SALEM, IN (September 17, 2005) -- Joey Miller dominated the ARCA RE/MAX
Series "Eddie Gilstrap Motors 200" at Salem Speedway Saturday night.
It was the talented rookie's fourth win of the season--second only to reigning
series champion Frank Kimmel's eight victories. Miller, who started fourth, led
81 of 213 race laps en route to the win over Ken Weaver in a
green-white-checker finish after a late race caution extended the race an extra
13 laps. Frank Kimmel now only needs to show up at the season-ending race at Talladega
to claim a record seventh series title in the last eight years. It was the
second stop for the series at Salem Speedway. Chad Blount won the earlier race
back in April.
There were 50 cars pre-entered with 49 cars on hand the day of the race
trying to gain entry into the elite 35-car field. Seventeen-year-old Brett
Hudson, making just his sixth series start, was the event's fastest qualifier
circling the .555-mile Salem high banks in 17.646 seconds (113.227 mph). The
Owensboro, KY high school senior is no stranger to the Salem track finishing
7th in points at the speed plant last year competing in the late model
division.
The race featured six leaders among five different drivers with Joey Miller
the only driver to lead twice during the event. Lap leaders included; David
Ragan (1-53), Joey Miller (54-92, 172-213), Josh Clemons (93-96), Ken Weaver
(97-132), Michael Simko (133-171). Miller won by just .173 seconds after a late
race caution extended the race an extra 13 circuits setting up an exciting
green-white-checker finish.
Ken Weaver finished in second place followed by Michael Simko, Billy
Venturini and Todd Bowsher rounding out the top five. David Odell was sixth
with Gary Sherman, Justin South, Chad McCumbee and Randy VanZant in seventh
through tenth, respectively. Will Langhorne finished in 11th place--the first
car one lap down. Frank Kimmel was involved in an accident and finished 25th.
Despite the poor finish, Kimmel stands atop the driver standings with 5545
points followed by Joey Miller with 5285 points with Ken Weaver (4730), Chad
McCumbee (4440) and Mark Gibson (4325) rounding out the top five.
TIRES: Hoosier 11.5/26.0-15 12L (left side) and Hoosier 11.5/27.0-15
20R (right side) tires were used by all the competitors. Salem is one of eight
tracks the ARCA RE/MAX Series visits on its 23-race schedule that a bias-ply
tire is used. All ARCA RE/MAX Series events are serviced by Hoosier out of corporate
headquarters in Lakeville, IN.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series will finish its 2005 season in two weeks (Oct. 1) at Talladega
(AL) Superspeedway where the competitors will be back on radial tires provided
by Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. For complete race results and more information
about the ARCA RE/MAX Series visit their website at www.arcaracing.com.
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