WEST
ALLIS, WI (August 26, 2007) -- There is a reason Frank Kimmel is an 8-time ARCA
RE/MAX Series champion. He seems to have figured out, almost instinctively, how
to be in position to win at the end of most every race. The Governor's Cup
200 at the Milwaukee Mile was a perfect example of the veteran's ability to
be in the right place at the right time. The 45-year-old driver passed Justin
Marks with two laps remaining in Sunday's 200-lap race. After starting seventh,
the Clarksville, IN driver steadily improved the position of his #46 Ford until
lap 198 when he ultimately made his race-winning move on Marks. It was also
announced in a joint press conference before the race by Hoosier and ARCA
officials that Hoosier will remain the exclusive tire used in the ARCA RE/MAX
Series through the 2011 season. Hoosier has been the official tire of the
series since 1995.
Forty-one cars made the trip to Wisconsin with all 41 getting the chance to
race. In qualifying, 22-year-old Michael McDowell set fast time when he circled
the historic 1-mile track in 30.342 seconds (118.647 mph). It was the rookie's
7th career pole. James Buescher was second fastest with a time of 30.451
seconds (118.223 mph).
The race featured 11 leaders among eight different drivers including;
Michael McDowell 1-26, 120-136 (43), James Buescher 27-55, 90 (30), Mike Harmon
56-65, 91 (11), Ken Butler III 66-89 (24), Phil Bozell 92-119 (28), Billy
Leslie 137-139 (3), Justin Marks 140-198 (59), Frank Kimmel 199-200 (2).
The race was slowed by caution periods nine times for 45 laps. Kimmel's
margin of victory was .730 seconds.
Following Kimmel to the finish line was Justin Marks who notched his
career-best finish. Marks, who was looking for his first series win, also led
the most laps with 59.
Phillip McGilton finished in third place followed by pole-sitter Michael
McDowell, Josh Krug, Billy Leslie and Marc Mitchell in fourth through seventh,
respectively. McGilton, who started 19th, also won the Hoosier Tire Hard
Charger Award for advancing the most positions.
Dexter Bean finished in eighth, one lap off the pace, with Justin South and
Andy Lally rounding out the top ten. Phil Bozell, last year's winner, led 28
laps before finishing 11th after running out of gas late in the race.
Frank Kimmel increased his lead in the driver standings to 90 points over
Michael McDowell heading into the series' final six races.
All the ARCA competitors at Milwaukee raced Hoosier bias-ply tires. Next
year, however, they will race on radials. Also announced during the pre-race
press conference for 2008, Hoosier will roll out a new line of short-track
radials for paved tracks 1-mile or less.
Hoosier staff attending the Milwaukee race included; Rick Tostevin, David
Wroblewski, Kevin Wroblewski, Mike Haenes, Fred Awald, Clint Williams, Chad
Nichols and Clay Norris.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series now travels to Gateway International Raceway this
Friday night, August 31st. The race will be shown LIVE on SPEED at 9:00 pm ET.
Three days later the series travels to the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in
Illinois for it's annual Labor Day race.
For complete race results and more information about the ARCA RE/MAX Series
visit www.arcaracing.com.
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