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 CONCORD,
NC (October 9) -- Despite battling rainy conditions in the days
leading up to the event, the ARCA RE/MAX Series was able to run the
"Easy Care Vehicle Service Contracts 150" at Lowe's Motor
Speedway on Thursday night. Rain would return during the race however,
causing ARCA officials to declare the race complete after 66 laps in
the scheduled 100-lap event. When the call was finally made just after
11:00 pm, Kirk Shelmerdine was the race winner after opting not to pit
earlier in the race. Despite finishing well back in the field after
pitting prior to the rain, defending series champion Frank Kimmel won
his 5th ARCA RE/MAX Series championship in six years. Kimmel had such
an enormous lead in the standings heading into the event, he only
needed to start the race to capture the title.
The 40-car field started the race late Thursday
evening after rain pushed back the race start until shortly before
10:00 pm. The field was set by owner points after rain washed out
qualifying. This put Frank Kimmel on the pole with Jason Jarrett
alongside. Kimmel took the lead from the outset leading through lap
25, before 30th starting Kyle Busch moved into the lead. The younger brother
of Winston Cup star Kurt Busch led for 16 laps, before 18th starting
Kirk Shelmerdine inherited the race lead after the front runners came
into the pits for servicing. Shelmerdine led the next 25 laps before
the rain returned forcing ARCA officials to declare the race complete
on lap 66 with Shelmerdine claiming the win. Finishing in second place
was 27th starting A.J. Henrikson followed by Jeremy Clements. Clements
started 38th among the 40-car starting field.
Amazingly, 26 of the 40 starters finished the race on
the lead lap. Rounding out the top ten were Andy Ponstein in fourth,
David Boggs, Jason Jarrett, Christi Passmore, Shelby Howard, Billy
Venturini and Brent Sherman in fifth through tenth, respectively. The
race also had five caution periods for 41 laps.
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 Frank
Kimmel also claimed his fifth ARCA Series title in six years heading
into the season finale next weekend. The ARCA RE/MAX Series will
conclude its 2003 campaign Saturday, October 18, at South Boston, VA
for the twice-postponed race at South Boston Speedway.
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. is proud to have been
selected by the ARCA Series as their exclusive tire provider through
the 2006 season.
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