Catchfence

“Claims 13th Top-10 Finish of Season”

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (October 2, 2010) – Frank Kimmel earned his 13th top-10 finish of the 2010 season in the Kentucky Lottery 150 at Kansas Speedway Thursday afternoon. Kimmel fought a tight race car all race before taking the checkered flag in seventh place. The finish further cushioned his fourth-place position in the championship standings with one race remaining in the 2010 season.

With their time spent working on race runs during the morning’s two hour practice session, the Ansell / Menards team wasn’t sure what was in store for qualifying later in the afternoon. As the 33rd car to take the track, Kimmel knew what he needed to do to start up front. The nine-time ARCA Racing Series champion lapped the track in a time of 31.751 seconds (170.073 mph). The lap placed him third for the start of the race, missing the pole by only .049 thousands of a second.

It didn’t take long for action to get started after the drop of the green flag as the first caution of the day came out on lap two for a spin. During that caution period Kimmel radioed to his crew from the third position that the car was already feeling tight in the corners.

The field restarted on lap five and the drivers settled in for a long green-flag run. Unfortunately for Kimmel and his Ansell/Menards team that meant they wouldn’t have time to work on their tight handling Ford Fusion. Kimmel kept fighting his tight car, but by lap 40 he had fallen to sixth place and told his crew that the car was so tight that it wouldn’t turn if he gets off the bottom of the track.

On lap 47 the caution came for the second time giving the leaders a chance to come down pit road. Kimmel brought his car to the attention of the Ansell/Menards crew on lap 48 for four fresh Hoosier tires, a track bar and air pressure adjustment and fuel. With a quick stop, he returned to the track in sixth position and ready for the lap 52 restart.

With a fast car, Kimmel went three wide to claim the fifth position. He remained comfortably in the top-five for the next 27 laps, but the tight condition that plagued the No. 44 Ford forced Kimmel to drop to seventh on lap 82.

With only 14 laps remaining the caution came out for the final time. Several of the leaders came down pit road where pit strategy proved it would decide the race. The Ansell/Menards team decided to take four tires, made an air pressure adjustment and sent Kimmel back to the track in eighth position.

The green flag came out on lap 93 setting up a seven-lap shootout to the checkered flag. Kimmel was able to pass one car to take the seventh position, but his tight car would prevent him from moving up any further. Kimmel crossed the finish line, taking home a seventh-place finish.

The ARCA Racing Series next heads to the historical Rockingham Speedway for the 20th and final event of the 2010 season. Kimmel and team will hit the track on Thursday, October 7th for a test session. Practice and qualifying will be held on Friday with the green flag flying for the start of the American 200 on Saturday, October 9th at 1:30 p.m. EST. Live race coverage will be broadcast on SPEED with live radio coverage broadcast on ARCARacing.com.

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.

- Activ8 Communications Press Release