Series notebook 2009-08-10

One More Weekend Off before Busy Four Week Stretch

The ARCA RE/MAX Series has one more "off" weekend before heading to the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, for the Southern Illinois 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on August 23. The race marks the first of two dirt track events in the 2009 racing season and begins a late-season stretch of six races in four weeks to include Springfield (August 23), Chicagoland (August 28), Toledo (September 4), DuQuoin (September 7), New Jersey Motorsports Park (September 13) and Salem (September 19).

Lofton Nationwide Ready

Current ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship Point Contender Justin Lofton will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut at Michigan Int'l Speedway on August 15 for CJM Racing. He is one of several drivers that include fulltime ARCA RE/MAX Series racing on their resumes who have transitioned to the NASCAR Nationwide Series over the years. Others include David Ragan (competed in ARCA RE/MAX Series fulltime in 2005/finished eighth in Saturday's NNS race at Watkins Glen), Scott Speed (competed in ARCA RE/MAX Series fulltime in 2008/finished tenth in Saturday's NNS race at Watkins Glen), Justin Allgaier (competed in ARCA RE/MAX Series fulltime 2006 through 2008/finished 17th in Saturday's NNS race at Watkins Glen), Michael McDowell (competed in ARCA RE/MAX Series fulltime in 2007/finished 27th in Saturday's NNS race at Watkins Glen), Justin Marks (competed in ARCA RE/MAX Series fulltime in 2007/finished 32nd in Saturday's NNS race at Watkins Glen) and Matt Carter (competed in ARCA RE/MAX Series fulltime in 2008/finished 36th in Saturday's NNS race at Watkins Glen).

In addition to Michigan, Lofton plans to race for CJM at Lowe's Motor Speedway (October 16), Texas Motor Speedway (November 7) and Homestead-Miami Speedway (November 21). More information is available at Lofton's new website, www.loftonracing.com.

Kligerman Leads Rookie Standings

Current ARCA RE/MAX Series Points Leader Parker Kligerman leads the Rookie of the Year Standings 13 races into the 21-race 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series. Kligerman, Craig Goess, Joey Coulter, Steve Arpin and Tim George Jr. are among the rookie contenders who have spent time in the top-ten in the point standings this season. ARCA RE/MAX Series Rookie of the Year recipients have gone on to form successful careers throughout motor sports; Five ARCA Rookies have gone on to capture ARCA RE/MAX Series championships later in their careers, including Benny Parsons, Dave Dayton, Bill Venturini, Frank Kimmel and Bill Baird. Parsons holds the distinction of being the only ARCA Rookie of the Year who has gone on to win season-ending championships in both the ARCA RE/MAX Series (1968 and 1969) and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (1973).

Kimmel, whose storied racing career has included nine ARCA RE/MAX Series championships, an invitation to compete in the International Race of Champions (IROC) Series, along with forays into the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NACAR Camping World Truck Series, was the 1992 ARCA RE/MAX Series Rookie of the Year.

1984 ARCA Rookie of the Year Davey Allison went on to claim the 1987 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year award.

Other former winners of the ARCA RE/MAX Series Rookie of the Year award include Matt Carter, Blake Bjorklund, Joey Miller, TJ Bell, Jason Jarrett, Glenn Brewer, Lee Raymond and Charlie Glotzbach, to name a few.

Who Will Be the Next First Time Series Winner? Six of the top-10 ARCA RE/MAX Series Point Contenders have not yet visited victory circle in ARCA RE/MAX Series competition, including Craig Goess (13 career starts), Joey Coulter (13 career starts), Bryan Silas (63 career starts), Steve Arpin (13 career starts), Tom Hessert (36 career starts) and Robb Brent (29 career starts).

Earlier this year, Patrick Sheltra earned his career-first victory at Salem Speedway in his 48th career start. Other first time Series winners this season include Sean Caisse at Rockingham (sixth Series start) and Parker Kligerman at Toledo Speedway (eighth Series start).

Kimmel Six Laps Shy of Major Career Milestone

Nine-time ARCA RE/MAX Series Champion Frank Kimmel is just six laps shy of leading 10,000 laps in ARCA RE/MAX Series Competition. Although he has only led 36 laps so far this season, Kimmel heads into the next race on the schedule-the Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds-as the defending race winner. Kimmel led 83 of 102 laps en route to victory at Springfield last year and set a new one-lap track record at the one-mile dirt track. He is a seven-time race winner at Springfield.

Kyle Busch, David Ragan to Support ARCA-Owned Properties this Weekend NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch and David Ragan will each make appearances at ARCA-owned properties this weekend. 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.

Upcoming ARCA RE/MAX Series Races
Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds; Sunday, August 23
Ansell Cut Protection 150 at Chicagoland Speedway; Friday, August 28
ARCA RE/MAX 200 presented by Belle Tire at Toledo Speedway; Friday, September 4
Southern Illinois 100 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds; Monday, September 7

-credit: arcaracing