No. 36 Orchard Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep / Ram Dodge Charger

Brent’s eighth top-10 finish allows him to maintain the 10th position in the ARCA Racing Series point standings. With two races remaining in the 2010 season, Brent trails fifth-place driver Dakoda Armstrong by 455 markers, and ninth-place contender Tim George Jr. by 75 points.

Brent recorded the fifth-fastest time in Saturday afternoon’s sole practice session. A rare part failure at the end of practice saw the Allgaier Motorsports crew make major repairs to their No. 36 entry prior to qualifying. As the team worked diligently to make the repairs, they did not meet the deadline to be in line for final inspection prior to qualifying. Once Brent’s Dodge took its place on the qualifying grid, the July Pocono race winner ran a lap of 17.558 seconds, an average speed of 113.794 mph, to earn the 10th starting position for the ARCA Classic 200.

Before the start of the race, the Shelby Township, Mich.-native had to drop to the tail of the field as a result of their pre-qualifying repairs. Brent quickly worked his way through traffic and by lap 20, he was scored in the 13th position. On lap 51, when the first caution was displayed, the Allgaier Motorsports crew brought Brent down pit road for right-side Hoosier Racing Tires, Sunoco Fuel, and an air pressure adjustment. The pit crew helped Brent pick up three positions on pit road, and when racing went back to green flag conditions on lap 57 Brent restarted in eighth position.

Robb Brent

As green-flag conditions resumed and saw the laps click off, Brent’s Orchard Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram – Dodge Charger started to lose the handling off of the corners. Brent was told to adjust his line through the center of the corner to help, but as the remaining laps went caution free, the long, green-flag run saw Brent lose one lap to the leader. Brent made the most of his No. 36 machine, crossing the finish line 10th when the checkered flag waved.

“Salem Speedway is a tricky, but fun place to race at,” said Brent. “The Orchard Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram – Dodge Charger was perfect on short runs, but the long green flag run there at the end hurt us a little bit. My tires went a way and I was really loose off the corner. The Allgaier Motorsports crew gave me 100 percent today and the pit crew had solid stops tonight.”

Next weekend, the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards will head to Kansas Speedway Thursday, September 30 for the 19th of 20 races this season. The 100-lap, 150-mile Kansas Lottery 150 airs live on SPEED at 5 p.m. EDT, with live timing and scoring and live audio coverage presented by ARCA Nation and the ARCA Racing Network at www.arcaracing.com

For more information on Allgaier Motorsports, please visit: www.allgaiermotorsports.com

For more information on Robb Brent, please visit: www.robbbrentracing.com

- Allgaier Motorsports Press Release

Twenty nine year old Craig Goess of Woodbury, New Jersey and twenty nine year old Justin Marks of Rocklin, California had been waging a battle for the top slot in the ARCA title chase like none seen before coming into August and now a nine time ARCA champ and two newcomers have thrust themselves into the titlefight.. Goess had 1 win and 10 top ten finishes coming into the Springfield event and is just 5 points in the lead. Marks has one dirt track start at DuQuoin in the Menard’s-RE/MAX Series prior to 2010, that coming in 2007 in which he started seventh and finished there completing all 100 circuits. Marks currently has 1 win and 9 top ten finishes and dropped from first to sixth.

The driver second in the ARCA points is something of a surprise considering he has no wins (at press time) in 2010 and is counting on his dirt track experience to propel him to a record tenth ARCA crown. Clarksville, Indiana resident Frank Kimmel has 10 top ten finishes in 13 starts but no victories. Kimmel as a record seven wins on the dirt at Springfield and is a five-time winner of the Southern Illinois 100.

Kimmel had the lead at Springfield insearchof a record eighth win there but crashed while leading. Kimmel is expected to be just one of two former winners at DuQuoin, the other being Fenton, Missouri’s Ken Schrader. A popular NASCAR veteran and two time USAC champion the fifty five year old Schrader shows no signs of slowing down in 2010. Schrader competed in selected ARCA, NASCAR and UMP events in 2010 winning the Indyana Classic for UMP Modifieds at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in May. In 2006 he ended nearly 30 years of frustration picking up his first ever triumph at DuQuoin in the Southern Illinois 100 and backed that up with a second victory in 2007.

Joining Goess, Marks and Kimmel in the top ten after Berlin are Tom Hessert of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Patrick Sheltra of Indiantown, Florida, Dakoda Armstrong of New Castle, Indiana, Mikey Kile of West Lake, Louisiana, Tim George of New York city, Robb Brent of Shelby Township, Michigan and Joey Coulter of Miami Springs, Florida. Hessert and Sheltra are dirt track veterans, Hessert in USAC Midget and Silver Crown cars and Sheltra in UMP and World of Outlaw Late Models. Sheltra won the race at Springfield in a wild finish and is just ten markers out of the lead. He has two top ten finishes in three starts at DuQuoin including a second to Kimmel in 2008. Hessert got a top five on the dirt at Springfield and is fourth, twenty five points out of first. Brent and Coulter picked up their first ARCA wins in 2010 with Brent’s coming for the Allgaier Motorsports team out of Springfield, Illinois.

Five Illinois drivers made the field at DuQuoin last year and a similar number are expected on the 2010 entry list. Twenty nine year old A.J. Fike will attempt to become the first driver since stock cars began competing at DuQuoin in 1950 to win the Ted Horn 100 USAC Silver Crown race and the Southern Illinois 100 on the same weekend. Springfield’s Kelly Kovski, Arenzeville’s Mark Littleton and Benton’s Rodny Melvin are also possible entrants. Kovski has completed 5 of the 6 DuQuoin events he has started while Littleton has 2 starts. Melvin is a terror in UMP late models in the area and looks to thrill the local fans with an ARCA run 20 miles from his home. Decatur’s Kyle Logue has a former Bill Hendren car at his disposal while forty four year old Joe Cooksey of Centralia could also be an entrant.

Of the top twenty in the 2010 ARCA RE/MAX-Menard’s point standings seven have never started a race at DuQuoin while seven others have three starts or less at the Magic Mile. Add in Littleton, Melvin and Kyle Logue and nearly half if not more of the 2010 DuQuoin entry list would have little to no experience on a track where knowledge may be the key to victory. ARCA rookies include Kile and Armstrong, Nick Igdalsky and Chase Mattioli of Pennsylvania and Jerick Johnson of Minnesota.

Drivers who have more than one start could be considered ARCA dirt track veterans and at least one of two would be a dark horse to take home a Southern Illinois 100 trophy. Canada’s Steve Arpin had a fine debut at DuQuoin in 2009 coming to 9th from 23rd for Bill Venturini. Arpin is a veteran of dirt late models and modifieds in the upper Midwest. Indiana’s Darrell Basham has racing experience that dates back to the USAC Stock Car series while Georgia’s Mark Gibson may return for yet another shot at a mile dirt track win. Tennessee’s Ron Cox is also expected to come back, Cox has several strong runs on the dirt, mostly at Springfield.

Youth was served last year at DuQuoin and unfortunately the defending winner will not return. Nineteen-year-old Parker Kligerman became the youngest race winner in DuQuoin stock car history in 2010 and he did it in dramatic fashion. After crashing in qualifications the youngster started dead last in the 34-car field and by lap 55 took the lead from A.J. Fike and was never headed again, winning his second dirt track event in just his second dirt track start! Kligerman also set a record for the worst starting position by a stock car race winner at DuQuoin since the hard tops took to the Magic Mile in 1950. Kligerman moved on to the NASCAR Nationwide Series for selected races.

The Federated-Southern Illinois 100 shapes up again to be a battle of youth vs. experience with Illinois drivers trying to sneak into victory lane as Frank Kimmel tries to break the tie he has with the late Dean Roper and post a record sixth Southern Illinois 100 win. Menard’s-Ansell Pole qualifying is slated for 11 a.m. following the 9-10 a.m. practice session. Drivers will shoot for the track record set in September of 2008 by Ricky Stenhouse of 32.896 (109.436 MPH). The start of the Federated-Southern Illinois 100 is set for 1 p.m. following the 20-mile Bill Oldani Memorial. The 100-mile ARCA track record of 90.101 (1:06:35.00) was set in September of 1983 by Dean Roper.

- Du Quoin State Fairgrounds Press Release

Max Gresham

The 17-year-old Griffin, GA driver proved that he would be a contender for the win wheeling his Gresham Motorsports Toyota to the fifth-fastest time out off 44 cars that took to the .875-mile Iowa oval in qualifying.

Gresham, who won the pole and finished sixth in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem (IN) Speedway in his only other ARCA career start earlier this season, quickly jumped into the third position at the drop of the green flag.

Along with leaders Tom Hessert and Ty Dillon, Gresham set a blistering pace lapping half of the 40-car starting grid in the first 35 circuits. The first caution flew just three laps later bunching the field for a Lap 46 restart.

Gresham, a high school senior student at Woodward Academy in College Park, GA this fall, quickly drove by Dillon for second and set his sights on Hessert and the lead as the field got back up to speed.

Another caution, this one on Lap 53, gave Gresham the opportunity he needed as he powered past Hessert for the top spot on the restart. The lead pair quickly encountered lapped traffic as they waged a furious battle for the next 35 laps before the yellow flag waved again on Lap 88.

That sent Gresham to pit road and to the attention to his Gresham Motorsports crew where he took fuel and four tires. Now fourth on the restart behind Tim George, Jr., Matt Crafton and Justin Marks, Gresham blasted his way up to third and ran there through Lap 125 before his Toyota started pushing off the corner.

Now battling the tight condition, Gresham slipped back to seventh in the running order before the fourth caution flag of the event waived with just over 50 laps remaining. Gresham again headed to pit road for fresh tires and a chassis adjustment and lined up 12th on the restart. Unfortunately, he still had his hands full over the final 45 laps and could never catch the leaders finishing 10th.

It was Gresham’s third Top-10 finish in as many events at Iowa including a win in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series Goodyear Dealers 200 earlier this year.

- Gresham Motorsports Press Release

(BROOKLYN, Mich.) - Make it five.

ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards Logo

Kile’s late afternoon lap of 39.430 seconds (182.602 mph) helped the Concord, N.C.-based team achieve the best speed for the fifth consecutive open test for the 2010 season, dating back to an open session at Daytona International Speedway in December. The team also carried the top spot at Palm Beach (Fla.) International Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway, and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in recent months.

ARCA Racing Series standings leader Patrick Sheltra steered the No. 60 Toyota to the day’s second spot with an afternoon lap of 39.455 seconds (182.486 mph).

The top speeds came late in the afternoon, in the warmest hours of the day. Numerous teams chose the final hours of the 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. session to simulate actual qualifying runs, as time trials for the Racing for Wildlife 200 are scheduled for a 3 p.m. start on Thursday, June 10.

“We came here and went third in the first practice,” Sheltra said. “We just wanted to play around with some things and see if we could get better in the long run on old tires. We’re still pretty good. We went out there and did a qualifying run in the heat of the day and ended up second. I hope we can get back here and qualify like that.”

Kile and the Venturini camp chose to push his Camry to the limit in the session’s waning hours.

“We stayed on old tires most of the day, and it seemed pretty quick,” said Kile, who stands fifth in points through six of 20 races. “We were a little tight, but I think that was mostly old tires and no fuel. We’re just looking forward to coming back and racing here, because I think we’ve got a pretty good hot rod.”

Kile noted that quick speeds today may not necessarily yield the same results in 17 days for 100 laps of competition.

“I think if we were racing today, we’d be in good shape, but then you get the (NASCAR Sprint) Cup cars and the rubber they lay down on the race track that kind of changes it a little bit, so hopefully that plays in our favor a little bit,” Kile said.

Steve Arpin provided Venturini with another high position on the final chart, finishing with the third-fastest lap in the afternoon after going fifth in the morning in the No. 55 Toyota. Craig Goess drove the No. 81 Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota to the fastest lap in the three-hour morning session at 39.475 seconds (182.394 mph) before finishing with the fifth-fastest afternoon lap.

Like Arpin and Goess, Sheltra and Kile posted top-five laps in each session.

Shelby Township, Mich. native Robb Brent enjoyed the chance to race at his home superspeedway, but seemed ready to forget the test and get to regular racing after a minor afternoon incident.

“I love this place. It’s a big, fast track. We had a rough day. The car wasn’t handling right, and we spun out down in Turns 1 and 2,” Brent said. “We didn’t hit anything, at least, but it was rough. We couldn’t quite get a handle on the car like we wanted to, and the clutch eventually went at the end of the day.

“We’ll see how it goes, but that’s why the race is what counts. I think we’ll be ready to go. I’m excited to come back here; it should be fun.”

Nine-time ARCA Racing Series champion Frank Kimmel drove the No. 44 Ansell / Menards Ford to the fourth spot in the morning before finishing eighth in the afternoon.

The Racing for Wildlife 200 takes the green flag at Michigan International Speedway at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 11 with live television coverage provided by SPEED and live radio broadcast coverage provided by the BAS Racing Network and streamed online at ARCARacing.com.

The ARCA Racing Series Presented by RE/MAX and Menards features 20 events at 17 tracks on its 2010 schedule. The series has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 racetracks in 28 states since its inception. The series tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as left- and right-turn street and road courses.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.

MICHIGAN INT’L SPEEDWAY TEST – 5/25/10

NO DRIVER MAKE TIME SPEED

1 25 Mikey Kile Toyota 39.430 182.602

2 60 Patrick Sheltra Toyota 39.455 182.486

3 81 Craig Goess Toyota 39.475 182.394

4 44 Frank Kimmel Ford 39.655 181.566

5 55 Steve Arpin Chevy 39.678 181.461

6 47 Clayton Rogers Chevy 39.718 181.278

7 31b Scott Wimmer Chevy 39.787 180.964

8 6 Nelson Piquet Toyota 39.804 180.886

9 09 Grant Enfinger Ford 39.836 180.741

10 32 Justin Marks Toyota 39.883 180.528

11 16b Joey Coulter Chevy 39.900 180.451

12 82 Sean Corr Ford 40.090 179.596

13 15 Alli Owens Chevy 40.148 179.336

14 16a Joey Coulter Chevy 40.173 179.225

15 22b Dakoda Armstrong Dodge 40.175 179.216

16 77a Tom Hessert Dodge 40.228 178.980

17 17 Chase Mattioli Ford 40.309 178.620

18 36 Robb Brent Dodge 40.311 178.611

19 99 Josh Richards Ford 40.366 178.368

20 42 Mario Gosselin Chevy 40.462 177.945

21 31a Tim George Chevy 40.588 177.392

22 71 Max Gresham Toyota 40.656 177.096

23 27 Michael Simko Chevy 40.748 176.696

24 11 Bryan Silas Ford 40.870 176.168

25 7 Kent Schenkel Dodge 41.158 174.936

26 58 Chad Hackenbracht Chevy 41.258 174.512

27 77b Tom Hessert Dodge 41.532 173.360

28 70 Tony Palumbo Ford 41.803 172.236

29 70a Mike Holt Ford 43.248 166.482

30 10 Rick Cliffton Chevy 43.895 164.028

31 10a Ed Pompa Chevy 46.475 154.922

- ARCA Press Release

Tim George Jr.

The New York, N.Y., native was confident he had a car capable of a top-five finish for Sunday’s Menards 200 Presented by Federated Car Care ARCA Racing Series race at Toledo Speedway. George’s 29th career ARCA Racing Series race ended prematurely, however, when he was involved in a mid-race multi-car accident that left him with his first DNF (Did Not Finish) of 2010.

“It was an honor for me to make RCR’s first start ever at Toledo Speedway today, while Dale Earnhardt was being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame by Richard Childress,” said George. “We had a good race setup on the No. 31, and the ECR guys consistently put out great engines for us.”

After starting 15th in the 32-car field, George methodically made his way to the front of the field by passing around in the high groove in turns one and two on the tight .5-mile oval. He was in 17th place on lap 57 of the 200-lap race, when a caution came out. The lead lap cars pitted one lap later, and crew chief Gere Kennon elected to pit and take four tires along with fuel.

As a result of close side-by-side racing on lap 98, a pileup occurred as he exited turn two. Contact was made between Patrick Sheltra and Matt Crafton, which collected A.J. Frank, Craig Goess, Robb Brent and George. The clean-up resulted in a red-flag condition.

The No. 31 RCR Development Chevrolet suffered damage including a crushed radiator, which caused water and oil loss. The car was unable to be repaired in the infield, forcing George to take a 25th place finish. This was his only finish outside the top-20 this season.

“I would have loved to have finished the race but unfortunately only made it to about half way,” added George. “I just hate it for all the RCR guys, who work so hard on these cars to make them front-running contenders. We have a great short-track program at RCR, and I look forward to racing at the next. Now, we’re off to speedway races at Pocono and Michigan.”

The race had ten cautions for 58 laps, with 10 drivers failing to finish the 100-mile race.

George fell two spots in the ARCA Racing Series championship standings and is now tied with Joey Coulter for 9th place. He is now 240 points behind series leader Patrick Sheltra, after round six of 20 races complete.

George will return to the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards at Pocono Raceway for the Messina Wildlife Animal Stopper 200 on June 5 at 4 p.m.

- Activ8 Communications Press Release

ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards Logo

West Lake, Louisiana’s Mikey Kile, in a Venturini Motorsports Toyota, led the charts circling the 1.5-mile speedway in 29.033 seconds, an average speed of 185.995 mph.

Brandon McReynolds, in an ESR Toyota, was second quickest overall at 185.752 mph. McReynolds is the son of former crew chief and current FOX race analyst Larry McReynolds. McReynolds hopes to make his first career ARCA Racing Series start in the Rattlesnake 150.

“It definitely helps chatting with Dad and other guys that have been around here a lot,” said Brandon, whose father served as a successful crew chief for the likes of Dale Earnhardt and Davey Allison, among others. “It definitely helped being around the race tracks. I’m comfortable because I’ve been here before. I’ve seen the facility. Obviously, with Dad over here, it is amazing the things he can tell you even though he didn’t drive the race car; he really knows what he’s doing.”

Steve Arpin, suffering from flu-like symptoms, took just 20 laps around the track but managed the third fastest speed (184.647 mph).

“We’ve got a really good car, but to be honest, my whole body aches,” said Arpin. “I woke up sick Sunday night, and I’m just not at my best. We’re going to lean on my teammate Mikey (Kile) for the notes. He made a bunch of runs, so that’s going to help a lot. This track’s so fast; one mistake and you’re going to be in trouble. Car’s great though. I know that.”

Craig Goess, also in an ESR car, was fourth on the charts.

“We made good, steady progress all day,” Goess said. “We tried a bunch of stuff; some worked, some didn’t. But we learned a lot. We should be very competitive when we come back. First time on the track for me; it’s fast alright. You find yourself holding your breath for the first few runs. It takes a while to figure out just how much corner speed you can carry here. Winner of this race is going to be on his toes.”

Grant Enfinger, in a Ford, was fifth fastest followed by Chad Finley in a Brad Keselowski Racing Chevrolet.

“We worked on our aero package all day,” said the 17-year-old Finley, the son of former ARCA Racing Series winner Jeff Finley. “Mostly, it was just me getting used to how fast everything happens here. I talked to Brad (Keselowski) on Saturday and he gave me some pointers. It helped a lot. He talked about the transitions of the corners here, that it takes some getting used to.”

For many of the ARCA drivers, the test was the first opportunity for them to get a look and feel for ‘The Great American Speedway!’

“You always hear about the racing going on in Texas,” veteran ARCA Racing Series driver Patrick Sheltra said. “To come here and experience that is amazing. To come back here for the first time since 1998, you really see how far Texas Motor Speedway has come. It’s a blessing for ARCA to come back here.”

For a pair of Texans, today’s test session was more than just about logging laps.

Lance Fenton, of nearby Tyler, and Nur Ali, of Fort Worth, took their cars around Texas Motor Speedway for the first time. Ali, who has raced on Texas Motor Speedway’s road course while competing in the Star Mazda Series, has yet to compete on the 1.5-mile oval. Ali, who moved from Pakistan to Fort Worth in 1983 and graduated from Trinity High School, is looking forward to the opportunity to race in front of the hometown crowd next month.

“It’s been exciting,” Ali said. “I’ve always wanted to be in NASCAR. I’ve grown up in Texas for the last 27 years and Fort Worth is home. I’m very excited that the ARCA Series is now participating at Texas during the NASCAR weekend. We are excited about racing here at home in front of the home crowd.”

For Fenton, racing close to home provides some added pressure to perform but is definitely looking forward to his first opportunity to compete at Texas Motor Speedway.

“We are really stoked about being close to home and getting to come back to home turf,” Fenton said. “I tell everyone that I get to race, but none of them get to see it at the other tracks so it will be cool to bring the entourage and make it a local event for me.”

The test session marked yet another opportunity for former Formula One driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to gain more track time. Piquet Jr., the son of three-time Formula One champion Nelson Piquet, is making the transition from the open-wheel discipline to stock cars. To ease into his transition, Piquet Jr. is running a limited number of ARCA and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events this year. That schedule includes two stops at Texas Motor Speedway, the first being the Rattlesnake 150 and then the WinStar World Casino 400k NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on June 4. For Piquet Jr., the test session offered him yet another opportunity to enhance his learning curve as he makes the transition.

“Every day I’ve been learning about a lot, hearing stories,” said Nelson, who made his debut in both the ARCA Racing Series and Camping World Truck Series at Daytona in February. “The driving part is taking a bit of awhile because I’m not in a car every day. For me, it’s tougher to run these kinds of cars than a normal road course. Hopefully slowly, I’ll get more and more use to it. Today is a big day for me.”

The Rattlesnake 150 race caps off The Dallas Morning News Qualifying Days on Friday, April 16, that will feature qualifying in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series for the Samsung Mobile 500 and O’Reilly Auto Parts 300, respectively. The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards kicks off the race week action for the Samsung Mobile 500 with practice and qualifying for the Rattlesnake 150 on Thursday, April 15.

Tickets for the Samsung Mobile 500 race week events are available by calling (817) 215-8500 or by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com.

ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards

POS NO DRIVER MAKE TIME SPEED

1 25 Mikey Kile Toyota 29.033 185.995

2 2 Brandon McReynolds Toyota 29.071 185.752

3 55 Steve Arpin Chevy 29.245 184.647

4 81 Craig Goess Toyota 29.336 184.074

5 09 Grant Enfinger Ford 29.352 183.974

6 29 Chad Finley Chevy 29.422 183.536

7 16b Joey Coulter Chevy 29.490 183.113

8 82 Sean Corr Ford 29.502 183.038

9 60 Patrick Sheltra Toyota 29.601 182.426

11 11 Bryan Silas Ford 29.768 181.403

12 31b Scott Wimmer Chevy 29.782 181.318

13 15 Alli Owens Chevy 29.786 181.293

14 22 Dakoda Armstrong Dodge 29.904 180.578

15 36 Robb Brent Dodge 29.947 180.319

16 6 Nelson Piquet, Jr. Toyota 29.969 180.186

17 38 Alex Kennedy Dodge 30.080 179.521

18 12 Nur Ali Chevy 30.353 177.907

19 77 Tom Hessert Dodge 30.543 176.800

20 95 Lance Fenton Dodge 30.547 176.777

21 31a Tim George Chevy 31.024 174.059

- ARCA Press Release

ARCA RE/MAX Series Logo

ARCA RE/MAX Series drivers who maintain an ARCA Nation page and have participated in 50 percent of ARCA RE/MAX Series races in 2009 are in contention for the award, which will be presented at the ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship Awards Banquet in Covington, Kentucky, on Saturday, December 5.

Eddie Sharp Racing’s Justin Lofton and Cunningham Motorsports’ Penske Development Driver Parker Kligerman just concluded a tight ARCA RE/MAX Series championship battle, finishing first and second in points, respectively. Now that their on-track battle has concluded, it is up to race fans to determine who is the most popular driver in ARCA? There are 15 drivers in contention for the 2009 National Speed Sport News ARCA Most Popular Driver Award, including Lofton, Kligerman, Barry Fitzgerald, Alli Owens, Bryan Silas, Darrell Basham, Frank Kimmel, Jason Basham, Joey Coulter, Kory Rabenold, Patrick Sheltra, Robb Brent, Steve Arpin, Tim George, Jr. and Tom Hessert.

Race fans who log onto http://www.arcanation.com to vote for the 2009 National Speed Sport News ARCA Most Popular Driver will have the opportunity to purchase a specially-priced subscription to National Speed Sport News, the most recognizable name in weekly motor sports journalism since 1934.

Race fans can also win a trip for two to the December 5, 2009, ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship Awards Banquet. The trip includes transportation, lodging and spending money.

Race fans can vote once per day for the Most Popular Driver; but votes from fans who are ARCA Nation members count twice as compared to their non-member counterparts, which count once.

To join ARCA Nation, visit www.arcanation.com.

2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship Awards Banquet

The 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship Awards Banquet, honoring the stars of ARCA, will take place on Saturday, December 5, 2009, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky. For tickets, call (734) 847-6726.

- ARCA Press Release

Kentucky Speedway Logo

Current championship leader Parker Kligerman and second-place driver Justin Lofton were on hand to mentor teammates, while nine-time series champion and four-time Kentucky Speedway race-winner Frank Kimmel was hard at work turning laps in his No. 44 Ford.

Kligerman, who owns a 55-point lead over Lofton after collecting a series-leading three wins and a total of five top-five and eight top-10 finishes through nine events, was advising stock car newcomer Dakoda Armstrong, but remained intensely interested in the information gained from his team’s test laps.

“Dakoda has done a little bit of stock car stuff and just wanted a little help getting used to this place; it’s the fastest place he’s been,” Kligerman said.

The 18-year-old Penske Racing developmental prospect saw his original part-time campaign convert to a full-season scenario when he came out of the gate with two top-five and a total four top-10 finishes through the first four races of the season.

While unexpected, his full-time cushion hasn’t changed his go-for-broke race mentality that has helped him claim victory in three of the past four series events.

“We’re coming to every race with the intention to win because we didn’t think we’d be here for the full season. We’re focusing on the points, but we’re also focusing on winning. We really feel we should have won one more in addition to our three,” he said.

The Connecticut native’s only finish outside a race top-10 this season was a 17th-place showing in the May 9 “Drive Smart. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150.” He plans to make amends for that performance in 12 days.

“I think it will be hotter than the last race, so the tires might be a little slower and we might move around a little more. I think we have a good package from last race, which is one of the races I feel we at least should’ve finished second. I kind of threw it away coming of Turn 4 on the inside with a couple of laps to go trying to catch the leaders. We want to come back and get vengeance on this place,” he said.

Lofton, who has picked up a win and a total of seven top-five finishes this season, served as lead consultant for his Eddie Sharp Racing teammates Craig Goess, currently fifth in the championship standings, and Tim George, Jr., ranked 10th in standings.

“I made a couple of laps, but it’s actually fun having people wanting you to come out and help them, but it’s not as much fun as being in the racecar and doing your own thing,” Lofton said.

He’ll also be searching for Kentucky Speedway redemption in the “Click It or Ticket. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150” after placing second in a May event he feels he could’ve won.

“I’m hoping I’ll make up for the first race here when we finished second with such a strong racecar. We hit something on the track and put a hole in the nose. It’s beneficial for me to be here to spend some time on the track and some time off it to see the different changes everyone is making and which way the track is going,” he added.

Nine-time series champion Frank Kimmel will make a run at his fifth Kentucky Speedway victory in the upcoming 150-mile affair.

The Clarksville, Ind., driver and team owner earned his series track leading 11th top-five and 13th top-10 finish with a fifth-place May showing.

“The track was awesome last time we were here. It had a lot of grip, it was a night race and we were running really fast. We were really happy with the car. We probably had a top-three car, but ended up fifth the way things fell out. I’m looking forward to coming back. We’re testing today and hopefully we can make the car even better,” he said.

Kimmel enters the series’ July 11 race at Iowa Speedway third in the series standings after collecting two top-five and four top-10 finishes. The veteran sits 230 points back of the leader, but plans to make a strong run at the young gun in the remaining 12 races on the schedule.

“Parker’s been tough and he’s going to be hard to beat all year long. He’s doing a great job, but he’s not really had any problems. We’ll just keep plugging along, doing our thing. If we can be more competitive, we’ll just push him as hard as we can,” he added.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne was a surprise guest in the Kentucky garages where he worked on transitioning ARCA RE/MAX Series hopeful Brad Sweet to stock car racing. Kahne set up Sweet’s car and turned the second-fastest lap of the morning session at 172.712-mph (31.266 seconds). Joey Coulter topped the first session with a 172.767-mph (31.256 second) trip around the 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway tri-oval.

Visit arcaracing.com for a full list of drivers and their times from the morning and afternoon sessions.

Kentucky Speedway’s third of four 2009 race weekends opens July 17 with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series practice sessions from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Action continues July 18 with a doubleheader race day featuring the NCWTS “Built Ford Tough 225 Presented by the Greater Cincinnati Ford Dealers” followed by the “Click It or Ticket. Buckle-Up! Kentucky 150.” The day also includes a concert with classic country music artist Lee Greenwood.

Weekend tickets, new infield camping and more Big Deals can be reserved online by visiting www.kentuckyspeedway.com, by phone at 888-652-RACE (7223) or through the Kentucky Speedway ticket offices at 400 Buttermilk Pike, Suite 100, in Ft. Mitchell, Ky., or the Sparta, Ky., Fan Center off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Hwy. 35 North. Fans also can reserve tickets at Meijer stores and Tickets.com outlets.

- Kentucky Speedway Press Release

ARCA RE/MAX Series Logo

Among the entrants for the test is 15-time AMA Motocross champion Ricky Carmichael in the no. 33 Kevin Harvick, Inc. (KHI) Chevrolet. Nicknamed the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time), Carmichael also has 14 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on his 2009 calendar with the KHI team.

Other ARCA test entrants include Austin Dillon, the grandson of Richard Childress Racing team owner Richard Childress. Dillon recently finished a career-best second at Michigan Int’l Speedway in mid-June.

Nine-time ARCA RE/MAX Series champion and four-time Kentucky winner Frank Kimmel is also entered as is newcomer/open-wheel driver Dakoda Armstrong out of New Castle, Indiana. Armstrong debuted with the RE/MAX Series at Toledo Speedway in a Ken Schrader Racing entry and finished 20th. Armstrong will be in a Cunningham Motorsports-prepared Dodge for the Kentucky test. Current ARCA RE/MAX Series point leader Parker Kligerman, who also drives for Cunningham Motorsports, is not scheduled to test; however, the 18-year-old rookie sensation is planning to attend the test to assist Armstrong.

Second-generation driver Brent Brevak is also scheduled to test. Brevak is the son of 1990 ARCA RE/MAX Series national champion Bob Brevak.

Eddie Sharp Racing is also planning to bring two drivers – rookies’ Tim George, Jr., of New York, NY, and Craig Goess, of Greenville, NC. Both are currently in the top-10 in championship points.

Other entries as of this day include Bryan Silas (Stuart, FL/4th in championship points), JR Heffner (Stephentown, NY), Chad Hackenbracht (Denver, NC), Grant Enfinger (Fairhope, AL) and Brad Sweet.

The ARCA RE/MAX Series open test at Kentucky Speedway will also feature live timing & scoring at ARCAracing.com of all the on-track activity, scheduled from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET.

In addition to Kimmel, former ARCA RE/MAX Series winners at Kentucky include Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Steve Wallace, Tim Steele, Erik Darnell, Brad Coleman, Michael McDowell and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. to name a few.

The Click It or Ticket Buckle-Up Kentucky 150, which follows the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, marks the 19th appearance of the ARCA RE/MAX Series at Kentucky Speedway since 2000.

ARCA RE/MAX Series Logo

The 19-year-old driver circled the .875-mile short track in 23.138 seconds, an average speed of 136.140 mph. The one-lap track record was set by Steve Wallace in 2006 at 137.357 mph.

“We got to try a lot of different things today,” said Coulter. “We found out how the car reacts to big and small changes. We were really fast right out of the trailer, and then just adjusted on it little by little. After lunch, we made some really big changes, completely changed the set-up. Then, right before our quickest lap, we made our last adjustment – a combination of things, track bar, wedge and changed a couple shocks.

“It’s the same set-up that we’re using in the race, but we had the nose taped off and the tires set at qualifying pressures.”

Coulter, who has climbed to 6th in championship points, is on a role lately with three consecutive top-five finishes, including a career-best second at Mansfield last weekend.

“It’s the same situation as Mansfield. This will be my third time here at Iowa, so I could spend more time on how the car works on the track rather than having to spend all my time learning the track, or both.”

In all, 15 drivers tested in preparation for the next event on tour – the Prairie Meadows 200 at the Newton, Iowa track on Saturday, July 11.

ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Austin Dillon, also in a Chevrolet, was second on the speed charts with a speed of 134.967 mph. Dillon, the grandson of Richard Childress Racing team owner Richard Childress, is also coming off a career-best run at Michigan Int’l Speedway where he finished second in mid-June.

Sixteen-year-old Chris Buescher was third on the charts in the Roulo Brothers-prepared David Ragan Fan Club Ford. The Prosper, Texas rookie posted a best speed of 134.495 mph.

NASCAR Camping World East Series racer/winner Brian Ickler was fourth overall at 134.088 mph.

Johanna Long, in a Venturini Motorsports-prepared Chevrolet, made her first laps in an ARCA RE/MAX Series car in the open test, posting the fifth best speed overall at 133.786 mph. Long, 17, recently made headlines at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida with a victory in the super late model Blizzard Series. Long dominated the 100-lap race from the pole leading the most laps en route to the win, her second triumph in three attempts in the Blizzard Series at Five Flags.

There was only one on-track incident when Tim George, Jr. spun off turn four and backed into the outer retaining wall. He was not injured.

Dakoda Armstrong, in a Cunningham Motorsports Dodge, made the most laps during the open test circling the track 111 times.

2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series Open Testing
Iowa Speedway, Newton IA, 6-30-09
Overall Results

NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN CAR TIME SPEED

16 Joey Coulter/Miami Springs FL Chevrolet 23.138 136.140

31 Austin Dillon/Welcome NC Chevrolet 23.339 134.967

17 Chris Buescher/Prosper TX Ford 23.421 134.495

51 Brian Ickler/Mooresville NC Toyota 23.492 134.088

25 Johanna Long/Pensacola FL Chevrolet 23.545 133.786

6 Justin Lofton/Westmorland CA Toyota 23.689 132.973

32c James Buescher/Plano TX Toyota 23.706 132.878

32b Matt Merrell/Portland TX Toyota 23.780 132.464

4 Dakoda Armstrong/New Castle IN Dodge 23.787 132.425

60 Patrick Sheltra/Indiantown FL Dodge 23.839 132.136

20 Steve Arpin/Fort Frances ON Toyota 23.853 132.059

81 Craig Goess/Greenville NC Toyota 23.854 132.053

2 Tim George Jr./New York NY Toyota 23.995 131.277

36a Robb Brent/Shelby Township MI Dodge 24.045 131.004

32a Matt Merrell/Portland TX Toyota 24.066 130.890

58 Chad Hackenbracht Chevrolet 24.276 129.758

36b Robb Brent/Shelby Township MI Dodge 24.628 127.903

- ARCA Press ReleaseMNa

ARCA RE/MAX Series Logo

The event, named in honor of the late Tim Richmond, marks the first appearance of the 57-year-old ARCA RE/MAX Series tour at Mansfield, but not so for the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series, which will be joining the RE/MAX Series for an ARCA double-header at the Mansfield, Ohio paved oval.

Richmond, who was born and raised in nearby Ashland, Ohio, won the 1981 Daytona ARCA 200 prior to launching his very successful NASCAR career.

Entries for the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200 have already been received from current series point leader Justin Lofton and Penske Racing development driver Parker Kligerman, who just graduated from high school in Westport, Connecticut last week.

ARCA RE/MAX Series veterans entered include 9-time ARCA RE/MAX Series champion Frank Kimmel, Indiantown, Florida’s Patrick Sheltra, Stuart, Florida’s Bryan Silas and Cherry Hill, New Jersey’s Tom Hessert.

Several RE/MAX Series rookies are also entered including 16-year-old Chris Buescher of Prosper, Texas in the David Ragan Fan Club Ford, New York, New York’s Tim George, Jr., Miami Springs, Florida’s Joey Coulter and Greenville, North Carolina’s Craig Goess.

Canadian drivers’ Terry Jones (Amherstburg ON/Jones Group Racing), Steve Arpin (Fort Frances, ON/Eddie Sharp Racing) and Nice, France’s Michel Disdier (Bowsher Racing) will add a good bit of international flavor to the overall mix.

The ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series made a pair of Mansfield appearances over the years in 2003 and 2005. Hahn, the defending series champion, won the last ARCA Truck race at Mansfield in July of 2005.

Raceday features an action-packed day of activity with ARCA Truck practice from 1:30 to 2:30 followed by RE/MAX Series practice from 2:30 to 4:00. Qualifying for the Trucks is at 4:15 followed by RE/MAX Series qualifying (Menard Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell) at 5:00. The fan-friendly affair also features an on-track autograph session from 6:00 to 6:45. Racing gets underway at 7:00 with the 50-lap ARCA Lincoln Welders 100 Truck Series event followed by the grand finale – the Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA RE/MAX 200 mile race, set for 8:30 PM.

ARCA Racing Network to Broadcast All Day at Mansfield

The ARCA Racing Network will be covering all the on-track activity for both the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series and the ARCA RE/MAX Series from Mansfield. Listen and watch live streaming audio and video of practice, qualifying and both races at ARCAracing.com inside the ARCA Nation.

- ARCA Press Release