 SPRINGFIELD,
IL (August 19, 2007) -- To say eight-time and defending ARCA RE/MAX Series
champion Frank Kimmel is good at the Illinois State Fairgrounds would be a bit
of an understatement. The Clarksville, IN driver not only won his sixth race at
Springfield on Sunday, Kimmel has now finished first or second in the last ten
races contested on the historic 1-mile clay track.
As if Kimmel needed an edge going into the 45th Allen Crowe 100 race,
the veteran was awarded the pole as the series points leader after qualifying
was washed out.
During the event, Kimmel led twice for 59 of the 100 race laps en route to
the win--only giving up the lead to pit for fuel and tires. It was Kimmel's
70th career win in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
Kimmel commented after the win, "I don't think we've ever had a car
better than that. We had to be on our game to stay out ahead of them and on
every restart the car just kept getting better and better."
Michael McDowell, who started on the outside pole, finished in second place
making his first-ever start on dirt.
McDowell stated after the race, "For us to run second to Frank (Kimmel)
on dirt, that's a win. I feel really great about this team." McDowell
added, "We didn't take tires at all. We pitted for fuel only. So, I think
that might have hurt us."
Patrick Sheltra finished in third place after starting ninth. It was
Sheltra's best career finish in the series. Justin Marks and Dexter Bean
finished in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Local driver Kelly Kovski finished in sixth place after starting 29th. He
was followed by James Buescher in seventh place.
Ken Schrader, subbing for the injured Bob Strait, won the Hoosier Tire Hard
Charger Award for advancing the most positions. The veteran racer finished
eighth after starting 37th in the field.
Ron Cox finished in ninth place. He was the only other driver to lead during
the event. Cox, who led lap 14 though 54, was followed by Phillip McGilton in
tenth.
The 100-lap race had five cautions for a total of 25 laps--no one was
injured.
Currently, Frank Kimmel leads the driver standings by 95 points over Michael
McDowell with Dexter Bean, Justin Allgaier and Phillip McGilton rounding out
the top five.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series is back in action this Sunday, August 26, at the
Milwaukee Mile for the Governor's Cup 200.
Hoosier Racing Tire is proud to be the exclusive tire provider for the ARCA
RE/MAX Series.
For complete race results and more information about the ARCA RE/MAX Series
visit their website at www.arcaracing.com.
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