 POCONO,
PA (July 22, 2006) -- Coming from a lap down, seven-time and defending ARCA
RE/MAX Series champion, Frank Kimmel recovered to claim the win in Saturday's
"Pennsylvania 200" at Pocono Raceway. It was Kimmel's third win of
the season as the series passed the halfway mark in its 2006 schedule. Kimmel
remains the only repeat winner in the series that has enjoyed 10 different
winners in the 12 races contested to date.
On Friday, 41 cars were on hand for qualifying for Saturday's 80-lap race.
Frank Kimmel posted the fastest time in qualifying on the 2.5-mile tri-oval.
The 44-year-old Clarksville, IN driver circled the track in 54.544 seconds
(165.004 mph) to win the Pork Pole Award. It was Kimmel's 40th career pole and
second of the 2006 campaign driving the #46 Pork The Other White Meat Ford.
Nineteen-year-old Chase Miller, who won the June race at Pocono, was second in
qualifying with a time of 55.172 seconds (163.126 mph). Justin Allgaier was
third on the speed charts with a time of 55.203 seconds (163.035 mph).
Intermittent rains delayed the start of the race an hour-and-a-half. Just
before 2:00 pm, the race started under yellow as yet another brief shower
ensued as the field was circling the track during parade laps. For eight
circuits the 41-car field, along with several jet dryers, circled the huge
triangular track under the yellow flag before the green flag was finally
waved.
Frank Kimmel led the first 11 laps before electing to pit under green after
sensing a vibration in his Ford. After pitting for service, the veteran began
his trek to the front after going a lap down due to the green flag stop.
While Kimmel was battling his way through the field, Chase Miller took over
the lead. Miller led three times for a total of 39 laps and looked to be en
route to a sweep of the Pocono events when his Dodge lost a cylinder on lap 73.
This handed the lead to Kimmel who had methodically made his way through the
entire field to be in position to take the win. Kimmel led the final eight laps
to capture the win.
For Kimmel, it was his 67th career win--this one by a margin of 1.116
seconds over Jeremy Clements who was one of eight race leaders. Clements, who
started sixth, led four laps during the middle stages of the race. Chad
McCumbee captured third place after starting fourth. Race leaders included;
Frank Kimmel (1-11, 73-80), Chase Miller (12-18, 37-52, 57-72), Brent Sherman
(19-27), AJ Henriksen (35-36), Chad McCumbee (35-36) and Jeremy Clements
(53-56).
Rookie Dexter Bean finished in fourth place followed by Chase Miller, Bobby
Gerhart, Billy Venturini, AJ Henriksen, Damon Lusk and Brett Rowe in fifth through
tenth, respectively. Fourteen of the 41 starters finished on the lead lap with
11 cars failing to finish the race. There were seven cautions for a total of 39
laps.
After the race, the winning #46 Ford team was fined $1,500 for violating
ARCA rules for minimum quarter panel and roof heights. Both team owner Larry
Clement and driver Frank Kimmel also were each penalized 25 championship
points.
Despite the penalty, Frank Kimmel remains atop the driver standings with
2780 points. Bobby Gerhart also retains the second spot with 2745 points. After
finishing ninth, Damon Lusk jumps to third place (2405) with Ryan Foster moving
up to fourth place (2350), while Ken Weaver (2305) falls from third to fifth
after finishing 34th.
All the competitors used radial tires designed specifically for Pocono
Raceway and the ARCA RE/MAX Series by Hoosier engineers. Pocono is one of 14
races on the 23-race ARCA RE/MAX schedule where radial tires are used. Bias-ply
tires are used at the other nine events. In addition to competing on both bias
and radial tires, ARCA competitors also race on three different racing surfaces
including paved surfaces, concrete ovals and clay tracks. The series also
competes on tracks as short as a half-mile to as large as the 2.66-mile
Talladega Speedway.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series continues to flourish by attracting a solid core
group of regular participants, while also attracting many young developmental
drivers of many big-name teams from the NASCAR ranks looking to gain valuable
seat time.
Hoosier Racing Tire and the ARCA RE/MAX Series have been partners for 12
consecutive seasons with Hoosier selected by ARCA to be the exclusive tire
provider for all series events.
All ARCA RE/MAX Series events are serviced out of Hoosier headquarters in
Lakeville, IN. The service team for the Pocono event included; Doug Barnes
(track service manager), Rick Tostevin (engineer), Mike Haenes (crew chief),
Dan Webb, Fred Awald, Joe Carter, Derrik Duszynski and Luke Morris.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series is
again back in action Friday, July 28, at Gateway International Raceway.
The "Shop 'n Save 150" will be broadcast LIVE on Speed at 9:00 pm ET.
For complete race results and more information about the ARCA
RE/MAX Series visit their website at www.arcaracing.com.
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