|
 SALEM,
IN (April 27) -- Not only did 17-year-old Shelby Howard become the
ARCA RE/MAX Series' youngest winning driver on Sunday, he did so over
hometown hero Frank Kimmel who had not lost an ARCA race at Salem
Speedway in five consecutive races. Howard, at 17 years and nine
months, now becomes the series youngest winner beating out previous
race winner Kyle Busch who ironically won at Nashville two weeks ago
at the age of 17 years and 11 months. Howard becomes the fourth
different ARCA winner in four events in 2003. Howard led two times for
76 laps in winning the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200.
Forty cars attempted to make the 34-car field Sunday
with Frank Kimmel shooting for an amazing 6th consecutive win at the
.555-mile track. Kimmel set fast time with his lap of 17.648 seconds
(113.214 mph). The 200-lap race had 10 cautions for a total of 61
laps. Other race leaders, in addition to Howard who led the final 20
laps, were Paul Menard twice for 26 laps, Frank Kimmel twice for 79
laps, and Billy Venturini once for 19 laps.
Following Howard to the finish line were Frank Kimmel,
Billy Venturini, Paul Menard and Andy Belmont in second through fifth,
respectively. Also of note, Justin Allgaier, son of Hoosier Tire
Midwest owner Mike Allgaier, finished a respectable 12th.
Currently, Frank Kimmel leads the ARCA RE/MAX Series
standings with 905 points followed by Billy Venturini (790), Mark
Gibson (745), Jason Jarrett (730) and Ron Cox (690).
ARCA Track Service Manager Doug Barnes commented,
"We were very pleased with the performance of the Hoosier tires
today. The race was exciting to the end and on behalf of Hoosier
Racing Tire, I would like to congratulate Shelby Howard on his
historic win."
The ARCA Series will next race this Sunday, May 4th,
at the paved 1/2-mile Toledo Speedway. Hoosier is the exclusive
supplier of tires to the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
|
