 NEWTON,
IA (October 15, 2006) -- The ARCA RE/MAX Series closed its 2006 season making
its first-ever stop at the newly opened Iowa Speedway on Sunday.
Nineteen-year-old Steve Wallace dominated the "Prairie Meadows 250".
The son of former NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Rusty Wallace led 177 of the 250
race laps en route to capturing his third win of the season. Wallace narrowly
edged Kraig Kinser, son of 20-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car champion Steve
Kinser, at the finish. Wallace won by just .208 seconds over the hard charging
Kinser. The close finish also draws the curtain on one of the most exciting
seasons ever in the 54-year history of the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Amazingly,
the 23-race season enjoyed 17 different winners this year. The race also marked
the conclusion of the 12th consecutive season Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. has
been the exclusive tire provider to the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
Fifty-four cars posted times in qualifying hoping to capture one of the 41
starting spots for Sunday's race. Steve Wallace set fast time circling the pristine
7/8-mile track in 22.933 seconds (137.357 mph), while Joey Miller, Juan
Montoya, Ryan Foster and Blake Bjorklund rounded out the top five in
qualifying.
The 250-lap race featured nine leaders among six different drivers. Drivers
leading during the event included; Steve Wallace (1-4, 19-21, 81-250), Juan
Montoya (5-18), Ryan Foster (22-42), Mario Gosselin (43-54, 60), Kraig Kinser
(55-59) and Brian Keselowski. The race also had nine cautions for a total of 69
laps.
At the finish, Steve Wallace took the win by .208 seconds over Kraig Kinser.
Kinser was followed to the line by Justin Marks, Michael McDowell and Ryan
Foster in third through fifth. Bobby Santos finished sixth followed by Dexter
Bean, Chase Pistone, Billy Venturini and Brian Keselowski in seventh through
tenth, respectively.
Despite retiring early due to an overheating problem which relegated him to a
32nd place finish, Frank Kimmel was crowned the 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series
champion. Kimmel had four wins this season while capturing his seventh
consecutive, and eighth overall, championship in the series.
All ARCA RE/MAX Series races are serviced out of Hoosier's
corporate headquarters in Lakeville, IN under the direction of Doug
Barnes. All of us at Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. would like to thank all the
members of the track service crew for their outstanding service and
professionalism displayed throughout the entire 23-race schedule.
The entire Hoosier Racing Tire organization extends its sincere
appreciation to the ARCA RE/MAX Series for selecting Hoosier as their exclusive
tire provider for the past 12 years. We also thank all the race teams who
competed on Tires Designed for Champions during the memorable 2006
season.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series will hold its annual awards banquet on
December 9th, in Covington, KY.
More information on the ARCA RE/MAX Series can be found on
their website www.arcaracing.com.
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