 BRASELTON,
GA (May 28, 2005) -- It was a night to remember for 19-year-old David Ragan in
the ARCA RE/MAX Series trip Saturday at Lanier National Speedway. First, Ragan
was credited as posting the fastest time in practice on the 3/8-mile asphalt
oval. Next, the Kannapolis, NC driver set a new track record in qualifying
while earning the Pork Pole Award as the event's fastest qualifier over 40
other hopefuls. Finally, after going a lap down, Ragan fought back to pass Joey
Miller on the final lap of the Williams Bros. 200 en route to capturing his
first-career ARCA RE/MAX Series win in only his 15th start. Ragan's margin of
victory was just .186 seconds over rookie Joey Miller who had led 188 of the
200 race laps.
Forty-one cars took turns qualifying with David Ragan, driving the #90 Ford,
earning the Pork Pole Award as the event's fastest qualifier. Since it was the
first-ever stop at Lanier for the series, Ragan also establishes the track
record circling the 3/8-mile oval in 14.936 seconds (90.386 mph).
Thirty-five cars took the green flag Saturday night in a race that featured
four race leaders among three different drivers. David Ragan led the first
three laps before giving way to outside pole sitter Jason Jarrett. Jarrett, son
of former Nextel Cup champion Dale Jarrett and grandson of former 2-time Grand
National champion Ned Jarrett, led the next eight circuits before Joey Miller
took over the lead. Miller, who started fourth, led the next 188 laps before
being nipped at the finish by David Ragan after Ragan battled back from a lap
down at one point in the race. The race was also slowed 14 times for a total of
80 laps due to various cautions.
Following David Ragan to the finish line was Joey Miller in second place.
Jason Jarrett claimed third followed by Frank Kimmel and Chad Blount in fourth
and fifth, respectively. Rounding out the top ten was Josh Allison in sixth
followed by Brandon Knupp, Ron Hornaday III, Mike Harmon and Todd Bowsher in
seventh through tenth, respectively, as ten drivers finished the 200-lap race
on the lead lap. Hornaday also earned the Hoosier Tire Hard Charger award for
advancing the most positions. Hornaday started 28th before claiming a solid 8th
place finish.
After six races, Frank Kimmel remains atop the driver standings with 1545
points followed closely by Joey Miller (1505) and Chad Blount (1430). The ARCA
RE/MAX Series has now enjoyed five different race winners in the six events
contested to date with Chad Blount being the only repeat winner.
TIRES: 11.5/26.0-15 12L (left side) and 11.5/27.0-15 20R (right side)
tires. It was the second race in a row this same bias tire combination was
used. Lanier is one of eight stops the ARCA RE/MAX Series 23-race schedule in
which a bias-ply tire is used. Hoosier is the exclusive tire supplier to the
ARCA RA/MAX Series.
All ARCA Series events are serviced out of Hoosier headquarters in
Lakeville, IN. Service for the Lanier race was directed by ARCA RE/MAX Series
Track Service Manager Doug Barnes with the help of Dave Wroblewski, Chad Wright,
Larry Merrill, Chris Grossman and Mike Haenes.
QUOTE: Hoosier's Doug Barnes stated, "It was great to see
David (Ragan)get his 1st win. We really enjoyed our first visit to Lanier
(National Speedway). It is a very unique track that presents its own set of
challenges. But the (Hoosier) tires were up to the test and performed
perfectly."
The ARCA RE/MAX Series is back in action June 4th at the Milwaukee Mile
which will be carried LIVE on SPEED Channel beginning at 3:30 pm (ET). For
complete race results and more information about the ARCA Series, visit their
website at www.arcaracing.com.
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