RACE: ArmsUp Motorsports Blackhawk Farms summary

"ArmsUp Motorsports Continues String of National Podium Finishes"

SOUTH BELOIT, Ill. -- ArmsUp Motorsports continued its string of podium finishes last weekend at Blackhawk Farms in the SCCA Milwaukee Region May National. Jim Victor lead the three car ArmsUp team to a third place finish while Kirk Kindsfater and Brian Shepherd posted solid top ten runs. Running against one of the deepest fields this year, Victor was able to show how fast the ArmsUp Motorsports Formula Continentals are by setting the fastest race lap in the final running within three tenths of the Blackhawk race lap record.

Saturday brought the first double qualifying format the team had seen this season. When it was all said and done Jim Victor put his Smith Barney car second on the grid. Kirk Kindsfater, who suffered ignition problems during both qualifying sessions, was still able to put together a sixth place effort. Kindsfater's lap was posted during his first flying lap of the weekend before the electrical gremlins hampered his effort. Brian Shepherd placed his Colorado Community Bank car 11th in class after working to improve his setup with the ArmsUp team throughout both sessions.

The race proved to be a very eventful race straight away for ArmsUp Motorsports. In the first turn Kindsfater was hit from behind and spun dropping him out of the top ten. Jim Victor slotted into second off the start and gave chase to last year's national champion Niki Coello. Shepherd got a great start and found himself in seventh place moving up four spots during the first circuit.

A mid race full course caution bunched up the field allowing Kindsfater a chance to catch up to the field after moving himself up to ninth. On the restart, Victor lost a spot to 2004 National Champion Brian Tomasi while Kindsfater and Shepherd battled for the eighth spot.

As the race drew to a close, Victor kept putting on the pressure. Both Victor and Tomasi were running down the leader Coello. In the late race chase Victor in his ArmsUp prepared Van Diemen set the fastest race lap which was within three tenths of the Blackhawk race lap record. At the checkered flag, Victor, Tomasi, and Coello were nose to tail as they crossed the line. Kindsfater in his number 32 continued to move up the race order. After passing Shepherd, the Colorado resident was able to race his way into seventh at the stripe. Shepherd drove a great race after a fantastic start. The Livermore, Colorado resident stayed consistent to claim a solid ninth place finish moving up two positions from his starting spot.

"This was another great weekend for our guys," said ArmsUp owner Gregg Borland at the end of the weekend. "Jim drove an amazing race, at the end of it he was faster than the last two Formula Continental National Champions. Kirk and Brian also did great jobs. I think that Kirk would have been right up in the front pack had it not been for getting hit at the start. Brian keeps getting better each weekend, so I know as the season rolles on he is only going to get stronger."

The ArmsUp Motorsports team will take the Memorial Day holiday off then return to action with Jim Victor at the famed Mid Ohio Sports Car Course June 4.

Formed in 1995, ArmsUp Motorsports is one of the premier SCCA Formula Continental and Formula Atlantic racing teams. Based in Elkhart Lake, Wis ArmsUp Motorsports is a full service prep shop for Formula Continentals, Formula Atlantics, and Vintage racing cars.

-www.ArmsUpMotorsports.com.