ARCA RE/MAX Series Gateway ARCA 150 Driver Post Race Notes & Quotes

Topics:  Gateway ARCA 150

Chris Knight
September 2, 2007

ARCA RE/MAX Series Gateway ARCA 150
Event No. 18, Gateway International Raceway, Madison , Illinois
Post Race Notes & Quotes
Sunday, September 2, 2007

MICHAEL ANNETT, NO. 32 TMC TRANSPORATION DODGE CHARGER

Starting Position: Third (33.714 seconds, 133.476 MPH)

Finishing Position: Sixth

Laps Complete: 120/120

Status: Running

Team: Country Joe Racing

NOTE: Michael Annett battled back from a flat tire in the early stages of the Gateway ARCA 150. After losing a lap during the unscheduled pit stop, Annett stepped up to the plate and returned to the lead lap by battling the leaders on a restart and quickly inching ahead of the field when another caution flag waived putting Annett back on the lead circuit.

“I am extremely happy with our performance at Gateway. I am surrounded by a great team. We had some early race problems, but we were able to bounce back and post our third top-10 finish of the year. I want to thank everyone on the Country Joe Racing team and my sponsor TMC Transportation for the opportunity.”

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

Starting Position: Fifth (33.796 seconds, 133.152 MPH)

Finishing Position: 33rd

Laps Complete: 52/120

Status: Out, Accident

Team: BlackJack Racing

NOTE: Sophomore ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Dexter Bean had one of the strongest cars on Friday night in the Gateway ARCA 150. Unfortunately, an incident eight laps from half-way forced the team to exit the event posting their second DNF (Did Not Finish) of the season.

“It’s very disappointing. We had a great car. I don’t know what really happened; there were a lot of cars in a very small amount of space. A couple cars checked up and I checked up and I was into the wall. It’s a bad deal. We had a shot at winning the race on Friday night, we’ll just have to regroup and give it our best at DuQuoin and Chicagoland. This was the first time in my ARCA career, where I wasn’t able to drive a car back to the pits, needless to say, I won’t forget this race.”

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

Starting Position: Sixth (33.831 seconds, 133.014 MPH)

Finishing Position: Fifth

Laps Complete: 120/120

Status: Running

Team: Andy Belmont Racing

NOTE: Dominick Casola enjoyed a career day at Gateway International Raceway on Friday. After posting a career-best qualifying effort, Casola backed it up with a thrilling performance which including leading 11 laps of the Gateway ARCA 150 en route to a outstanding fifth place finish.

“I’m really happy. It was an awesome night for everyone on the Andy Belmont Racing team. I really didn’t think my time would stand up as well as it did in qualifying, but it did. During the race, I just played conservative but kept my self in position to race in the top-five. We did that all night. We led some laps, earned some exposure and awarded everyone on the ABR team with our first top-five finish of the season. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season; everyone did a heck of a job!”

MIKE HARMON, NO. 38 SOLERA SPA-THE WESTIN, ST. LOUIS -RICHARDSON-NETZLOFF-HARMON RACING CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS

Starting Position: 26th (35.158 seconds, 127.994 MPH)

Finishing Position: 19th

Laps Complete: 119/120

Status: Running

Team: Richardson-Netzloff-Harmon Racing

NOTE: After losing a lap early in the race, ARCA RE/MAX Series veteran Mike Harmon hustled his No. 38 Chevrolet Monte Carlo to a top-20 finish in Friday’s Gateway ARCA 150. The finish succeeds past the team’s thrilling but disappointing finish the week before at The Milwaukee Mile.

“Not too bad, but we were really looking for a top-15 finish. The car was pretty good, we just couldn’t overcome getting a lap down early in the race. We stayed clean and the car is one piece, so that’s always a positive factor. We’ll hope to improve at DuQuoin.”

CARL LONG, NO. 48 FREEFEDS.ORG DODGE CHARGER

Starting Position: 17th (34.291 seconds, 131.230 MPH)

Finishing Position: 10th

Laps Complete: 120/120

Status: Running

Team: Carter-2-Motorsports

NOTE: Carl Long in his first ARCA RE/MAX Series race of the season awarded Carter-2-Motorsports with a 10th place finish in the Gateway ARCA 150. Long in the No. 48 FreeFeds.org Dodge Charger will also compete in Saturday’s Chicagoland ARCA 200 at Chicagoland Speedway.

“It was a lot of fun. The car really came to us in the end. I’m really proud of everyone on the Carter-2-Motorsports team. They’ve had a tough season, but we proved that the team is capable of running in the top-10. Hopefully Dustin (Delaney) will have a good run at DuQuoin and we’ll be back together at Chicagoland.”

JULIEN PENARUIZ, NO. 93 RED OIL JEANS-CATCHIT CAM CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO

Starting Position: 38th (38.044 seconds, 118.284 MPH)

Finishing Position: 27th

Laps Complete: 100/120

Status: Running

Team: K&B Motorsports

NOTE: In his first career ARCA RE/MAX Series Paris France ’s Julien Penaruiz accomplished his primary goal of finishing the Gateway ARCA 150. After starting in the 38th position, Penaruiz used patience to maneuver his way through the field to score a 27th place finish in the No. 93 Red Oil Jeans Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

“I’m proud of what we accomplished. During the race, our main goal was to finish and that’s exactly what we did. It’s all about learning and I did a lot of that on Friday night. I just want to thank my sponsor Red Oil Jeans and everyone on the K&B Motorsports team for their faith and guidance. We’ll look to better this finish in our next race.”

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

Starting Position: 18th (34.296 seconds, 131.211 MPH)

Finishing Position: 29th

Laps Complete: 70/120

Status: Out, Accident

Team: Sheltra Motorsports

NOTE: Patrick Sheltra suffered misfortunate for the second straight week at Gateway International Raceway on Friday night. After qualifying mid pack, Sheltra quickly made his march towards the top-10. Unfortunately, Sheltra was involved in an accident on lap 62. The team was able to make repairs and send their rookie driver back into the event. However, eight laps later, Sheltra would bring his Chevrolet to the garage with an ill-handling racecar and a disappointing finish.”

“I hate this. We’ve run so well the last several weeks and right now we can’t catch a break. The accident was a bad deal. I’m glad everyone was okay. I don’t know, just plum frustration is how I am feeling right now. The dirt race is next and we finished third at Springfield , so hopefully we can bounce back and put our season back on track on Labor Day.”

BRYAN SILAS, NO. 11 NORTRAX-SHELL ROTELLA T CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO

Starting Position: 22nd (34.519 seconds, 130.363 MPH)

Finishing Position: 13th

Laps Complete: 120/120

Status: Running

Team: Fast Track Racing

NOTE: Bryan Silas had an impressive race in Friday’s Gateway ARCA 150. After starting mid-pack, the Stuart, Florida native raced his way to the front and was in contention for a solid top-10 finish before sliding back in the rundown in the later stages of the event. Still, Silas recorded his second consecutive top-15 finish heading into the dirt at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on Monday.

“I really wished we could have recorded a top-10 finish, but I am not going to complain about our efforts. We had a pretty good racecar, just couldn’t grab a top-10 run. We’ve been able to post some pretty consistent finishes the last couple weeks, so hopefully Monday’s race on the dirt will bring us our fourth top-10 of the year.”

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

Starting Position: 27th (35.339 seconds, 127.338 MPH)

Finishing Position: 16th

Laps Complete: 120/120

Status: Running

Team: Stott Classic Racing

NOTE: After starting deep in the pack on Friday night, ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Billy Tanner showcased his talent by bringing his No. 07 CheapCaribbean.com Chevrolet to life and maneuvering through the field to collect a very respectable 16th place finish in the Gateway ARCA 150. Stott Classic Racing’s next event will be at Chicagoland Speedway in the Chicagoland ARCA 200 on September 8.

“A good run for everyone on the Stott Classic Racing team. We adjusted on the car and it responded very well. I was really hoping for a better finish, but after everything we’ve dealt with this season, I’ll take the finish and look ahead to Chicagoland Speedway with a lot of confidence.”

MICHELLE THERIAULT, NO. 37 GLOCK CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS

Starting Position: 19th (34.417 seconds, 130.749 MPH)

Finishing Position: 15th

Laps Complete: 120/120

Status: Running

Team: Spraker Racing Enterprises

NOTE: Female ARCA RE/MAX Series competitor Michelle Theriault posted her career best ARCA finish Friday night at Gateway International Raceway. After qualifying 19th, Theriault hovered in the top-15 for the entire 120-lap event to award her with the best finish by a female in the event.

“We’re happy with that run. For never testing at Gateway International Raceway, I think we ran quite well on Friday. Jeff (Spraker) made some great calls and really kept me focused on Friday and I think it showed. The car got tight near the end of the race which cost us some positions, but I think overall our performance was very good.”

Next up for the ARCA RE/MAX Series is a regular tradition of competing at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on Monday, September 3 for the Southern Illinois 100. The 19th event on the 2007 schedule starts the Bill France Triple Crown playoff while also marking the final dirt track event of the season.

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