 WINCHESTER,
IN (May 7, 2006) -- Defending ARCA RE/MAX Series champion Frank Kimmel passed TJ
Bell in the final turn of the last lap to capture the ARCA 200 at Winchester
Speedway on Sunday. For the seven-time series champion, it was his first win of
the season. Last year, Kimmel notched an amazing seven wins during the 23-race
season. This one, however, came with a bit of luck. First, during a caution on
lap 185, Kimmel ran out of gas and was generously pushed to the pits by fellow
competitor Todd Bowsher who was paying back an old debt to the series champion.
Back in 2001, Kimmel loaned the rookie a car after Bowsher wrecked at Michigan.
Then, race leaders Justin Allgaier and Brett Rowe tangled on a lap 196 sending
the pair spinning and bringing out the race's final caution flag. The melee extended
the race distance two extra laps and handed the lead to TJ Bell and Kimmel for
a green-white-checker finish. Bell led the next five laps with Kimmel making his move on
the final turn of the last lap to claim the exciting win in front of a cheering
crowd.
Forty-two cars made the trip to the Hoosier speed plant with 37 cars taking
turns posting times in qualifying. Brett Rowe earned the Pork Pole Award as the
event's fastest qualifier circling the half-mile oval in 16.360 seconds
(110.024 mph). Justin Allgaier was second with a time of 16.477 (109.243
mph).
Thirty-five cars started the race which enjoyed six leaders among four
different drivers including; Justin Allgaier (1-37, 186-196), Brett Rowe
(38-88), Frank Kimmel (89-185, 202), TJ Bell (197-201). The race was slowed 12
times for cautions for a total of 73 laps.
TJ Bell finished .203 seconds behind Frank Kimmel at the finish line. Bell
was followed by Billy Leslie, Michael Simko and Bobby Gerhart to round out the
top five. Ryan Foster finished in sixth place with Justin Allgaier, Brett Rowe,
Ken Weaver and Randy VanZant completing the list of top ten finishers.
Other race notes: Walkerton, Indiana's Chad Blount, whose hometown is just minutes
away from Hoosier headquarters in Lakeville, finished 37th after an accident on
lap 20, while Randy VanZant won the Hoosier Tire Hard Charger Award for
advancing the most positions. VanZant finished tenth after starting 26th.
TIRES USED: Hoosier 11.5/26.0-15 12L (left side) and 11.5/27.0-15 20R
(right side) tires. Winchester is one of eight tracks the ARCA RE/MAX Series
visits on it's 23-race schedule in which a bias-ply tire is used, while Hoosier
speedway radials will be used at all other tracks the series visits in 2006.
ARCA RE/MAX Series events are serviced out of Hoosier headquarters in
Lakeville, IN. The service team at Winchester was led by Dave Wroblewski with
Chad Wright working as crew chief. Other members of the service team included
Kevin Wroblewski, Larry Merrill, Fred Awald and Mark Curtis--"on loan"
from the Hoosier warehouse.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series is back in action May 13, at Kentucky Speedway in
Sparta, KY. Frank Kimmel won last year's race--his first of seven wins last
season. For complete race results and more information about the ARCA RE/MAX
Series visit their website at www.arcaracing.com.
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