Monday

Late Contact Spoils Promising Run for Frank Kimmel and the Ansell-Menards Ford Fusion at Toledo Speedway

Filed under ARCA, Press Releases

Toledo, OH – The No. 44 Ansell-Menards Ford, driven by Frank Kimmel, finished 21st in the race at Toledo Speedway yesterday afternoon. The day would start out with wind and rain, which forced ARCA officials to move back the start time two hours.

Once the green flag waved, Frank quickly went to work on the competitors in front of him, moving the Ansell-Menards Ford inside the top fifteen and would soon be in the top ten. Unluckily, a tire would blow in turn three and the Ansell-Menards Ford would spin out but only make slight contact with the wall.

Quickly after the incident, Frank brought the Ansell-Menards Ford down pit road to the attention of his Kimmel Racing crew. The crew worked swiftly and efficiently on the Ansell-Menards Ford. When the green flag resumed, the Ansell-Menards Ford was a lap down, but a timely caution would give Frank his lap back and put the No. 44 Ansell-Menards Ford back into contention.

Not long after receiving the wave around, another caution would fly and the Kimmel Racing team decided to gain track position and stay out, which moved Frank to 2nd in the running order. The gamble paid off, as Frank was able to run inside the top ten for a majority of the second half of the race.

Yet, misfortune would strike the team again late in the race, as Frank would be put three wide in one of the corners, which resulted in the Ansell-Menards Ford making contact with one of the other race cars. The contact would cut down a tire and send the Ansell-Menards Ford into the wall. Frank would have to bring the Ansell-Menards Ford to the pits for the team to make repairs. The time needed for repairs would trap the Ansell-Menards Ford several laps down and result in a 21st place finish in the season finale.

“I’m very disappointed in where we finished. We only finished outside the top-10 once before today. I know we had an Ansell-Menards Ford capable of winning this race today. We had some bad luck early but were able to get the lap back. Then we stayed out to gain track position and that worked out well. The Ansell-Menards Ford was good on old tires, and it looked as if we’d finish top ten for sure. Then we made contact with another car and hit the wall. That put us a few laps down and it was too late in the race for us to make those up,” said Frank Kimmel after the race.

Frank and the Ansell-Menards team finished 3rd in the 2011 ARCA Racing Series Points Standings. Frank collected 3 top five and 17 top ten finishes in 19 races in 2011. “We had a very consistent year in 2011. Obviously, we would’ve enjoyed a few victories in those stats. We had our chances in a few and ran up front in a majority of the races but circumstances didn’t sway in our favor. My guys worked really hard this year and did an excellent job. I have fantastic partners in Menards and Ansell, who are leaders in their trades, so I have to thank them for their support,” concluded Frank.

The ARCA Racing Series will wrap up the 2011 season with the Championship Awards Banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky, near Cincinnati, on Saturday, December 10th. Also, be sure to visit a Menards location to purchase your next pair of Ansell Gloves.

- Sports One Press Release