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 CONCORD,
NC (October 11) -- Walkerton, Indiana's Chad Blount continued his
impressive rookie season in the ARCA RE/MAX Series winning the final
race of the season at Lowe's Motor Speedway. The talented youngster
will move up to the NASCAR Busch Series next season where he hopes to
be as successful as he has been in the ARCA Series. Blount eventually
hopes to someday join other Indiana racing stars such as Jeff Gordon,
Tony Stewart, and Ryan Newman making their way to stock car racing's
top echelon, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.
A total of 51 cars attempted to make the 41-car
field for the EasyCare Vehicle Service Contracts 100. The race was to
have been run on Thursday, but persistent rains forced its
postponement until Friday afternoon with starting positions set by car
owner points which placed Frank Kimmel on the pole and Chad Blount
alongside. The original race length of 100 laps was shortened to 67
laps to accommodate a full schedule at the Lowe's facility on Friday
due to Thursday's rains.
At the outset, Frank Kimmel took the early race lead
over Blount leading the first seven laps. On lap eight, Chad Blount
took his first of two turns out front. Blount led until lap 17, when
NASCAR Craftsman Truck star Ron Hornaday moved into the race lead.
Hornaday held the lead for 21 laps before Blount moved back into the
lead for good on lap 38 when Hornaday opted to come in for servicing.
Blount, however, opted to run the entire 67-lap race without pitting
which proved to be the difference in the race. Both the second and
third place finishers, (Ron Hornaday and Frank Kimmel) came in for
fresh Hoosiers and fuel.
Rounding out the top five were Chris Moore and Bob
Strait. Moore, who started 38th, was making just his 3rd ARCA RE/MAX
start in claiming his fourth place finish. He also won the Hoosier
Tire Hard Charger Award for advancing the most positions. Nineteen
cars finished the 67-lap race on the lead-lap.
Hoosier's ARCA Product Manager Jeff Speer and Engineer
Rick Tostevin were at Lowe's Motor Speedway to offer technical assistance to the
54 ARCA teams.
Speer commented, "We have run this tire set-up for a couple of years here at Lowe's and have had good success with handling and wear. Several teams in the past have won this race
by pitting for two tires or none at all." Speer continued, "Depending how many yellow flags
are thrown and how the driver works the gas pedal, the cars can run
the entire 67 laps without fuel." Speer concluded, "And
although these compounds were designed to run into the cool evening hours,
our rain-delayed afternoon race ran flawlessly. The ARCA teams also use this tire
set-up at Atlanta Motor Speedway as well. And based on what we
observed in this race--we don't plan on changing a thing."
The final point standings for the ARCA RE/MAX Series
has Frank Kimmel capturing the championship with 6150 points. It was
Kimmel's fourth championship in the series in the last five seasons.
Chad Blount finishes his rookie season in second place with 5655
points. Jason Jarrett (5145), Chase Montgomery (4755), Shelby Howard
(4735), Billy Venturini (4680), Andy Belmont (4520), Mark Gibson
(4455), Ron Cox (4405), and Norm Benning (4230), round out the top ten
in the final ARCA Series standings.
Sadly, for the second consecutive year, the October
ARCA race at Lowe's Motor Speedway was marred by the death of one of
its competitors. On Wednesday during the three hour practice session,
Eric Martin tragically lost his life after a two-car crash in turn
four. It was one year ago in October, rising star Blaise Alexander
lost his life on the final lap of the Easy Care Vehicle Service
Contracts 100.
The entire Hoosier organization extends our thoughts
and prayers to the many friends, fans, and family members of Eric
Martin--God's Speed Eric.
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. was the exclusive tire
supplier to the ARCA RE/MAX Series in 2002, and will be again in 2003.
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