 SALEM,
IN (September 15, 2007) -- Justin Allgaier led five times en route to winning
the Eddie Gilstrap Motors 200 at Salem Speedway on Saturday. After
starting fourth, the Springfield, IL driver led 73 laps to capture his first
ARCA RE/MAX Series win of the season. Allgaier was an early season contender
for the national championship before accidents and mechanical woes took their
toll.
Thirty-seven cars were on hand for qualifying on Salem's high-banked,
half-mile track. Brian Keselowski earned the pole with a time of 17.695 seconds
(112.913 mph). Michael McDowell narrowly missed capturing his ninth pole of the
year posting the second fastest time of 17.733 seconds (112.671 mph).
The race featured ten leaders among four different drivers. Those leading
during the event included; Michael McDowell 1-12 (12), Justin Allgaier 13-44,
110, 113-126, 159-162, 179-200 (73), Brian Keselowski 45-109, 111-112, 127-158
(99) and James Buescher 163-178 (16).
The event had a late-race caution which set up a four-lap battle to
determine the winner. Allgaier, however, would not be denied his first win of
the season as he stretched the margin between himself and runner-up Frank
Kimmel to five car lengths at the finish.
Michael McDowell finished in third place followed by James Buescher and
Brett Hudson to round out the top five. Micahel Simko finished sixth--the last
car to finish on the lead lap. The 200-lap race was also slowed seven times for
cautions for a total of 40 laps.
Justin South won the Hoosier Tire Hard Charger Award for advancing the most
positions. South finished 10th after starting 22nd.
Despite finishing ahead of Michael McDowell, Frank Kimmel saw his points
lead in the driver standings slip to 140 points after McDowell gained additional
points for qualifying second and leading the event.
All of the ARCA competitors at Salem raced Hoosier bias-ply tires. Next year,
Hoosier will roll out a new line of short-track radials for tracks like Salem
Speedway that are 1-mile or less. All Hoosier tires are manufactured by Hoosier
Tire & Rubber Corp. located in Plymouth, IN.
All ARCA RE/MAX Series events are serviced out of Hoosier headquarters
located in Lakeville, IN. Members of the Hoosier service team at Salem
included; David Wroblewski, Kevin Wroblewski, Mike Haenes, Fred Awald and Tim
Sousley.
Hoosier has been the official tire of the ARCA RE/MAX Series since 1995.
Hoosier and the ARCA RE/MAX Series have also just recently announced the
extension of that contract which will have the series running on Hoosier tires
through the 2011 season.
With just two races remaining in the 2007 season, the ARCA RE/MAX Series
takes a couple weeks off before returning to action. Up next will be the Food
World 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 5th.
For complete race results and more information about the ARCA RE/MAX Series
visit www.arcaracing.com.
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