<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="498">
<colgroup span="1"><col span="1" width="70"></col><col span="1" width="168"></col><col span="1" width="260"></col></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="17">
<td colspan="3" width="498" height="17">ARCA RACING SERIES HISTORY AT SALEM SPEEDWAY</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17"> </td>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">DATE</td>
<td>RACE WINNER/CAR</td>
<td>POLE WINNER/TIME/SPEED</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10/9/1955</td>
<td>Jack Harrison/Ford</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/15/1956</td>
<td>Jack Harrison/Ford</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">8/26/1956</td>
<td>Jack Harrison/Ford</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">7/1/1956</td>
<td>Hershel White/Oldsmobile</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10-14-56</td>
<td>Troy Ruttman/Ford</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">5/5/1957</td>
<td>Nelson Stacy/Chevrolet</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">7/14/1959</td>
<td>Don White/Ford</td>
<td>Andy Hampton/:23.28/77.320 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">6/3/1962</td>
<td>Bobby Watson/Ford</td>
<td>Iggy Katona</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">8/26/1962</td>
<td>Dick Freeman/Ford</td>
<td>Bill Kimmel/:21.59/83.372 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">5/26/1963</td>
<td>Earl Balmer/</td>
<td>Iggy Katona/:21.36/84.270 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">6/23/1963</td>
<td>Jim Cushman/Plymouth</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">8/25/1963</td>
<td>Jack Bowsher/Ford</td>
<td>Andy Hampton/:21.49/83.760 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">6/7/1964</td>
<td>Jack Bowsher/Ford</td>
<td>Jack Bowsher/:21.14/85.147 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">8/23/1964</td>
<td>Jack Bowsher/Ford</td>
<td>Jack Bowsher/:20.73/86.831 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/20/1964</td>
<td>Jack Bowsher/Ford/200L</td>
<td>Jack Bowsher/:20.91/86.083 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">6/13/1965</td>
<td>Jack Bowsher/Ford</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">8/22/1965</td>
<td>Jack Bowsher/Ford</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/19/1965</td>
<td>Jack Bowsher/Ford</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">6/5/1966</td>
<td>Butch Hartman</td>
<td>Butch Hartman/:20.33/88.539 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">8/21/1966</td>
<td>Andy Hampton/Dodge</td>
<td>Andy Hampton/:20.76/86.705 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/11/1966</td>
<td>Les Snow/Plymouth</td>
<td>Iggy Katona/:20.76/86.705 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">6/4/1967</td>
<td>Elmer Davis</td>
<td>Andy Hampton/:20.74/86.789 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">8/20/1967</td>
<td>Les Snow/Plymouth</td>
<td>Iggy Katona</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/28/1968</td>
<td>Benny Parsons/Ford</td>
<td>Benny Parsons/:20.02/89.910 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">6/9/1968</td>
<td>Les Snow/Plymouth</td>
<td>Benny Parsons/:20.27/88.801 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/15/1968</td>
<td>Benny Parsons/Ford</td>
<td>Benny Parsons/:20.14/89.374 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10-20-68</td>
<td>R. Wathen-J. Norris/Chevy</td>
<td>Benny Parsons/:20.13/89.419 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/13/1969</td>
<td>Les Snow/Plymouth</td>
<td>Benny Parsons/:19.48/92.402 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">6/8/1969</td>
<td>Andy Hampton/Dodge</td>
<td>Benny Parsons/:19.49/92.355 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/7/1969</td>
<td>Ramo Stott/Plymouth</td>
<td>Benny Parsons/:19.86/90.634 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/13/1970</td>
<td>Iggy Katona/Dodge</td>
<td>Iggy Katona/:20.20/89.109 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10-11-70</td>
<td>Ramo Stott/Plymouth</td>
<td>Andy Hampton/:19.85/90.680 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/4/1971</td>
<td>Ramo Stott/Plymouth</td>
<td>Ramo Stott/:19.92/90.361 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10-17-71</td>
<td>Ramo Stott/Plymouth</td>
<td>Les Snow/:19.84/90.726 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">5/21/1972</td>
<td>Ron Hutcherson/Mercury</td>
<td>Dave Dayton/:19.53/92.166 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">7/30/1972</td>
<td>Andy Hampton/Dodge</td>
<td>Dave Dayton:19.85/90.680 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10-15-72</td>
<td>Ron Hutcherson/Ford</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/29/1973</td>
<td>Bobby Watson/Dodge</td>
<td>Jack Shanklin/:19.90/90.452 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">7/29/1973</td>
<td>Bruce Gould/Ford</td>
<td>Bruce Gould/:19.48/92.402 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10/7/1973</td>
<td>Dave Dayton/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Dave Dayton/:19.35/93.023 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">6/9/1974</td>
<td>Bruce Gould/Ford</td>
<td>Bruce Gould/:19.64/91.650 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10/6/1974</td>
<td>Bruce Gould/Ford</td>
<td>Bruce Gould/:19.39/92.831 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/6/1975</td>
<td>Dave Dayton/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Dave Dayton/:19.33/93.120 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">7/6/1975</td>
<td>Bobby Allison/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Bobby Allison/:18.88/95.339 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10/4/1975</td>
<td>Dave Dayton</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">6/6/1976</td>
<td>A. Arnold/Chevrolet</td>
<td>LaMarr Marshall/:18.58/96.878 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/12/1976</td>
<td>Lamarr Marshall</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">7/3/1977</td>
<td>Moose Myers/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Bill Green/:18.584/96.83 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10/9/1977</td>
<td>Brad Malcuit</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">7/1/1979</td>
<td>Marvin Smith/Buick</td>
<td>Marvin Smith/:18.469/97.46 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10/4/1987</td>
<td>Bob Keselowski/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Marvin Smith/:17.829/100.959 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">7/10/1988</td>
<td>Larry Moore/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Larry Moore/:17.972/100.160 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/25/1988</td>
<td>Bob Brevak/Buick</td>
<td>Pole Qualifying Rained Out</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">10/8/1989</td>
<td>Bob Schacht/Buick</td>
<td>Bob Strait/:17.782/101.226 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/27/1992</td>
<td>Bob Strait/Oldsmobile</td>
<td>Bobby Bowsher/:17.669/101.873 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/26/1993</td>
<td>Bob Strait/Ford</td>
<td>Bob Strait/:17.314/103.962 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/25/1994</td>
<td>Scott Neal/Oldsmobile</td>
<td>Gary Bradberry/:16.785/119.035 mph *NTR</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/24/1995</td>
<td>Tim Steele/Ford</td>
<td>Tim Steele/17:410/114.761 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/20/1996</td>
<td>Tobey Butler/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Dill Whittymore/17.991/111.056 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/22/1996</td>
<td>Tim Steele/Ford</td>
<td>Tim Steele/17.725/111.707 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/20/1997</td>
<td>Tim Steele/Ford</td>
<td>Bob Strait/17.742/112.614 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/21/1997</td>
<td>Tim Steele/Ford</td>
<td>Tim Steele/17.500/114.171 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/19/1998</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Bob Strait/17.503/114.152 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/13/1998</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/17.687/112.964 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/18/1999</td>
<td>Bill Baird/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Bill Baird/17.524/114.015 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/12/1999</td>
<td>Ken Schrader/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Bill Baird/17.612/113.445 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/30/2000</td>
<td>Tracy Leslie/Ford</td>
<td>Brian Ross/17.541/113.904 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/10/2000</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/17.567/113.736 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/29/2001</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/17.292/115.545 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/9/2001</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/17.676/113.035 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/28/2002</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/Ford</td>
<td>NA (rained out)</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/15/2002</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/Ford</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/17.705/112.849 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/27/2003</td>
<td>Shelby Howard/Dodge</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/17.648/113.214 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/13/2003</td>
<td>Shelby Howard/Dodge</td>
<td>Brian Ross/17.702/112.869 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/25/2004</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/Ford</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/17.608/113.471 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/18/2004</td>
<td>Jason Jarrett/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/17.604/113.497 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/24/2005</td>
<td>Chad Blount/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Chad McCumbee/17.375/113.957 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/17/2005</td>
<td>Joey Miller/Dodge</td>
<td>Brett Hudson/17.646/113.227 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/23/2006</td>
<td>Billy Venturini/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Brad Coleman/17.756/112.525 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/16/2006</td>
<td>Blake Bjorklund/Dodge</td>
<td>Dexter Bean/17.838/112.008 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/22/2007</td>
<td>Brian Keselowski/Dodge</td>
<td>Michael McDowell/17.794/112.285 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/15/2007</td>
<td>Justin Allgaier/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Brian Keselowski/17.695/112.913 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/13/2008</td>
<td>Justin Allgaier/Chevrolet</td>
<td>Ken Schrader/16.909/118.162 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/13/2008</td>
<td>Frank Kimmel/Ford</td>
<td>Ricky Stenhouse, Jr./17.271/115.685 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">4/5/2009</td>
<td>Patrick Sheltra/Dodge</td>
<td>Justin Lofton/16.936/117.981 mph</td>
</tr>
<tr height="17">
<td height="17">9/19/2009</td>
<td>Justin Lofton/Toyota</td>
<td>Chris Buescher/17.065/117.082 mph</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
2010-03-09T06:34:10-05:00
401
salem-rocks-and-it-s-next-up-in-the-arca-nation
2010-03-09T05:32:00-05:00
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/123/original.jpg?1268134363" border="0" alt="Salemstart" /></p>
Salem Rocks! And it's Next Up in the ARCA Nation
2010-03-09T19:24:58-05:00
5033
42
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/118/original.jpg?1267413336" border="0" alt="Smith Pbir2010" width="550" height="367" style="float: left;" />CORYDON IN (2-28-10) – Weather conditions forced Brad Smith, driver of the #26 car for ApplianceZone.com Racing, to withdraw from the Tire Kingdom 150 at Palm Beach International after just ten laps. It was the first time ARCA has used a ‘wet’ tire compound in its 58-year history. </p>
<p>Smith, a participant in ARCA Series racing since 1988, pointed out that the car his team had brought to Palm Beach was the same one used during the Daytona season opener a few weeks ago. “That was the first ARCA race in rain for decades and we just weren’t set up for rain,” said Smith. “The car has small brakes and a lightweight transmission. It was just the wrong car at the wrong place at the wrong time.” </p>
<p>Having recently acquired ApplianceZone.com’s commitment to an expanded sponsorship for 2010, Smith says his team is still in ‘start up mode’ in terms of developing and leveraging their resources. “We’re still going through the early phase chaos of deciding where and how to apply the resources made available to us this year by ApplianceZone.com,” he said. “We’re building a short track car for Salem and an intermediate car for Talladega. Things are starting to come together but we still have some ground to cover before we can settle down and focus on the racing itself.” </p>
<p>Smith also has some settling down ahead of him on the home front as well. He married his longtime friend Lydia Mendez just a few days ago.</p>
<p>For more information, visit ApplianceZone.com. </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">About ApplianceZone.com</span></p>
<p>Incorporated in 2008, ApplianceZone.com is a leading online retailer of appliance parts and accessories to do-it-yourself homeowners. It was created by CEO, Jim Allen, an experienced appliance repair technician and appliance retailer, and his family (including wife and children, all of whom are personally involved in the day-to-day operation of the business). ApplianceZone.com offers over 485,000 products and is the only online appliance parts retailer to include a price checker feature that instantly checks ApplianceZone.com pricing versus competitors. ApplianceZone served nearly 200,000 different households in 2009 and has enjoyed significant growth during every year of operation. </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">About Brad Smith Motorsports</span></p>
<p>Based in Shelby Township, Michigan, was founded in 1999 by CEO/driver Brad Smith. Smith raced in the ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) series for other teams beginning in 1988. He’s had nearly 250 ARCA career starts, has been a consistent top-20 driver in ARCA since 2001, and was voted ARCA’s “Sportsman of the Year” in 2006. Having accomplished numerous lead-lap & top-15 finishes at prestigious tracks such as Daytona, Talladega, Pocono, Chicago, Kansas, Springfield & DuQuoin, he is now approved for NASCAR competition in 2010.</p>
2010-02-28T22:16:25-05:00
400
smith-wrong-car-at-wrong-place-at-pbir
2010-02-28T21:13:00-05:00
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/118/original.jpg?1267413336" border="0" alt="Smith Pbir2010" width="550" height="367" style="FLOAT: left" />CORYDON IN (2-28-10) – Weather conditions forced Brad Smith, driver of the #26 car for ApplianceZone.com Racing, to withdraw from the Tire Kingdom 150 at Palm Beach International after just ten laps. It was the first time ARCA has used a ‘wet’ tire compound in its 58-year history.</p>
Smith, Wrong Car at Wrong Place at PBIR
2010-02-28T22:16:25-05:00
5033
128
<p align="left"><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/116/original.jpg?1267233047" border="0" alt="Kimmelincar09" width="360" height="299" style="float: left;" />JUPITER FL<strong> </strong>(February 26, 2010) - In preparation for the Tire Kingdom 150 presented by Modspace, Frank Kimmel and the No.44 Ansell/Menards Ford ran six practice segments and completed 27 total laps in the three-hour practice session today at Palm Beach International Raceway. <br /> <br />"Practice went really well," said Kimmel. "The car has been very responsive to some of the changes we made since the test here a few weeks ago and to the changes we made today."<br /> <br />During today's practice session, the Ansell/Menards Ford was in the ninth quickest position for most of the day. However, Kimmel's fastest lap came in the third segment with a lap time of 80.003, positioning the Ansell/Menards car 11th in the 34-car field. <br /> <br />Qualifying order was aligned by practice speeds and broken down into six groups of five and one group of four cars. Each group had ten minutes to make their fastest lap attempt for the Menards Pole Award Presented by Ansell. <br /> <br />The Ansell/Menards Ford rolled off pit road first within the third group of qualifying cars. Kimmel ran four laps, with his second lap being the quickest at a time of 80.475 seconds, enough for the 13th starting spot in the 75-lap event.<br /> <br />"I'm a little disappointed in our qualifying time," said Kimmel. "We drove faster in our practice runs, so I thought we could at least match that, if not gain on it. We just weren't able to do it. We didn't want to stay out and continue to burn fuel, so we could have a longer first run tomorrow. We'll take the 13th spot and work hard during the race to come up with a good finishing position." <br /> <br />Rookie driver Casey Roderick, competing in his second- ever ARCA Racing Series Presented by RE/MAX and Menards event, will lead the field to the start of the Tire Kingdom 150 tomorrow. The green flag is set to wave at 1 PM, with live streaming audio, timing and scoring available at ARCAracing.com.<br /><br /></p>
<p align="left"><br />For additional information about Frank Kimmel, please visit <a href="http://www.frankkimmel.com/">www.frankkimmel.com</a>.</p>
2010-02-26T20:11:54-05:00
399
kimmel-like-practice-at-pbir-but-disappointed-in-qualifying
2010-02-26T19:04:00-05:00
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/116/original.jpg?1267233047" border="0" alt="Kimmelincar09" width="360" height="299" style="FLOAT: left" />JUPITER FL<strong> </strong>(February 26, 2010) - In preparation for the Tire Kingdom 150 presented by Modspace, Frank Kimmel and the No.44 Ansell/Menards Ford ran six practice segments and completed 27 total laps in the three-hour practice session today at Palm Beach International Raceway. <br /> <br />"Practice went really well," said Kimmel. "The car has been very responsive to some of the changes we made since the test here a few weeks ago and to the changes we made today."<br /> <br />During today's practice session, the Ansell/Menards Ford was in the ninth quickest position for most of the day. However, Kimmel's fastest lap came in the third segment with a lap time of 80.003, positioning the Ansell/Menards car 11th in the 34-car field.</p>
Kimmel Likes Practice at PBIR but Disappointed in Qualifying
2010-02-26T20:12:43-05:00
5033
71
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/110/original.jpg?1266600295" border="0" alt="Ragan Candid Daytona10" width="375" height="418" style="float: left;" />When it comes to Daytona, the stars always come out. Celebrities in the ARCA garage are nothing new at the World Center of Racing. And if you stick around, you’ll eventually see some. As it turns out, legendary Grateful Dead band member Bob Weir wasn’t the only celebrity strutting through the ARCA garage at Daytona.</p>
<p>Actually, there were several, including former ARCA racer David Ragan, who spends his time these days behind the wheel of the no. 6 Roush-Fenway Racing UPS Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with a part-time schedule in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Ragan made 31 career ARCA Racing Series starts since 2003 with 11 top-5 and 14 top-10 finishes including 1 win at Lanier Nat’l Speedway in 2005.</p>
<p>Ragan is the son of ARCA veteran driver Ken Ragan and still makes appearances on behalf of ARCA when his schedule allows. Two years ago, Ragan took time out to travel to Toledo Speedway to participate in the annul Toledo/Flat Rock Speedways press conference. Ragan also visits Flat Rock Speedway annually during MIS race weekends to sign autographs for the fans.<img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/111/medium.jpg?1266600348" border="0" alt="Allgaier Daytona10" width="229" height="310" style="float: right;" /></p>
<p>In addition to Ragan, Penske Racing’s Justin Allgaier spent a lot of time roaming the ARCA garage at Daytona. Allgaier, the 2008 ARCA Racing Series champion, moved onto Penske Racing from ARCA and has successfully made the transition into the NASCAR ranks. Allgaier, the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, also finished a career-best fourth in the Nationwide race at Daytona after running second for several laps in the latter stages of the race. Allgaier, always gracious with his time, also made a special trip up into the Daytona PA booth during the ARCA race where he served as a guest commentator during the event.</p>
<p>The Springfield, Illinois native is slated to run the full Nationwide Series schedule in 2010 with the possibility of sprinkling in other stuff. What that 'other stuff' may be remains to be seen.</p>
<p>Also seen cruising around the ARCA garage and on pit road was the 1992 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Lyn St. James. James, founder of the ‘Women in the Winner’s Circle’ foundation, would host the annual Women in the Winner’s Circle Awards Ceremony the following week in the Daytona 500 Experience attraction. St. James annually awards the Mildred Marcum Pioneer Award in honor of Mrs. Marcum, ARCA’s co-founder. <img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/112/original.jpg?1266600724" border="0" alt="St James Daytona10" width="244" height="288" style="float: left;" />This year’s Mildred Marcum Pioneer Award was posthumously awarded to Annie B. France (1906-1992) and Betty Skelton. Skelton, winner of three Int'l Feminine Aerobatics championships and the first woman to drive an Indy car, still lives in Florida with her second husband, Dr. Allan Erde. Speaking of celebs, Mildred, 96, was also seen in the ARCA garage. Still as lovely as ever, Mildred still works in the ARCA home office in Temperance, Michigan four days a week.</p>
<p>NASCAR/ARCA veteran Ken Schrader also spent a great deal of time in the ARCA garage at Daytona. In fact, the 3-time Daytona 500 polesitter the two-time Bud Shootout winner addressed the ARCA drivers during the driver’s meeting. Given the wreck-filled race, apparently some weren’t listening very well.</p>
<p>Former NASCAR Nationwide Series champion and former ARCA winner David Green also spent time in the ARCA garage at Daytona.</p>
<p>Fulltime NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series driver Brad Keslelowski was also seen making the rounds in the ARCA garage at Daytona......</p>
2010-02-19T12:33:39-05:00
398
the-stars-come-out-at-daytona
2010-02-19T11:24:00-05:00
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/110/original.jpg?1266600295" border="0" alt="Ragan Candid Daytona10" width="375" height="418" style="float: left;" />When it comes to Daytona, the stars always come out. Celebrities in the ARCA garage are nothing new at the World Center of Racing. And if you stick around, you’ll eventually see some. As it turns out, legendary Grateful Dead band member Bob Weir wasn’t the only celebrity strutting through the ARCA garage at Daytona.</p>
<p>Actually, there were several, including former ARCA racer David Ragan, who spends his time these days behind the wheel of the no. 6 Roush-Fenway Racing UPS Ford in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with a part-time schedule in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Ragan made 31 career ARCA Racing Series starts since 2003 with 11 top-5 and 14 top-10 finishes including 1 win at Lanier Nat’l Speedway in 2005.</p>
The Stars Come Out at Daytona
2010-02-19T12:43:10-05:00
5033
59
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/108/original.jpg?1266422211" border="0" alt="Munter Weir" width="380" height="487" style="FLOAT: left" />You just never know who's gunna show up in the ARCA garage. A few years back, it was recording artist/rock legend Alice Cooper, whose car just happened to win the ARCA race at Daytona. This year, it's longtime Grateful Dead rythym guitarist Bob Weir, who just happens to be ARCA driver Leilani Munter's brother-in-law. Weir, who is still active with the remaining Grateful Dead band members, is married to Leilani's sister Natascha Munter. They have two daughters. </p>
<p>He grew up on the Peninsula south of San Francisco, and was glued to a guitar from the time he was 14. One of his earliest influences was a local folkie named Jorma Kaukonen. He first joined in with Jerry Garcia in 1964 to form "Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions," and then was a co-founder of the Warlocks, later the Grateful Dead. As the band grew, he became the co-lead-vocalist with Garcia, and wrote a number of important songs, including "The Other One," "Sugar Magnolia," "Playing in the Band," and "Throwing Stones."</p>
2010-02-17T10:58:14-05:00
397
rock-on-dude-grateful-dead-member-surfaces-at-daytona
2010-02-17T09:49:00-05:00
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/108/original.jpg?1266422211" border="0" alt="Munter Weir" width="380" height="487" style="float: left;" />You just never know who's gunna show up in the ARCA garage. A few years back, it was recording artist/rock legend Alice Cooper, whose car just happened to win the ARCA race at Daytona. This year, it's longtime Grateful Dead rythym guitarist Bob Weir, who just happens to be ARCA driver Leilani Munter's brother-in-law. Weir, who is still active with the remaining Grateful Dead band members, is married to Leilani's sister Natascha Munter. They have two daughters. </p>
Rock on Dude; Grateful Dead Member Rises at Daytona
2010-02-17T19:16:39-05:00
5033
64
2010-02-16T10:18:24-05:00
396
robb-brent-road-course-ready
2010-02-16T09:10:00-05:00
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/106/original.jpg?1266334588" border="0" alt="Brent Pbi Rtest" width="400" height="320" style="float: left;" />Among the entries for the upcoming Tire Kingdom 150 presented by ModSpace at Palm Beach Int'l Raceway, none currently on it are former ARCA road course winners. As it will turn out, some skillful driver will add his or her name to the record books, taking its place among a very elite group of ARCA road course winners. That list of former ARCA road course winners includes Fred Lorenzen, Nelson Stacy, Curtis Turner, Elmer Musgrave, Jack Bowsher, Ken Schrader, Darrell Waltrip, Scott Lagasse, Sr., John Finger, Justin Allgaier and Patrick Long. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">If there's one driver who's got a good shot of going to victory lane at PBIR, it very well may be Robb Brent, who not only cut his teeth on road courses, but finished a career-best 4th at the New Jersey Motorsports Park road course in 2009.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">"When I read that ARCA was going to another road course I was so excited," said Brent. "It's my favorite kind of place. To start the year off on one and finish up on one later in the year works for me. Wish they'd throw a few more road courses on the schedule - I'd be ok with that."</span></p>
Robb Brent Road Course Ready.....
2010-02-16T10:58:15-05:00
5033
44
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/103/original.jpg?1266156119" border="0" alt="Piquetcandid10" width="288" height="432" style="float: left;" />(2-14-10) - No doubt ARCA hit a major league homerun in this year’s event at Daytona. The 58-year sanction got the best of both worlds. Danica Mania drove the ratings through the roof and a true-blue ARCA regular/independent won the race.</p>
<p>While the Danica coverage could be considered overkill, the sanction should make no apologies for the biased coverage centered around Danica. Through it all, more people saw Bobby Gerhart win at ARCA’s marquis venue because of the increased visibility that Patrick pulled in. More people saw Alli Owens run third for much of the race. More people saw everything that happened at Daytona, good and bad, because of Danica.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for Nelson Piquet, Jr., who was making his stock car debut, a record audience also saw him perform in such a way that left little to be desired.</p>
<p>Piquet, Jr., the son of renowned three-time Formula One champion Nelson Piquet, did not shine in his stock car debut. Covered up in Danica Mania, Piquet, nonetheless, brought in even more race fans from around the globe, which added to ARCA’s credibility and visibility. Too bad Piquet didn’t capitalize on the opportunity.</p>
<p>Piquet, as it turns out, was involved – the culprit in fact – in a variety of on-track accidents. While some in the media blasted ARCA after the race, they would have been more appropriate/accurate to focus their criticism on the individuals driving the racecars, not necessarily the sanction. Guilty by association I guess.</p>
<p>Piquet first got the attention of the troops when he wrecked 9-time series champ Frank Kimmel. He not only moved him, he flat plowed into him and caved the rear bumper in on Kimmel’s Ansell-Menards Ford. Kimmel was never a factor after that. Worse yet, according to Kimmel, the caution was out when it happened, meaning that the on-track yellow lights would have been flashing as well as the Race Safe dashboard caution lights inside Piquet’s cockpit.</p>
<p>Later on, poor Barry Fitzgerald, who was doing a very fine job just one lap down in Wayne Peterson’s Ford, was minding his own business off turn two when Piquet punted Fitzgerald from behind. The incident led to Fitzgerald’s nasty tumble down the backstretch apron. Piquet, with all his big money horsepower, could have easily driven around Fitzgerald without incident. Fortunately, due to the well-constructed car, Fitzgerald was able to walk away. However, the racecar was destroyed. It was team owner Peterson’s best car in his fleet and one he’s not financially capable of replacing. No apology ever came from Piquet according to Fitzgerald. Beyond that, the least he could have done was to call with a, 'Hey, hope you're ok'. At this point, skip the apology and buy Wayne a racecar.</p>
<p>Late in the race, Piquet was involved in yet another incident that turned Patrick down the through the frontstretch grass. Possibly, that particular incident could have been called, “just racin’”. The other two aforementioned situations could not be written off in such a way.</p>
<p>Through it all, it's certainly possible that Piquet's debut could have been chalked up to a lack of experience. And if that's so, I'm buying into that point of view. However, this isn't Formula One where four seconds apart is considered a close race. This is high-speed, major-league superspeedway stock car racing where it's more like four inches, sometimes less. At any rate, if and when he comes back, he's got to do a better job of paying attention to what's going on around him.</p>
<p>Nelson Piquet, Jr. has a universe of fans. Having him in an ARCA line-up can only increase ARCA’s exposure, which of course is a very good thing. Having said that, I’ll bet the sanction hopes he comes back to race more. I’ll bet it also hopes that when and if he comes back that he also displays a higher level of respect for the hard-working, very dedicated men and women - some of whom hardly have two nickels to rub together - of the ARCA Racing Series.</p>
2010-02-14T09:03:20-05:00
395
commentary-nelson-piquet-s-precarious-performance-at-daytona
2010-02-14T08:00:00-05:00
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/103/original.jpg?1266156119" border="0" alt="Piquetcandid10" width="288" height="432" style="float: left;" />(2-14-10) - No doubt ARCA hit a major league homerun in this year’s event at Daytona. The 58-year sanction got the best of both worlds. Danica Mania drove the ratings through the roof and a true-blue ARCA regular/independent won the race.</p>
<p>While the Danica coverage could be considered overkill, the sanction should make no apologies for the biased coverage centered around Danica. Through it all, more people saw Bobby Gerhart win at ARCA’s marquis venue because of the increased visibility that Patrick pulled in. More people saw Alli Owens run third for much of the race. More people saw everything that happened at Daytona, good and bad, because of Danica.</p>
<p>Unfortunately for Nelson Piquet, Jr., who was making his stock car debut, a record audience also saw him perform in such a way that left little to be desired.</p>
Commentary: Nelson Piquet's Precarious Performance at Daytona
2010-02-14T15:45:07-05:00
5033
81
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black"><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/100/original.jpg?1265912034" border="0" alt="Owenscandid2010" width="300" height="331" style="float: left;" />DAYTONA BEACH FL – Alli Owens nearly made history Saturday at Daytona; instead she left disappointed following her outstanding run in the 47<sup>th</sup> annual Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. Amidst Danica Mania, Owens was in position to win, riding third for more than half the race before she got shuffled back …….. way back. Owens went from making her move into the record books as ARCA’s first female winner to 23<sup>rd</sup> in the final running order.</span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">According to Owens, Patrick Sheltra, who finished fifth, had something to do with her mass exodus from the front. Their relationship seems to be somewhat strained.</span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">"First of all, there's no feud between the two of us," Owens said. "I was just trying to explain what happened in the race. He didn't wreck me, but he moved me out of the draft. </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">"I don't think it was intentional, but he's just very aggressive. He's never wrecked us, but he has hit us. He's a very aggressive driver. He doesn't work well with others. You have to be able to trust the drivers around you. </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">"It's just racing and how he races. It's time to move forward, and there's no feud between us." </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">Of course, these comments came days after the race. In her immediate post-race interview as reported next day in the Daytona Beach News Journal, she was a little more vocal.</span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">“It’s the same person every year,” said Owens. “They get excited way too early. We did what we needed to do. I guess I should know better the person who is behind me.</span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">“It’s been him every time. He’s hit me the last three years here. He kept tapping me and tapping me. Hi knocked me sideways in three and four. I really don’t know how I saved it.</span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">“Maybe I’ll learn my lesson after tonight. I guess from now on I’ll know who I’m racing against.</span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">“Sure I’m disappointed. I knew we were going to win this race. We were just bidding our time. The car was awesome. Then, after sitting in third for 40-something laps and to come home 23<sup>rd</sup>, it’s very disappointing.”</span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">According Sheltra, it wasn’t he who was the culprit. Rather, it was Owens’s teammate that caused her to go backwards.<img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/101/original.jpg?1265912094" border="0" alt="Sheltracandid2010" width="260" height="329" style="float: right;" /></span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">"We never touched her and haven't touched her the last three years," Sheltra said. "We were just riding behind her and passed her clean. It was the No. 35 (John Wes Townley) that got underneath her in (turn) 2. I guess she didn't want to call out her own teammate. </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">"Two years ago, it was her first time on a superspeedway and she went below the yellow line a couple of times there and almost came back into us. Last year, she was in front of us and got taken out by somebody else and we almost hit her. We've come close, but we've never hit her." </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">Sheltra said he and Owens have been friend away from the track. </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">"She's always had great cars, but she's never been able to finish in the top 10," Sheltra added. "I saw her at the track (Palm Beach) yesterday (Monday) and she didn't say anything to me. I think she's just trying to save her (tail) now. </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">"As far as I'm concerned, it's over now. We move on to the next track and I'm not going to start any wreck-fest over it or anything. It's a clean slate and a new track. </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">"I am upset about it. I know we'll still be in racing when they're watching from the bleachers." </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">Owens said she's also put the matter behind her, but she'll also continue to monitor who's behind her each race. </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">"When it comes down to being patient, he's not the first person I would want behind me," she said. "It's just one of Patrick's deals. Everybody knows that about the No. 60. </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">"Believe me, he's the last person I want behind me. But I still consider us friends off the track." </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">Sheltra said it's time to move on as well and he's just happy with his fifth-place finish. </span></p>
<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black">"We feel like we had an awesome race," Sheltra said. "If we could have had a little more help at the end, who knows. We were running right there with Danica (Patrick) and if she could have come up just a little more and given us a bigger push. Still, we're pretty happy with the way we finished." </span></p>
2010-02-11T13:15:41-05:00
394
friends-for-foes-you-decide
2010-02-11T12:12:00-05:00
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;"><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/100/original.jpg?1265912034" border="0" alt="Owenscandid2010" width="300" height="331" style="float: left;" />DAYTONA BEACH FL – Alli Owens nearly made history Saturday at Daytona; instead she left disappointed following her outstanding run in the 47<sup>th</sup> annual Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. Amidst Danica Mania, Owens was in position to win, riding third for more than half the race before she got shuffled back …….. way back. Owens went from making her move into the record books as ARCA’s first female winner to 23<sup>rd</sup> in the final running order.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black;">According to Owens, Patrick Sheltra, who finished fifth, had something to do with her mass exodus from the front. Their relationship seems to be somewhat strained.</span></p>
Friends for Foes? You Decide.......
2010-02-14T20:06:09-05:00
5033
180
2010-02-09T11:20:40-05:00
393
and-the-winner-is
2010-02-09T10:16:00-05:00
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/097/original.jpg?1265732387" border="0" alt="Buescherpoledaytonafor An" width="500" height="377" style="float: left;" />Congratulations to Jim Michels of Olney, Illinois, winner of ARCA Nation's 'Pick the Pole' contest. Jim will soon be receiving an ARCA-branded Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell hat signed by the Daytona pole winner James Buescher and a 2010 ARCA Racing Series Schedule T-Shirt.</p>
And The Winner Is!..........
2010-02-09T11:20:40-05:00
5033
103
2010-02-07T06:42:54-05:00
392
hang-on-danica
2010-02-07T05:41:00-05:00
<p><img src="http://assets.arcanation.com/user_files/user_images/000/000/095/original.jpg?1265542950" border="0" alt="Patrickspindaytona10" width="500" height="297" /></p>
Hang on Danica!
2010-02-08T20:10:11-05:00
5033
269