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 BROOKLYN,
MI (June 19) -- The 2004 ARCA RE/MAX Series season is not even half
over and the series has enjoyed seven different race winners in the
first nine events contested to date. This time, it was 18-year-old
rookie Reed Sorenson dominating the Flagstar 200 at Michigan
International Speedway on Saturday. Sorenson, who led 59 of the 100
race laps, was making just his second start in the series. The ARCA
RE/MAX Series runs exclusively on Hoosier tires.
Justin Hobgood was the Pork Pole Award winner setting
a new track record on the 2-mile Michigan oval. Hobgood's time was
38.257 seconds (188.210 mph) which broke last year's race winner Casey
Mears' old record. Mears, a three-time winner in the ARCA Series last
season, has since gone on to compete full-time in the NASCAR Nextel
Cup Series. Unfortunately for Hobgood, he was sent to the rear of the
field for the start of the race when he was late for pre-race
inspections which moved Reed Sorenson to the front of the field for
the start of the race.
The race featured six race leaders among five
different drivers including Sorenson (1-17, 59-100), Ryan Hemphill
(18-38), Matt Hagans (39-52), Frank Kimmel (53-55), and Mike Harmon
(56-58). The race was slowed by six cautions for a total of 38
laps.
Sorenson, driving for Chip Ganassi, won the race by
6.399 seconds over Indianapolis driver Matt Hagans. The runner-up
finish was a career-best for Hagans. Both Sorenson and Hagans drove
Dodge race cars followed by three Fords. A.J. Henriksen finished in
third place followed by Brent Sherman and Christie Passmore who also
matched her career-best finish in fifth.
Bill Eversole, also with a career-best finish, took
sixth place followed by Mark Gibson, Bobby Gerhart, Phil Bozell and
Frank Kimmel in seventh through tenth, respectively.
Frank Kimmel continues to extend his points lead in
the ARCA RE/MAX Series standings. Currently, the defending series
champion commands a 285-point lead over Billy Venturini. Venturini
finished in 30th place in Saturday's race. Brent Sherman is in third
place followed by Mark Gibson and Jason Jarrett.
All the competitors used Hoosier's "5100"
left side and "5650" right side radial tires with one inch
of stagger. The event was serviced by Hoosier out of the corporate
headquarters in Lakeville (IN) by Hoosier's ARCA Track Service Manager
Doug Barnes, engineer Rick Tostevin, Dave Wroblewski, Kevin
Wroblewski, Jake Hartle, Larry "Toots" Merrill, Dan Webb and
Mike "Moonpie" Haenes.
The race was also attended by many Hoosier associates
who make the annual trip north from Hoosier's production facility in
Plymouth (IN) and the warehouse in Lakeville (IN). The associates, in
addition to getting to watch the product they produce through the week
in action, also were afforded pit area access compliments of the ARCA
RE/MAX Series and Hoosier.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series will go from the 2-mile
Michigan track to the 4/10-mile short track of South Boston (VA)
Speedway for their next event, June 26th, which will also be shown
LIVE on SPEED Channel beginning at 8:00 pm (ET).
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