ARCA RE/MAX Series WLWT Channel 5-150 Event No. 13, Kentucky Speedway , Sparta , Kentucky Practice Notes & Quotes

Topics:  WLWT Channel 5 150

Chris Knight
July 13, 2007

Making their second trip to Kentucky Speedway this season, Friday night’s WLWT Channel 5-150 is guaranteed to be one of the most exciting races of the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The sanction held their first and only practice session late Friday morning into early afternoon in preparation for ARCA SIM Factory Pole qualifying set for later this afternoon. Following qualifying, the anticipated 41-car field will be impounded in preparation for tonight’s race. Teams endured comfortable temperatures with highs reaching in the lower 80s under partly sunny skies. Today’s activities are setting up the 13th installment on the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule.

Here is what some of the drivers are saying from the practice session.

DEXTER BEAN, NO. 6 FIVE STAR TELECOM CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS

Dexter Bean, a sophomore driver on the ARCA RE/MAX Series tour posted the 23rd fastest lap with a time of 31.553 seconds at 171.141 MPH.

Entering the second race at Kentucky Speedway this season, Bean is looking for redemption after a top-five run was spoiled inside 10 laps remaining with the No. 6 Five Star Telecom Chevrolet lost a tire. Bean finished 15th.

Bean currently sits fourth in the ARCA RE/MAX Series championship standings, behind competitors Michael McDowell, Bobby Gerhart and Frank Kimmel.

Bean will hang around Kentucky Speedway Saturday and mingle in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series garage hoping to finalize his NASCAR plans for 2007 and beyond.

Driving for his family owned BlackJack Racing, Bean will make his fourth Kentucky start this evening. In his previous three outings, Bean’s best finish occurred in 2005 where he finished 12th after starting 10th.

Bean drew the 12th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.

“We started out with the wrong gear and we had to play catch up from there. The car is good. I don’t know if it will qualify as well as we want to do, but the car will be in excellent shape for the race. I am looking forward to tonight’s race and I really have a strong feeling we will be a contender.

DOMINICK CASOLA, NO. 1 A. CASOLA FARMS FORD FUSION

ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Dominick Casola returns to Kentucky Speedway itching for more. The New Jersey native driving for veteran car owner Andy Belmont is looking to turn his recent strings of solid top-20 finishes into top-10 efforts beginning with Friday night’s WLWT Channel 5-150.

Casola carrying sponsorship from family owned A. Casola Farms sits 18th in the championship standings heading into his 12th career ARS start. He is looking to overtake long time competitor Brad Smith tonight and move into the 17th position.

In May, Casola roared from his 29th starting position to collect a respectable 16th place finish.

In practice today, Casola maneuvered the 36th fastest lap with a time of 32.352 seconds equaling a speed of 166.914 MPH.

Casola drew the 24h position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.

“We’re going to step it up during qualifying and the race. We knew heading into the race we were going to have to fight for our position with all the NASCAR teams. Our car is pretty good, we’ll tweak it a little bit and head for qualifying. The guys did a great job, we just have to get a good starting position and hold nothing back in the race.”

JOSH CLEMONS, NO. 41 GRAND VICTORIA CASINO FORD FUSION

New Albany Indiana’s Josh Clemons returns to Kentucky Speedway looking for the same type of results he showcased in 2004. Rewinding back to three years ago, Clemons stormed on to the ARCA scene by qualifying a strong fifth but engine failure halted a good finish.

Carrying sponsorship from Grand Victoria Casino and Premier Mortgage Funding, Clemons is seeking his third career top-10 finish tonight.

In practice, Clemons had serious problems as the clutch gave way forcing a disappointing 50th place practice effort with a time of 35.831 seconds at 150.707 MPH.

Clemons drew the 18th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.

“We’re going to make our mark in qualifying. We had the problem with the clutch and that took up the whole practice. The Clemons Racing came to bat as usually and did a great job with the replacement. I know how to get around here, so I’m not worried about qualifying; we just need to have a good run during the race.”

BLAKE FEESE, NO. 95 SCOTTISH RITE-FPC DODGE CHARGER

Returning to the ARCA RE/MAX Series circuit after a strong top-five finish at Kansas Speedway earlier this year, Blake Feese is back and ready for more.

Driving the No. 95 Scottish Rite-FPC Dodge Charger for Sadler Racing, Feese is searching for his third ARCA victory tonight.

Feese is scheduled to run a few more ARCA RE/MAX Series event this season while also advancing his program to the NASCAR Busch Series.

At the conclusion of practice, Feese acquired the 21st fastest lap with a time of 31.409 seconds at 171.925 MPH.

Feese drew the 33rd position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.

“Our Scottish Rite-FPC Dodge Charger is in good shape. We were holding back a little in practice and we’re going to be good in qualifying and the race. I want to thank the guys for all of their hard work; this is our second ARCA race of the season where we feel like we have a good chance of finishing in the top-five.”

BRETT HUDSON, NO. 43 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY-REPUBLIC BANK DODGE CHARGER

ARCA RE/MAX Series short track ace Brett Hudson steers for a different route Friday night at Kentucky Speedway by tacking his debut at the 1.5-mile facility.

Driving for his family owned Brett Hudson Motorsports carrying sponsorship from Habitat For Humanity and Republic Bank.

In his lone ARCA RE/MAX Series start this season at Salem Speedway, Hudson captured a career best fourth, also driving for his family owned team.

Hudson locked the 26th position in practice with a time of 31.575 seconds at 171.021 MPH.

Hudson drew the fourth position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.

“We were trying out a couple of things to see what would work and what wouldn’t. We have a good car; it’s just as good as it was in the test if not better. We’re going to make a few adjustments heading into qualifying and hope we can make our Kentucky Speedway debut. Things are looking good for the team; we plan to continue that tonight.”

MIKE HARMON, NO. 38 GRAND VICTORIA CASINO-HARMON-RICHARDSON-NETZLOFF RACING CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS

Harmon, a veteran on the ARCA RE/MAX Series tour enters Kentucky looking to make his 84th career start at a track where Harmon enjoys racing.

Carrying sponsorship from Grand Victoria Casino for his Harmon-Richardson-Netzloff Racing team, Harmon is searching for a season best performance tonight.

At the conclusion of practice, Harmon mounted the 45th fastest time with a time of 34.367 seconds equaling a speed of 157.127 MPH. The rundown showed Harmon on the charts.

However, Harmon will go to a backup car following an incident in practice after a shock mount busted causing Harmon to make contact with the wall.

Harmon drew the 19th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.

“We’re frustrated by the turn of events that has happened to our team. We’re going to prepare the backup car and really hope for the best. My guys work their tails off and today’s another true testament of that. We know we don’t have a car good enough to win, but we know we can finish the race.”

PHILLIP MCGILTON, NO. 47 SIPERFORMANCE FORD FUSION

On the verge of his first ever victory in his first full season of competition in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, Phillip McGilton returns to the Bluegrass track hoping to better his May performance which saw McGilton finish a competitive eighth after starting third.

Sitting sixth in the championship standings, McGilton eyes Kentucky as a chance to mix himself with the hoist of other NASCAR-affiliated teams and grab his second top-five finish of the season.

The Brewco Motorsports team opted to bring a new Ford Fusion to the track this weekend. It is the same car that Brewco Motorsports attempted to make the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series event with Casey Atwood.

McGilton along with the Brewco brigade hope to seal the deal for the second year-in-a-row at Kentucky Speedway after Brad Coleman took the team to victory in this same race last year.

McGilton’s weekend started off strong by notching the sixth fastest lap in practice with a time of 30.968 seconds equaling a speed of 174.374 MPH.

McGilton drew the 40th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.

“Our Brewco Motorsports-SIPerformance Ford Fusion is really strong. The testing really paid off for us. The car is really strong and we still have a little left on the table. The last time we came to Kentucky we were 11th fastest in practice, so this is a true statement by this team that we’re ready to win. We’ve picked up the pace and everything appears to be going according to schedule to possibly score our first and back-to-back wins here at Kentucky .”

BRIAN SCOTT, NO. 32 RED LINE OIL DODGE CHARGER

Country Joe Racing continues to breed new young talent to the ARCA RE/MAX Series and this weekend is no exception. New gun Brian Scott will drive the No. 32 Red Line Oil Dodge.

Scott tested well in the open test session at Kentucky Speedway last month giving the team high hopes for tonight’s race.

In his first official practice session in ARCA competition, Scott ranked 17th overall with a time of second 31.259 seconds at 172.750 MPH.

Following the ARCA race tonight, Scott will head west to compete in the USAR Hooter’s Pro Cup event tomorrow in Radford, Virginia at the Motor Mile Speedway.

Scott drew the 28th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.

“The car is good. We had an innocent spin early in practice, but we’ve been adjusting the handling on the car trying to find the perfect setup for tonight. We left the car pretty much the same since the test and we’ve been able to make a few adjustments during practice to help us for the rest of the day. We’re going to just fine.”

PATRICK SHELTRA, NO. 60 CP CONCRETE PRODUCTS, US CONSTRUCTION, FLORAGANICS-BRADY RANCH CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS

Coming off a strong fourth place finish last Saturday night at Berlin Raceway, Florida ’s Patrick Sheltra returns to the site of his previous best finish looking to match the same type of performance.

In May, after starting 23rd, Sheltra played extra conservative and it paid off with a ninth place finish. This week, Sheltra is gaining the confidence that his Sheltra Motorsports team can put themselves in contention for their first victory.

Sheltra finds himself solidly in the top-10 in the ARS championship standings despite missing the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Locked in ninth, Sheltra is only 15 points from the eighth position held by Justin Marks.

Today, Sheltra was 28th quick at 31.704 seconds or 170.326 MPH.

Sheltra drew the third position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.

“We are tight, bad tight. We’re going to make a few changes to our Sheltra Motorsports Chevrolet hoping to find something. We have to back up our run from last week at Berlin , so hopefully the changes we make will pay dividends the rest of the day.”

BRYAN SILAS, NO. 11 NORTRAX, SHELL ROTELLA T, HOLLAND PUMP, PALM BEACH GRADING (PBG) FORD FUSION

Setting up for his second double header weekend of his career, Bryan Silas hope to continue his stretch of positive qualifying runs and reward his Fast Track Racing team with their best finish of the season on Friday night.

Coming off a solid showing last week at Berlin Raceway, the team made the manufacturer switch from Chevrolet to Ford hoping to provide the team with an advantage in a race that is expected to be one of the most competitive yet this season.

In addition to running the ARCA race tonight, Silas will also run the No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado tomorrow night in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series show.

Silas clicked off the 25th fastest time with a lap of 31.572 seconds at 171.038 MPH.

Silas drew the 34th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.

“We’re going to be okay. Our Ford Fusion is running pretty good. The race is when it counts. We know that we are in the show, so we’re really trying to make sure that we have an ideal setup that will help us reach our third top-10 of the season tonight. The Fast Track Racing guys have done a phenomenal job the last couple of weeks and today is no different.”

BILLY TANNER, NO. 07 CHEAPCARIBBEAN.COM CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS

Returning to a familiar place is the story for Billy Tanner this week at Kentucky Speedway. For the second time this season, the Pennsylvania driver takes aim at the 1.5-mile track looking for his first top-10 finish.

In May, Tanner notched his a personal best finish of 17th in his new gig with Stott Classic Racing. Tonight, Tanner hopes to show consistency and patience with the outlook meaning a career best finish.

In practice, Tanner mounted the 41st fastest time with a lap of 32.999 seconds at 163.641 MPH.

Tanner drew the 37th position for SIM Factory pole qualifying set for later this afternoon.

“We’re struggling a bit. We can’t hide it. The car feels fast but we can’t put down something that we are happy with. The Stott Classic Racing team is going to throw a conventional setup under our No. 07 CheapCaribbean.com Chevrolet and hope for the best. We want to make the race, so we’re going to do everything to try and accomplish that feat.”

The WLWT Channel 5-150 (100 laps/150 miles) is the 13 of 23 races on the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. The 13th ARCA race held at Kentucky Speedway is a one-day show. ARCA SIM Factory pole qualifying is set for later in the day at 4:30pm Local Time. The event will take the green flag shortly after 8:00pm Local Time with live coverage on SPEED. Additional race coverage can be found online at arcaracing.com

NAME: Chris Knight
PHONE: 239.834.9797
EMAIL: knight849@aol.com