 TALLADEGA,
AL (April, 24, 2009) -- Justin Lofton led 46 of 97 race laps en route to
winning the ARCA RE/MAX 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. The 23-year-old
driver held off 59-year-old Bill Baird to notch his second career ARCA RE/MAX
Series win.
Forty-one cars were on hand Friday for qualifying with 39 cars posting times
on the 2.66-mile oval.
Tom Hessert was the fastest in qualifying with a time of 51.321 seconds
(186.590 mph). Craig Goess was second followed by Kelly Bires, Justin Lofton
and Mark Thompson.
The 250-mile race was exceptionally well run by the ARCA competitors with
just one multi-car accident-- the result of Mark Thompson's blown engine.
The Talladega race had just five cautions for 27 laps compared to the
season-opener at Daytona in which more than half of the race was run under
caution.
Drivers leading during the event included; Tom Hessert 1-10 (10 laps), Kelly
Bires 11-45 (35 laps), Bryan Silas 46, 51 (2 laps), Ali Owens 47-50 (4 laps)
and Justin Lofton 52-97 (46 laps).
Lofton, who started fourth, finished the race .200 seconds ahead of Bill
Baird who started ninth. Baird was followed to the finish line by Grant
Enfinger, Mikey Kile and Frank Kimmel in third through fifth, respectively.
At 59 years old, Baird was vying to become the oldest winner in the 57-year
history of the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
Sixteen of the 41 race starters finished the race on the led lap.
Parker Kligerman remains atop the driver standings with 815 points followed
by Justin Lofton with 800 points.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series takes a week off before returning to action Saturday,
May 9, at Kentucky Speedway.
For more information visit www.arcaracing.com.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series competes exclusively on Hoosier racing tires.
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