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 LONG
POND, PA (August 4, 2007) -- Michael McDowell led just two laps Saturday, but
was in the right place at the right time to capture his second career win. The
22-year-old rookie driver inherited the lead from Jeremy Clements on the final
lap of the ARCA RE/MAX Series Pennsylvania 200 at Pocono Raceway after
Clements ran out of gas exiting the final turn. The win was even more unusual
given the fact McDowell pulled into the winner's circle with a flat left front
tire that, admittedly, could not have survived another lap. Nevertheless, it
was McDowell's second win in a row. Three weeks earlier, the Phoenix, Arizona
driver captured his first career win at Kentucky Speedway.
Forty-five cars made the trip to Pocono Raceway for the 200
mile race. In qualifying, Bobby Santos III set fast time of the day when he
circled the 2.5-mile tri-oval in 53.836 seconds (167.174 mph). Josh Wise second fastest with a time of 53.863 (167.091 mph).
Both Santos and Wise were driving Toyotas. Landon Cassill
was third followed by Michael McDowell and Jeremy Clements.
The race featured seven race leaders among six different drivers. Those
leading during the event included; Bobby Santos III 1-4 (4), Landon Cassill
5-26, 32-45 (36), Mike Harmon 27-28 (2), Dominick Casola 29-31 (3), Michael
McDowell 46, 80 (2) and Jeremy Clements 47-79 (33). The 80-lap race also had
nine cautions for a total of 49 laps with 21 of the 41 starters finishing on
the lead lap.
At the finish, Michael McDowell crossed the line .490 seconds ahead of Josh
Wise. Jeremy Clements, who was within a straightaway of the win, settled for
third place followed by Erin Crocker and Marc Mitchell.
Justin Allgaier finished in sixth place followed by Dexter Bean, Dominick
Casola, Josh Krug and Mike Harmon in seventh through tenth, respectively.
Harmon also won the Hoosier Tire Hard Charger Award after starting 25th.
With the win, Michael McDowell closes to within 20 points of Frank Kimmel in the
driver standings. Kimmel finished a disappointing 25th after being involved in an
accident in the closing laps of the race.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series is back in action this Saturday, August 11th, for the ARCA
Toyota 150 at Nashville Superspeedway. The race will be broadcast LIVE on
SPEED at 3:30 pm (ET).
All of the competitors at Pocono rode on radial tires manufactured by
Hoosier Tire & Rubber Corp.
Hoosier has proudly been the official tire of the ARCA RE/MAX
Series the past 13 seasons.
All ARCA RE/MAX Series races are serviced out of Hoosier Racing
Tire's
corporate headquarters in Lakeville, IN.
Members of the Hoosier service team in Pennsylvania for the
race included; Steve Partridge, David Wroblewski, Chad Wright, Fred Awald,
Chris Grossman, Luke Morris, Clint Williams and Mike Walsh.
For complete race results and more information about the ARCA
RE/MAX Series visit their website at www.arcaracing.com.
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