 SPARTA,
KY (May 15, 2005) -- Defending ARCA RE/MAX Series champion Frank Kimmel broke
into the win column Sunday leading the final 34 laps of the
"Harley-Davidson of Cincinnati 150" at Kentucky Speedway. After rain
forced the event to be moved from Saturday to Sunday, cool temperatures greeted
the race day fans with temperatures in the mid-60's. It was the 4th of 23
events scheduled this year in the series which competes on dirt and asphalt
tracks using both bias and radials tires while racing on short tracks and
superspeedways. Hoosier has been the official tire of the ARCA RE/MAX Series
for over a decade as the series continues its phenomenal growth. There were 61
entries for the race with 58 cars on hand vying for one of the 40 starting
spots.
Chad Blount won the Pork Pole Award as the event's fastest qualifier
circling the 1.5-mile tri-oval in 31.235 seconds (172.883 mph). Stuart Kirby
was second fastest in qualifying.
Blount took the lead from the outset leading through lap 36, before Brandon
Knupp took a turn out front. Knupp led for 11 circuits before Blount regained
the lead for another 19 laps before 17th starting Frank Kimmel took the lead
for good on the 67th lap of the 100-lap race.
Kimmel took the win 2.235 seconds ahead of previous race winner Chad Blount.
Joey Miller, who has finished in the top seven or better in the first four
events, challenged Blount for second at the finish line, but ultimately settled
for third. Ken Weaver finished in fourth place followed by Kevin Hamlin, Stuart
Kirby, Marc Mitchell, Christi Passmore, Mark Gibson and Brandon Knupp in fifth
through tenth, respectively. Fifth place finisher Kevin Hamlin was making his
first-ever series start driving Ken Schrader's Dodge.
Fourteen of the 40 starters finished the race on the lead-lap. There were
eight caution flags for 39 laps. The race took one hour and 27 minutes to
complete.
TIRES: 12.0/28.0-15
5115 radial (left side) and 12.0/28.0-15
5635 radial (right side) tires. It was the first time these codes were
used this season. The 5115 and 5635 compounds will be used again in the July
race at Kentucky.
All ARCA Series events are serviced out of Hoosier headquarters in
Lakeville, IN. The service team is headed by Doug Barnes. Other track service
team members making the trip to Kentucky included; Rick Tostevin, Dave
Wroblewski, Dan Webb, Chad Wright, Mike Haenes, Jake Hartle and Larry
Merrill.
Quote from Frank Kimmel: "The (Hoosier) tires we use here at
Kentucky Speedway are very stable and fast. We like the balance of grip and
speed these tires provide."
Quote from Doug Barnes: "Kentucky Speedway is a great
facility and always puts on a good show. It's always a challenge for us to
service this high of a car count, but the crew came through again and all the
teams were quite pleased." Barnes added,
"On behalf of Hoosier Tire, I would like to congratulate Frank (Kimmel) on
his victory and also rookie Marc Mitchell who started 33rd and finished a career-high
7th--winning the Hoosier Tire Hard Charger Award for advancing the most
positions."
Frank Kimmel continues to lead the points battle with 855 points followed by
Joey Miller (835) and Chad Blount (785).
The ARCA RE/MAX Series is back in action May 22nd at Toledo Speedway. For
complete race results and more information about the ARCA Series, visit their
website at www.arcaracing.com.
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