BROOKLYN, MI (June 15, 2007) -- Erik Darnell captured his second ARCA
RE/MAX Series win of the season Friday afternoon at Michigan International
Speedway. Darnell, driving a Roush Fenway Racing Ford, led 58 of the 100 race
laps en route to the win. So far this year, the Beach Park, IL driver has two
wins and a runner-up finish in his three starts in the ARCA Series this season.
Sam Hornish, Jr., winner of the 2006 Indy 500, finished in second place
after earning the pole in his first-ever series start.
On Thursday, 46 drivers were on hand for qualifying. Sam Hornish, Jr. was the
fastest qualifier circling the 2-mile oval in 38.667 seconds (186.205 mph).
Erin Crocker was second fastest with a time of 39.225 seconds (183.556 mph).
Erik Darnell, Tim Andrews and Justin Allgaier rounded out the top five in
qualifying.
The race began with Sam Hornis, Jr. taking the lead from the drop of the
green flag from his front row starting position. He would lead the first 29
laps, until Erik Darnell took one of his two turns out front. Darnell led the
next 21 circuits before Dexter Bean took the lead on lap 51. Bean led five laps
before Phillip McGilton took a turn out front. McGilton led eight laps before
Erik Darnell regained the lead on lap 64.
Darnell led the remainder of the distance (37 laps) to capture his second
win of the season. Hornish finished in second place 2.589 seconds behind the
race winner. Erin Crocker finished in third place followed by Tim McCreadie and
Jeremy Clements.
The race was slowed seven times for cautions for a total of 38 laps, while
20 of the 40 race starters finished the race on the lead lap.
Michael McDowell won the Hoosier Tire Hard Charger Award for advancing the
most positions. McDowell finished eighth after starting 22nd.
After finishing 13th, Frank Kimmel increased his lead in the driver
standings to 130 points, while Bobby Gerhart and Dexter Bean moved into second
and third place after finishing 11th and 12th, respectively, in Friday's race. Justin Allgaier slipped from second to fourth in the
rankings after an accident ended his day on lap 63 relegated him to a 31st
place finish.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series will return to action in three weeks at
Berlin Raceway in Marne, MI on July 7th.
Hoosier has been the official tire of the ARCA RE/MAX Series
the past 13 seasons.
All ARCA RE/MAX Series events are serviced out of Hoosier
headquarters in Lakeville, IN. Hoosier staff servicing the event in Michigan
included; David
Wroblewski, Rick Tostevin, Fred Awald, Chad Nichols, Clint Williams, Chad
Wright, Jake Budzielek, Bill Slayton, Mike Haenes and Mike Walsh.
For complete race results and more information about the ARCA
RE/MAX Series visit their website at www.arcaracing.com.
|
