 SPARTA,
KY (July 13, 2007) -- Rookie Michael McDowell dominated the WLWT Channel
5-150 at Kentucky Speedway on Friday night. The 22-year-old driver led 68
of 100 race laps to claim his first career win in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
McDowell (#2) passed Cale Gale (photo) to lead the final 14 laps en route to
the win. The Phoenix, Arizona driver is also the 11th different winner in the
13 events contested so far this season.
Fifty-two drivers made the trip to Kentucky looking for a spot in the 41-car
field. Who would earn one of the starting positions was determined in
qualifying.
Erin Crocker set a new track record at the 1.5-mile oval when she posted a
lap time of 30.213 seconds (178.731 mph). Steven Wallace held the old record of
177.509 mph set last year. Michael McDowell was second fastest with a time of
30.545 (176.788 mph). Crocker and McDowell's times earned them the right to
start the race on the front row.
Also by winning her fifth career pole, Erin Crocker passes Pattie Moise
as the series' all-time female pole winner.
The race featured six leaders among three different drivers including; Erin
Crocker 1-8 (8), Michael McDowell 9-54, 56-63, 87-100 (68) and Cale Gale 55,
64-86 (24).
In the closing laps, McDowell chased down Cale Gale for the second time
taking the lead for good on lap 87. Once out front, McDowell continued to
stretch his lead winning by 4.573 seconds over Gale.
Cale Gale was followed to the line by Bobby Santos III, while Alex Yontz
finished fourth and Erin Crocker fifth with 16 of the 41 starters finishing the
race on the lead lap. The race also had six cautions for a total of 38
laps.
After the race, the race-winning rookie boldly stated, "We're coming
after Frank (Kimmel) for this championship and this win is going to give us the
momentum to do that."
After a tenth place finish, defending and 7-time series champion Frank
Kimmel saw his lead over McDowell in the driver standings slip to 120 points
heading into the next event.
Next up for the ARCA RE/MAX Series is in three weeks when they make their
second stop at Pocono Raceway on August 4th.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series races exclusively on Hoosier tires
during its 23-race schedule.
All ARCA RE/MAX Series races are serviced out of Hoosier's
corporate headquarters in Lakeville, IN.
Members of the Hoosier service team in Kentucky included; David
Wroblewski, Rick Tostevin, Fred Awald, Luke Morris, Jake Budzielek, Chad
Nichols 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.
|
