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 SPARTA,
KY (May 12, 2007) -- The 2007 edition of the ARCA RE/MAX Series is proving to
be quite an entertaining one. Last year, the series enjoyed a record-setting 17
different winners in the 23 races contested. This year is currently on pace to
surpass those numbers with seven different winners in the first seven races of
2008. The ARCA RE/MAX Series was in Kentucky last weekend for the running of
the Buckle-Up Kentucky 150. Erik Darnell was the latest driver to add
their name to the ever-growing list of winners this season. The Beach Park, IL
driver passed Erin Crocker with just six laps to go in Saturday night's 100-lap
race. Crocker was looking to become the first-ever female winner in the 55-year
history of the ARCA RE/MAX Series. It was her third runner-up finish in the
series.
Forty-six cars were on hand for the event with 40
of them taking the green flag before a sizeable crowd of Kentucky race
fans. In qualifying, Michael McDowell posted the fastest
time circling the 1.5-mile track in 30.702 seconds (175.884 mph). It was the
Phoenix, AZ driver's third pole of the season. The race
featured six leaders among four different drivers. Only one driver led more
than once and that was the race winner Erik Darnell who led three times for 80
of the 100 race laps. Drivers leading during the race
included; Michael McDowell 1-4 (4), Erik Darnell 5-27, 32-82, 95-100 (80),
Scott Legasse, Jr. 28-31 (4) and Erin Crocker 83-94 (12). In the
closing laps, Darnell opted to pit for fuel and tires with 12 laps remaining.
The decision proved to be the deciding factor in the race. The driver of the
#99 Simply Wow Cleaner & Degreaser Ford rejoined the field in ninth place
before regaining the lead from Erin Crocker with six laps to go. Darnell
took the checkered flag 3.206 seconds ahead of Crocker who settled for yet
another runner-up finish. Bobby Santos III finished in
third place driving a Toyota. It was Toyota's best-ever finish in the series.
Santos was followed by Scott Legasse, Jr. and Chad Blount to round out the top
five. Thirteen of the 40 starters finished the race on the
lead lap. The race was slowed six times for 45 laps due to various
cautions. With a 10th place finish, Justin Allgaier cut
into Frank Kimmel's point lead in the driver standings after Kimmel finished in
12th. Last year's champion now holds a slim 30 points lead over Allgaier
heading into the next event.
Nine associates made the trip to Sparta, Kentucky for
Saturday's race as part of Hoosier's service team. The nine-person service team
included; Rick Tostevin, Doug Barnes, David Wroblewski, Chad Wright, Fred
Awald, Mike Haenes, Chad Nichols, Rick Sisk and Gary Ecker.
With 16 races to go, the ARCA RE/MAX Series is back in action
this Sunday (May 20) at Toledo Speedway. The race will be broadcast LIVE on
SPEED at noon.
For complete race details and more information about the ARCA
RE/MAX Series visit www.arcaracing.com.
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