Buescher Earns ARCA RE/MAX Series SIM Factory Pole Award at Talladega

TALLADEGA AL (10-02-08)— James Buescher, in a No. 32 Win-Tron Racing Toyota, earned the ARCA RE/MAX Series SIM Factory Pole Award at Talladega Superspeedway on Thursday afternoon, posting a 51.493 second lap around the 2.66-mile superspeedway for a speed of 185.967 mph. He starts on the pole alongside Andy Belmont Racing’s Tom Hessert, III in Friday’s ARCA RE/MAX Series 250 at Talladega Superspeedway, which rolls off at 4 p.m. Central live on SPEED Channel.

It was a career first SIM Factory Pole award for the 18-year-old Buescher, who has been driving the No. 32 Mercedes Homes-Red Line Oil Toyota for Win-Tron Racing on a part-time basis in the ARCA RE/MAX Series this year in between NASCAR Nationwide Series races. In 2007, Buescher became the youngest winner in ARCA RE/MAX Series history at USA Int’l Speedway in Lakeland, Florida, when he won just two days shy of this March 26^th birthday to become the only 16-year-old winner in ARCA RE/MAX Series history. This weekend marks the first time that Win-Tron Racing has entered an ARCA RE/MAX Series race in a Toyota.

“This is Win-Tron’s first race in a Toyota and we just bought this car from Bill Davis Racing,” said Buescher. “We were short handed last weekend at New Jersey because so many of our guys stayed at the shop to thrash on this car after the test. The ARCA RE/MAX Series has been a great series to learn in and running on short tracks at places like Lakeland really helped to prepare me for the NASCAR Nationwide Series as well as some of these bigger tracks I’m racing on now in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. I tested at Daytona in February but I couldn’t race there because I was only 17 so this will be my first restrictor plate race. Win-Tron Racing and all of the guys are great and we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think we could win.”

Hessert, who was fastest during an ARCA Open Test at Talladega in his No. 1 Maaco Auto Painting America’s Body Shop Ford, posted a 51.778-second lap during the second of his two qualifying laps for a speed of 184.943 mph.

“Ya we were fastest during the ARCA Test and pretty good during practice today but we fell off a little bit during qualifying so it’s a little disappointing but I think we have a good car for the race,” said Hessert. “This is the same Andy Belmont Racing Ford that Dominick Casola finished third with here last year. We should have a pretty good piece for the race tomorrow.”

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. qualified third in the No. 99 Aflac Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, earning five points in the Championship points race. Stenhouse heads into the ARCA RE/MAX 250 second in the ARCA RE/MAX Series point standings and has closed the gap to within 60 points of current championship points leader Scott Speed, who starts seventh in the No. 2 Red Bull Toyota.

Bobby Gerhart, a former ARCA RE/MAX Series race winner at Talladega, starts fourth in the No. 5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet and Eddie Mercer starts fifth in the No. 51 Miccosukee Resorts Chevrolet alongside AJ Henriksen in the No. 7 ECC Toyota.The 32 fastest SIM Factory qualifiers earned starting positions in Friday’s ARCA RE/MAX Series 250, with the remainder of the 43-car starting field set by provisionals.

Friday’s ARCA RE/MAX Series 250 at Talladega Superspeedway marks the 20^th of 21 races on the 2008 schedule and will be a determining factor in the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship points race and marks the final race of the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge and Bill France Triple Crown.

There will be a final ARCA RE/MAX Series practice session on Friday from 10-10:50 a.m. in which teams will be allowed to make a limited number of impound adjustments before the ARCA RE/MAX 250 rolls off at 4 p.m. Central/5 p.m. Eastern. The race is live on SPEED.

No Tractor Pull: Allgaier Wins Inaugural Loud Energy Drink 150 at New Jersey Motorsports Park

TOLEDO OH (9-29-08)--When Justin Allgaier strapped into his No. 16 Hoosier Tire Midwest-AG Tech Chevrolet and made his first laps around New Jersey Motorsport Park’s 2.3-mile Thunderbolt Course for the first time on Tuesday, he found himself off course more often than not. Still, the versatile driver and full time ARCA RE/MAX Series competitor was able to hit his marks on Sunday to win the rain shortened Loud Energy Drink 150 ARCA RE/MAX Series race. In post race interviews, Allgaier compared his Tuesday test session to driving a John Deer Tractor.

“On Tuesday testing here it was my first time road course racing ever,” said Allgiaer. “Felt like I was in a John Deer tractor because I was plowing more dirt than I was on the racetrack. All in all, it’s a great weekend and it was a great experience. If you look at the ARCA RE/MAX Series, we’ve got the most diverse array of racetracks in the series, and fortunately now we’ve been able to win on a dirt track, a short track, a superspeedway and on a road course, so, for us that’s really cool.”

Allgaier earned his career first ARCA RE/MAX Series victory at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile-dirt track in 2006. He has three short track wins (Salem Speedway in September of 2007 and April of 2008, Cayuga Motor Speedway in June of 2008) and one speedway win (Pocono Raceway in August of 2008). The full time ARCA RE/MAX Series driver recently signed a contract to drive in the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Penske Racing.

Speed, Stenhouse, Continue to Battle for 2008 Title

Following Sunday’s Loud Energy Drink 150 at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Eddie Sharp Racing’s Scott Speed leads the ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship Point Standings by a slim, 65 point margin over Roush Fenway Racing’s Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Speed posted an eighth place finish in the No. 2 Red Bull Toyota this weekend after he was ordered to the tail end of the line for running over equipment on pit road during a mid-race pit stop. Stenhouse, Jr.’s No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion team also had to battle from the back of the field after the team made a driver change on lap three during a full course caution. Stenhouse’s Roush Fenway Racing teammate Colin Braun served as a relief driver for Stenhouse, who continues to recover from a crash in a Midget car at Eldora Speedway that occurred last Saturday night.

"I had a crash last weekend in the midget and I didn't think I was going to be 100 percent for this race so I just decided that for this race it would be best for Roush Fenway Racing for me to start it and to let Colin [Braun] finish it," said Stenhouse. "He did a good job and gained us some points and that's the main thing we wanted him to do."

Four of the top-5 championship point contenders posted top-10 finishes, including Speed and Stenhouse (currently first and second in the point standings) and Justin Allgaier, who advanced from fifth to third in the point standings with his win in the Loud Energy Drink 150. Frank Kimmel remains fourth in the ARCA RE/MAX Series point standings after posting a tenth place finish in a No. 44 Stewart’s Root Beer Ford built by veteran ARCA RE/MAX Series driver and car owner Bob Schacht. SunTrust Rookie Matt Carter entered the race weekend third in points but slipped to fifth after finishing 30^th. Carter started the Loud Energy Drink 150 at the rear of the field for changing a transmission during impound but worked his way all the way up to 17^th before cutting a tire on his No. 46 Stine Seed-Hantz Group Ford and crashing into a tire wall on lap 25.

Unofficial Top-10 ARCA RE/MAX Series Points After The Loud Energy Drink 150 at New Jersey Motorsprts Park (9-28-08); 1) Scott Speed, 4520; 2) Ricky Stenhouse Jr, 4455; 3) Justin Allgaier, 4300; 4) Frank Kimmel, 4290; 5) Matt Carter, 4270; 6) Tayler Malsam, 3675; 7) Patrick Sheltra, 3660; 8) John Wes Townley, 3654; 9) Tom Hessert III, 3640; 9) Ken Butler III, 3640.

Road Course Ace Andy Lally Finishes Fourth Despite Dominating Weekend

Ringer Andy Lally dominated the ARCA RE/MAX Series for much of the weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The road course veteran posted the fastest times during both practice sessions, earned the SIM Factory Pole Award on Saturday and was the Aaron’s lap leader in Sunday’s Loud Energy Drink 150, taking charge of the race from the start and leading by as much as ten car lengths before relinquishing the lead on lap 28 to make a pit stop in the No. 48 TRG Motorsports Chevrolet. Lally ended up fourth, a career-best finish for the Rolex Grand Am Series veteran who has made three previous ARCA RE/MAX Series starts, all in 2007.

Cunningham Motorsports Delivers at New Jersey

The Cunningham Motorsports stable of drivers included two road course veterans this weekend, as both SunTrust Rookie Tayler Malsam and Series’ newcomer Parker Kligerman entered the race on the strength of full seasons in the Formula TR Championship. Malsam qualified a career best fifth and finished third in the No. 4 Dodge Development Dodge and Kligerman qualified second and finished sixth in the Cunningham Driver Development Dodge.

“I definitely like road course racing,” said Malsam. “I did some Formula TR stuff so I had experience heading into this race so that really helped.”

Fellow Cunningham driver Michael Phelps started 20^th and finished 20^th in the Bowen Family Homes Dodge.

Bowling for Bill: Team Belmont Wins Charity Tournament

A bowling team comprised of members from Andy Belmont Racing won a charity bowling tournament on Friday night at Strike Zone Lanes in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey. The tournament raised approximately $1,000 for ARCA Chaplain Bill Krick, who has spent much of the 2008 race season recovering from open heart surgery.

ARCA RE/MAX Series drivers who participated in the event included Scott Speed, Justin Allgaier, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., Colin Braun, Dexter Bean, Justin Lofton, Alli Owens and Patrick Sheltra.

Loud Energy Drink 150 Post Race Special Awards

Talladega Next

The ARCA RE/MAX Series is in the midst of completing a stretch of races that certainly showcases the diverse nature of the nationally touring series. Following the Loud Energy Drink 150 at New Jersey Motorsports Park (2.6-mile Thunderbolt road course), the Series is preparing for a race at Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile speedway) on October 3^rd and Toledo Speedway (.5-mile short track) on October 12^th.  For race specific information, visit arcaracing.com.

Kimmel Leads Bill France Triple Crown Heading into Talladega

With two races of the three-race ARCA RE/MAX Series Bill France Triple Crown Series complete, Frank Kimmel leads the standings over Dexter Bean, Matt Carter and Patrick Sheltra. Kimmel finished first at both the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds mile-dirt track on September 1^st and the Salem Speedway short track on September 13^th. The remaining race in the 2008 Bill France Triple Crown Series is at Talladega Superspeedway on October 3^rd.  Kimmel is the defending winner of the Bill France Triple Crown and has won the award a total of five times. Other winners include Blake Bjorklund, Brent Sherman, Jason Jarrett, Tim Steele, Bob Keselowski, Tracy Leslie and Davey Allison, to name a few.

Bill France Triple Crown Champions, 1984-2007

The Bill France Triple Crown is a separate point fund within the 21-race ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule that tests drivers on a challenging combination of venues, including a dirt track (The Southern Illinois 100 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, September 1^st), a short track (The Eddie Gilstrap Motors 200 by Advance Auto Parts at Salem Speedway on September 13^th) and a superspeedway (The ARCA RE/MAX 250 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 3^rd).

The ARCA RE/MAX Series has honored a Bill France Triple Crown champion at the end-of-the-year Championship Awards Banquet each consecutive season since 1984.

Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge up for Grabs at Talladega

The October 3^rd ARCA RE/MAX 250 at Talladega Superspeedway marks the tenth and final race in the 2008 Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge. The Superspeedway Challenge, which is a separate point fund for races on speedway ovals greater than one mile in length, kicked off with the ARCA 200 at Daytona on February 9^th. Other superspeedway challenge events on the 2008 schedule include Kansas Speedway (April 26^th),  Kentucky Speedway (May 10^th, July 18^th), Pocono Raceway (June 7^th, August 2^nd), Michigan Int’l Speedway (June 13^th), Nashville Superspeedway (August 9^th), Chicagoland Speedway (September 6^th) and Talladega Superspeedway (October 3^rd). Currently, car owner Eddie Sharp leads the Superspeedway Challenge standings with driver Scott Speed. Jack Roush is second in the standings with driver Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. followed by Sharp with driver Ken Butler, III.

Last season, ARCA RE/MAX Series car owner Ray Evernham and driver Erin Crocker earned Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge honors, marking the first time that a female driver has earned the award. Other former recipients of the award include Frank Kimmel, Bobby Gerhart, Chad Blount, Bob Strait, Bill Baird, Mark Gibson, Tim Steele and Mike Wallace, among others.

From Wind Tunnel to Talladega: Ricky Carmichael Ready for the ARCA RE/MAX Series…

Retired dirt bike racer Ricky Carmichael, nicknamed the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) for his record-holding 150 career wins and 15 championships in AMA Motocross competition, made a live guest appearance on Wind Tunnel with Dave DeSpain on SPEED Channel Sunday night to discuss his upcoming ARCA RE/MAX Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway.

Carmichael participated in an ARCA Open Test at the 2.66-mile speed plant on September 17^th and plans to race in the ARCA RE/MAX 250 in a Kevin Harvick, Inc. prepared Chevrolet.

Talladega Superspeedway Full of ARCA RE/MAX Series History and Tradition

The ARCA RE/MAX Series has a long-standing tradition of racing at Talladega Superspeedway, dating back to 1969.  Five-time Talladega ARCA RE/MAX Series winner Grant Adcox, four-time winners Davey Allison and Tim Steele, three-time winner Charlie Glotzbach and two-time winners Red Farmer, Jimmy Horton, Tracy Leslie, Ramo Stott and Jim Vandiver join Blake Feese, Bobby Gerhart, Johnny Halford, Billie Harvey, Bruce Hill, Ron Hutcherson, David Keith, Frank Kimmel, Kraig Kinser, Mark Martin, Paul Menard, Jeff Purvis, Rick Roland, Sandy Satullo, Keith Segars, Bob Strait, Jim Vaughn and Mike Wallace as former winners at the 2.66-mile superspeedway.

This year’s edition of the ARCA RE/MAX 250 at Talladega Superspeedway marks the series’ 46^th appearance to Talladega and is scheduled to air live on SPEED beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern on Friday, October 3rd, 2008.

2008 Schedule 

 2008 Schedule

ARCA REMAX CHAMPIONS

Frank Kimmel

2007 ARCA REMAX CHAMPION