Series notebook 2009-07-20

Kligerman Joins Impressive List with Kentucky Victory

Cunningham Motorsports' Parker Kligerman, a development driver for Penske Racing, joined an elite group of racers on Saturday evening by clinching his fourth consecutive win in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, becoming one of just five drivers to do so since the Series' inception in 1953. In addition to Kligerman, drivers with four ARCA wins in a row include Iggy Katona (1955, 1962), Frank Kimmel (2002), Jack Harrison (1956) and Jack Bowsher (1965).

Kligerman battled side-by-side for the race lead with Fairhope, Alabama's Grant Enfinger for the last 15 laps of Saturday's 100-lap/150-mile Click It or Ticket. Buckle-Up Kentucky 150, slipping by Enfinger for the win on the final lap of the race to become one of 14 different drivers who have found victory lane in ARCA RE/MAX Series competition at Kentucky Speedway. The 18-year-old recent high school graduate now travels with the ARCA RE/MAX Series to Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan, for the Wolverine Power Systems 200 presented by Generac on Saturday, July 25, 2009.

At Berlin, Kligerman will be attempting to earn five consecutive victories in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, an achievement matched only by Harold Smith (Twice in 1961), Bruce Gould (1973) and Tim Steele (1997). The record for most consecutive race wins is six, set by Jack Bowsher in 1965.

Overall, Kligerman has won five races so far this season. The record for most race victories in a single season of competition is 16, set by Jack Bowsher in 1964.

Kligerman Not the Youngest Kentucky Speedway ARCA Race Winner At 18 years, 11 months and 10 days old, Parker Kligerman did not become the youngest ARCA RE/MAX Series race winner at Kentucky Speedway on Saturday afternoon. Those honors go to Kyle Busch, who was 18 years, 8 days old when he won on May 10, 2003.

The youngest superspeedway race winner in ARCA competition is Shelby Howard, who won at Kansas Speedway in 2003 at the 17 years, 10 months and 6 days.

Ickler Breaks Track Record at Kentucky in Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell

Brian Ickler broke the ARCA RE/MAX Series' one-lap track record at Kentucky Speedway this weekend, earning his career first Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell with a 30.126 second/179.247 mph lap around the 1.5-mile Sparta, Kentucky-based speedway. The previous track record of 30.213 seconds/178.730 mph was set by Erin Crocker in 2007.

2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series at Midway Point: Berlin Next

The half-way point of Saturday's Click-it or Ticket. Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 ARCA RE/MAX Series Race at Kentucky Speedway marked the official half-way point of the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series Season. With ten races remaining in 2009, Parker Kligerman leads the ARCA RE/MAX Series Point Standings by 150 points over Justin Lofton.

One year ago, Roush Fenway Racing's Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. was leading the point standings by 90 points over Scott Speed and eventual champion Justin Allgaier was a distant fifth in the championship point race. With a combination of short tracks (Berlin Raceway July 25, Toledo Speedway September 4, Salem Speedway September 19, Rockingham Speedway October 11), speedways (Pocono Raceway August 1, Chicagoland Speedway August 28, Kansas Speedway October 1), dirt tracks (Illinois State Fairgrounds August 23, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds September 7) and a road course (New Jersey Motorsports Park September 13) remaining on the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule, the championship points race is by no means over.

The next race on the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule is on Saturday, July 25 at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan.

Honored in Indy

The ARCA RE/MAX Series will have a presence at the seventh annual Women in the Winner's Circle Luncheon hosted by Lyn St. James' Winner's Circle Foundation at the Plaza Village Pavilion at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Thursday afternoon, July 23. Founded in 1994 by Lyn St. James, the Women in the Winner's Circle Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on worldwide activities and programs for driver development, advocacy, diversity and education, particularly for women who aspire to become race car drivers.

A highlight of the banquet each year is the presentation of the Mildred Marcum Pioneer Award, named in honor of ARCA's co-founder and patriarch. Marcum worked as a NASCAR official alongside the France family in the 1940s and 50s before starting ARCA as a Midwest-based auto racing sanctioning body with her husband John in 1953. Marcum, who is currently 95 years old and still works at ARCA's Temperance, Michigan headquarters on a daily basis, was the first ever recipient of the Mildred Marcum Pioneer Award in 2005. Last year, NASCAR President Mike Helton accepted the Mildred Marcum Pioneer Award on behalf of deceased NASCAR drivers Sara Christian and Louise Smith, who were among the first female racers in NASCAR history. Other recipients have included the late Barbara Parks, who co-founded the NHRA alongside her husband Wally Parks, and journalist/author/racing driver Denise McCluggage.

Yes, He's Leading the Points, But...

Although Parker Kligerman currently leads both the ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship Point Standings and the Rookie of the Year Point Standings midway through the 2009 season, he will not be able to win both awards this season even if he is leading both point standings at the conclusion of ARCA Championship Weekend at Rockingham Speedway on October 11. The ARCA Rulebook states that a driver cannot earn both awards in the same season.

The last time that an ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie won the driving championship was when Andy Hillenburg claimed the title in 1995, allowing Harris DeVane to earn Rookie of the Year honors. That was 14 years ago-when Kligerman was a 4-year-old preschooler. A rookie driver has passed on Rookie of the Year honors in favor of the driving championship four times in the 52-year history of the award-1995, 1993, 1988 and 1981. The ARCA RE/MAX Series, which has roots dating back to 1953, has honored a top rookie since 1957.

Kimmel to Participate in Menards Meet and Great on Friday

Nine-time ARCA RE/MAX Series Champion Frank Kimmel will be appearing at the Menards store in Wyoming, Michigan, on Friday, July 24 from 7-9 p.m. Kimmel will be on hand to sign autographs for fans of his No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford team, which competes on a fulltime basis in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.

The appearance at Menards precedes Kimmel's visit to Berlin Raceway for Saturday's Wolverine Power Systems 200 presented by Generac.

Impressive ARCA RE/MAX Series Winners List at Berlin Raceway

One year ago Eddie Sharp Racing's Scott Speed, in a No. 2 Red Bull Toyota, bested Series veterans Justin Allgaier and Frank Kimmel to earn his career first short track victory and third overall in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. This year, Eddie Sharp Racing has entered four drivers for the Wolverine Power Systems 200 presented by Generac, including second-place point contender Justin Lofton (No. 6 Lofton Cattle Toyota), and Series' rookies Craig Goess (No. 81 Greenville Toyota of NC Toyota), Steve Arpin (No. 20 Pinewood Sports Toyota) and Tim George, Jr. (No. 2 Ruby Tuesday Toyota).

The ARCA RE/MAX Series has a long and impressive list of former winners at Berlin Raceway. In 1958, Les Snow raced his Chevrolet to victory lane, winning in the ARCA RE/MAX Series' inaugural appearance to the 0.4-mile short track. In 2007, second-generation ARCA RE/MAX Series racer Brian Keselowski found victory lane at Berlin, marking his second win in as many years at the track. In between Snow and Keselowski, the winner's list at Berlin Raceway has been a who's who of ARCA RE/MAX Series history, with drivers such as Nelson Stacy, Bob James, Don White, Harold Smith, Iggy Katona, Andy Hampton, Ramo Stott, Bob Senneker, Bob Keselowski, Frank Kimmel, Tim Steele, Fred Campbell and Joey Miller each taking turns in the Berlin winner's circle. The winner of the 2009 edition will be determined on Saturday evening when the Wolverine Power Systems 200 presented by Generac rolls off at 8:30 p.m., Eastern.

Proud to be an American: Lee Greenwood to perform at Berlin

Just one week after performing in front of ARCA RE/MAX Series race fans at Kentucky Speedway, classic country music artist Lee Greenwood will perform at the Wolverine Power Systems 200 presented by Generac at Berlin Raceway this Saturday. Greenwood will perform in a 6:15 p.m. concert before singing the National Anthem during ARCA RE/MAX Series pre-race ceremonies on Saturday. The concert is included in the ticket price for this weekend's ARCA RE/MAX Series race, available by clicking here.

Greenwood, 66, skipped his high school graduation to begin forging what would evolve into a long and successful recording and touring career. His inspiring signature 1985 single, "God Bless the USA," was honored as the Country Music Association (CMA) Song of the Year and helped earn him one of his two career CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Awards.

Kyle Busch, David Ragan to Support ARCA-Owned Properties this August

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch and David Ragan will each make appearances at ARCA-owned properties this August. Busch will compete in a 100-lap CRA Late Model race on Friday night, August 14 at Toledo Speedway, which is owned by ARCA President Ron Drager and business man Roy Mott. Ragan will sign autographs for race fans at ARCA-owned Flat Rock Speedway on Saturday night, August 15.

Both Busch and Ragan competed in the ARCA RE/MAX Series early during their careers, with Busch earning three ARCA RE/MAX Series victories and Ragan earning one win.

-credit: arca