ARCA RE/MAX Series Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 Event No. 7, Kentucky Speedway , Sparta , Kentucky Practice Notes & Quotes |
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Topics: Buckle-Up Kentucky 150, Dexter Bean, Dan Brode, Dominick Casola, Phillip McGilton, Bryan Silas, Billy Tanner, Michelle Theriault, Nick Tucker
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Chris Knight
May 11, 2007
The ARCA RE/MAX Series returns to Kentucky Speedway for the first of two events this season at the 1.5-mile speed plant. The Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 serves as a one-day show for the competitors meaning a full day of action from the Northern Kentucky-based track. Saturday’s lone practice session was held under mostly sunny skies and comfortable temperatures. The session serves as the prelude to ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying set for this afternoon (4:00pm Eastern Time). The anticipated 41-car field will take the green flag for the Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 shortly after 8:00pm Eastern Time tonight.
Here is what some of the drivers are saying from the practice session.
DEXTER BEAN, NO. 6 FIVE STAR TELECOM CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO
Dexter Bean, a sophomore driver on the ARCA RE/MAX Series tour posted the 12th fastest time of the day with a quick lap of 31.281 seconds at 172.629 MPH. The Westby Wisconsin native is seeking his fifth consecutive top-10 finish of the season Saturday night. Entering the 14th ARCA event held at Kentucky Speedway, Bean locks third in the championship standings just a mere five markers from second place competitor Justin Allgaier.
The BlackJack Racing team brought the same Chevrolet Monte Carlo the team finished ninth and 10th at Nashville Superspeedway and Kansas Speedway respectively. The team is also has a new engine package for today’s festivities.
Bean drew the 24th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.
“We’re going to be good in the race. We focused on race setup during much of the practice run. It’s a very strong field at Kentucky Speedway today which should provide some great racing. We can’t keep up with those NASCAR affiliated teams but we are holding our own and we should be a top-10 car for tonight’s race.”
Brode, a native of Mocksville , North Carolina will attempt to make his ARCA RE/MAX Series debut Saturday afternoon in a car fielded by Carter-2-Motorsports operated out of Statesville , North Carolina .
The 22-year old is a successful late model competitor from the Carolinas joins the C2M (Carter-2-Motorsports) driver development program for the remainder of the 2007 season.
The rookie is carrying sponsorship from Tucson and FreeFeds.org this weekend.
In his first practice session of his ARCA career, Brode mounted the 37th fastest lap time with a time of 33.714 seconds amounting to a speed of 160.171 MPH.
Brode drew the first position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.
“We didn’t have a whole lot of time in practice, but we’re making some changes and should be okay for qualifying and the race. This is my first time at Kentucky Speedway and there’s a lot to learn. I didn’t want to ruin anything by doing something aggressive in practice. This is a big day for me and I want to make the best of it.”
Casola, a newbie on the ARS will make his first career start at Kentucky Speedway Saturday night. The New Jersey native is driving for veteran car owner Andy Belmont.
Casola is looking to better his previous speedway race finish of 17th last month at Kansas Speedway, a track similar to Kentucky Speedway.
The team is carrying sponsorship from A. Casola Farms, a family-owned business based out of New Jersey .
In practice today, Casola turned a respectable time of 32.523 seconds at 166.036 MPH putting him 33rd on the practice rundown overall.
Casola drew the 20th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.
“We’re going to be just fine. Our A. Casola Farms Ford is handling great, we just working on different avenues to find some speed. I love this track; it’s a lot of fun. Tonight’s race is going to be fast and competitive. We’ve been in the position before and qualified very well. We plan to do the same later today.”
Unveiling a new primary sponsor for the seventh race on the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule, Phillip McGilton part of Brewco Motorsports driver development program looks to find himself in victory lane Saturday night.
McGilton entered this weekend’s race on the heels of a successful test at the 1.5-mile speedway two weeks ago. The team also uncovered a new engine package supplied by Roush-Yates motors for tonight’s Buckle-Up Kentucky 150
Aboard his Brewco Motorsports prepared machine McGilton bolted around the Sparta , Kentucky based track in a time of 31.216 seconds amounting to a speed of 172.988 MPH, locking him 11th on the charts.
McGilton drew the 36th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.
“We’re fighting a tight condition in the center of the corner. We’re going to make some changes and see if helps for qualifying. Tonight’s race is shaping to be one of the most competitive of the year and I think you’ll see the No. 47 Midwest Equipment a part of that mix.”
Bryan Silas climbed into his Fast Track Racing (FTR) prepared machine all smiles after a very successful and promising test at Lowes Motor Speedway ( Charlotte , North Carolina ) in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado this past Thursday and Friday. Now refocusing his efforts to his ARS effort, Silas, a native of Stuart , Florida will make his Kentucky Speedway debut tonight.
Driving for two-time ARS champion Andy Hillenburg, the team sits 10th in the championship standings heading into the first of two events set at Kentucky Speedway this season.
Silas, a native of Stuart , Florida posted the 24th fastest time with an effort of 31.767 seconds equaling a speed of 169.988 MPH.
Silas drew the 25th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.
“Our car is very solid. I’m learning the track and our car kept getting better and better throughout the session. I’m excited to be here for my teams and sponsors. We’re going to find some speed for qualifying and look forward to a clean, safe and competitive race. There is a lot of NASCAR affiliated teams here, I don’t know if we have the shot at a victory, but we have the capabilities to finish inside the top-10.”
Entering his first ARCA RE/MAX Series race since competing in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, Billy Tanner looks to make his Kentucky Speedway debut behind the wheel of the CheapCaribbean.com Chevrolet for car owner Corrie Stott Saturday night.
Stott will play two roles this weekend in the seventh ARCA race of the season. In addition to playing car owner, Stott will also take the reins as crew chief for the rookie.
Tanner, a promising driver from Newtown , Pennsylvania will make several starts for Stott Racing this season. Following Kentucky , the team will attempt to make Toledo Speedway next Sunday for the Hantz Group 200 presented by Federated Auto Care.
During the only practice today, Tanner clicked off the 16th fastest lap with a time of 31.435 seconds transferring to a speed of 171.183 MPH.
Tanner drew the 29th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.
“We’re good. The team has given me a very good racecar and it showed today in practice. I’m looking forward to making my Kentucky debut tonight and we just want to come away with a good solid finish. This is our first race together and so far so good. I’m looking forward to the rest of the day.”
Coming off an impressive test session at Kentucky Speedway last month where female sensation Michelle Theriault led the overall session in a car prepared by longtime Motorsports associate Jeff Spraker of Spraker Racing Enterprises, Theriault plans to duplicate her success at the 1.5-mile speed plant tonight.
In her debut at USA International Speedway ( Lakeland ) in the developmental series for NASCAR, the former USAR Hooter’s Pro Cup veteran qualified a stout eighth but finished 36 after being involved in another racers incident.
Theriault, looking to make her second ARS start of her career tonight is entering the seventh race of the season with major confidence following a successful top-10 performance in her NASCAR Busch East Series (NBES) debut at Greensville Pickens-Speedway where the Georgia native posted a solid eighth place finish.
The finish etched Theriault’s name into the record books by posting a best finish for a female competitor in the East Series. She hopes to continue that success in her first speedway ARCA debut tonight.
Driving the No. 37 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Theriault one of three female competitors entered for the Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 maneuvered the 14th fastest time with a time of 31.419 seconds or 171.871 MPH. She was second of the female camp behind Erin Crocker (second) and ahead of Gabi Di Carlo (31st)
Theriault drew the 13 position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.
“Our Glock Racing, Jeff Spraker Enterprises Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS is running great. The team really focused hard on this race and it paid off. We made our qualifying run earlier and we sat in the top-10 for a majority of the session. I’m feeling good about tonight’s race. We qualified well the last time I competed in an ARCA race and I’m looking to do the same this afternoon. For the race, we want to be competitive and have a shot at bringing home the best finish possible.”
Driving the first of two entries for Carter-2-Motorsports this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, Nick Tucker returns to the site of one of his several NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start from 2005.
Tucker, a rookie on the ARS tour this season sits 24th in the driver standings heading into the seventh race of the season and looks to propel himself in the standings by the completion of the race
The North Carolina native looks to make his sixth career ARS start on Saturday. In a car owned by the legendary James “Harvey” Hylton, Tucker, an employee and test driver for Evernham Motorsports logged the 34th fastest lap with a time of 32.608 seconds or 165.604 MPH.
Tucker drew the fourth position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.
“We’re working hard to make our intermediate program better. We’re making progress but we still have some work to do. The car is drivable; we just need to get it handling a little better. I think we can find what we need to make the race on time in qualifying; we just need a little luck. I want to thank the Carter-2-Motorsports team for all of their hard work so far this weekend. We’re looking forward to bringing home our season best finish tonight.”
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NAME: Chris Knight
PHONE: 239.834.9797
EMAIL: knight849@aol.com