Series Talladega test, day two notes

Venturini Motorsports Tops Two-Day ARCA Test at Talladega

TALLADEGA, AL (3-24-10) - Venturini Motorsports swept the top five positions on the speed charts at Talladega Superspeedway during the two-day ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards open test.

Steve Arpin, in the no. 55 Toyota, led the Venturini Motorsports contingent with a top speed of 190.666 mph.

"The open test is a true testament to the hard work and long hours that the Venturini guys have put into this program," said Arpin. "We have five really good cars and that shows in the speed charts. My car was better in drafting than single car runs and drafting was our main focus today. We have made leaps and bounds from where we were in Daytona and I really look forward to coming back here in April."

NASCAR Nationwide Series veteran John Wes Townley, also in a Toyota, was second quickest overall at 190.624 mph. Townley finished third in the ARCA opener at Daytona. ARCA veteran and two-time series winner Mark Thompson was third fastest at 190.552 mph. Thompson finished second in the Daytona opener.

Mikey Kile made it four Toyotas in the top-five positions after the West Lake, Louisiana rookie wound up fourth on the overall chart.

"We were really pleased with the way the car handled in the draft runs," said Kile. "It felt good all day and we continued to get faster. We were top of the speed charts in single car runs and fourth overall in drafting. It is pretty neat when your team brings five cars to the test and all five cars were quickest all day. We are 100% at test sessions this year! Unstoppable."

Kile was referring to Venturini's perfect track record in ARCA testing in 2010. After four early-season open tests at Daytona, the Palm Beach Int'l Raceway road course, Texas Motor Speedway and Talladega, the Concord, North Carolina-based Venturini multi-car team has been fastest at every test.

Alli Owens, the only Chevy in the Venturini five-car team, was fifth fastest overall at 189.156 mph.

"I am really strong at superspeedways and it really showed during the test session," said Owens. "Coming from Daytona and after we got a couple races under our belts, I was able to concentrate and figure out what the car really needs and wants. All five of Venturini's cars were at the top of the charts and that is what we expected. We felt confident coming into test and we feel very confident going into the race."

Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch commented on the ARCA open test.

"We always enjoy having the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards at Talladega Superspeedway," said Lynch. "This test and NASCAR's last week, really got the adrenaline flowing as we head toward an exciting Aaron's Dream Weekend, April 23-25. We look forward to welcoming all our fans to the track very soon."

Notables:

Patrick Sheltra, in a Dodge, led the non-Venturini Motorsports cars, with a sixth-best speed of 188.999 mph. Motocross legend and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Ricky Carmichael was seventh fastest in a Win-Tron Racing Chevy at 188.973 mph. Daytona's ARCA winner Bobby Gerhart was ninth fastest of the day with a speed of 188.193 mph. Alabama's own Grant Enfinger posted a top speed of 187.357 mph.

-source: arca