1. Andy Hillenburg
Frank Kimmel and the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Fast Facts
In the Points: With only two races remaining on the ARCA Racing Series schedule, Kimmel stands fourth in the championship standings. He holds a 10 point lead over Justin Marks in fifth and sits 155 markers behind leader Patrick Sheltra.
Last Kansas Race: Last year, rain cancelled qualifying at Kansas Speedway, allowing Kimmel to lineup third for the start of the race. After battling the handling of his Ansell/Menards Ford throughout the day, Kimmel and team were able to adjust on the car to come back and post a fourth-place finish.
This Week’s Ford: Crew Chief, Bill Kimmel Jr., has chosen to bring chassis No. 320, “Carrie” to Kansas Speedway. This chassis has been a favorite for Kimmel as he has used this chassis at Texas, Michigan, Pocono and Chicagoland. He has earned a pole, three top-five and five top-10 finishes in five starts with chassis No. 320 this season.
Did You Know?: Frank Kimmel once raced a donkey for a charity event. A friend of Kimmel’s called and asked him to participate in a celebrity race for a local charity. After agreeing to do the race he asked, “What am I racing?” The answer he received was: “a donkey.” During the event, Kimmel won the heat and finished third in the feature. He claims, “The only loser in the deal was the poor donkey I had to ride.”
Featured Blogger: Want to hear what Kimmel has to say about each race weekend? Logon to http://www.motorracingnetwork.com/ every week to read Frank’s latest driver diary. He talks about what happened in the race, what he does when he is not at the track and his expectations for the next race weekend.
Follow Frank Kimmel: Follow Frank Kimmel at the track or in the race shop by logging on to facebook.com/frankkimmelracing and twitter.com/frankkimmel. Follow every race weekend for live updates and photos from the track and throughout the race.
Frank Kimmel on racing at Kansas Speedway:
“I think the best thing about Kansas Speedway is the actual facility itself. I like the track itself. It’s a typical mile-and-a-half track, which we run a lot, but it is fun to race on. You can run side by side if you need to, but without a doubt, one of the most impressive things about Kansas Speedway is the whole facility- how well it’s kept up and what a nice place it is to come in and race for both for the competitors and the fans. It’s just a beautiful place to go race.”
About Frank Kimmel
Frank Kimmel, driver in the ARCA Racing Series Presented by RE/MAX and Menards, is a record holding 9-time champion. Co-owner of Kimmel Racing, the Indiana native has earned 74 wins, placing him just six races shy of the number one spot on ARCA’s all-time win list. With 44 poles, 230 top-five and 294 top-ten finishes, the racing veteran has accomplished many great feats in his 18 seasons in the series. Kimmel and the Ansell/Menards Ford team look to continue to break records in the 2010 season.
About Activ8 Communications
Activ8 Communications, based in Mooresville, North Carolina, specializes in public relations, marketing strategies, brand development and sponsor activation. With focus on NASCAR public relations and relationship building, Activ8 creates unique identities and connections for the drivers and clients under its umbrella.
For more information about Activ8 Communications, visit www.goactiv8.com.
- Activ8 Communications, Press Release
Article Tags: ARCA, ARCA Racing Series, ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards, Frank Kimmel, Kansas, Kansas Lottery 150, Kansas Speedway, KS
