 SPARTA,
KY (May 10, 2008) -- Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. added his name to the growing list of
winners in the ARCA RE/MAX Series this year winning the Drive Smart! Buckle
Up Kentucky 150 at Kentucky Speedway Saturday night. The 20-year-old driver
used a late race caution to move past Scott Speed in the race's waning moments
to capture his first career win in only his sixth series start. Even more
important, the former USAC driver leaps into first place in the driver
standings over defending and 9-time series champion Frank Kimmel. Stenhouse
also becomes the sixth different driver to win this season in the six events
contested to date in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Last year, it took 10 races before
the series had a repeat winner.
Forty-one cars qualified in Kentucky with New Hampshire's Sean Caisse
posting the top time. Cassie circled the 1.5-mile oval in 30.275 seconds
(178.365 mph). Rob Brent was second followed by Jesse Smith, Michael Annett and
Ryan Fischer.
The event, which was run on Hoosier radial tires, was scheduled to be 100 laps, but several
late-race cautions extended the race an additional 12 laps. In fact, three
late-race cautions gave the Kentucky fans a thrilling ending to the
event.
Late in the race, it appeared Scott Speed was well on his way to his second
win of the season when a caution flag came out erasing his 10-car length lead
over 15th starting Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
Speed successfully fought off Stenhouse on the first restart before yet
another caution came out.
This time, Stenhouse was able to move around Speed to take over the race
lead. As luck would have it, another caution came out giving Speed another
chance at the win.
But Stenhouse successfully fought off Speed's challenge to take the
checkered flag .374 seconds ahead of Speed.
Canadian Ryan Fischer finished in third place followed by Ken Butler III and
John Wes Townley to round out the top five.
Fourteen of the 41 starters finished the race on the lead lap, while the
race was slowed 10 times for cautions for a total of 55 laps.
The race featured five lead changes among five different drivers including;
Sean Caisse 1-7 (7 laps), Michael Annett 8-38, (31 laps), Jake Francis 39-51
(13 laps), Scott Speed 52-106 (55 laps) and Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. 107-112 (6
laps).
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. takes over the point lead in the driver standings with
1365 points followed closely by Frank Kimmel with 1360 points. John Wes Townley
is in third (1320) followed by Matt Carter (1315) and Tom Hessert (1295) to round
out the top five.
Trackside tire sales and service was provided by Hoosier Racing Tire's track
service crew which included; Rick
Tostevin, David Wroblewski, Kevin Wroblewski, Rick Sisk, Luke Morris, Jake
Budzielek, Mike Haenes and Jim Bartholomew.
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. is proud to have been selected the
official tire of the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series travels next to Toledo (OH) Speedway
this Sunday, May 18th where the new Hoosier short-track radial will be used.
For more information about the ARCA RE/MAX Series visit www.arcaracing.com.
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