Ready, Set, Retro For Kimmel Racing This Weekend At Salem Speedway

Ready, Set, Retro For Kimmel Racing This Weekend At Salem Speedway

Topics: Will Kimmel, Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Fall Classic

Ready, Set, Retro For Kimmel Racing This Weekend At Salem Speedway

Chris Knight
Kimmel Racing
September 14, 2012

SALEM, Indiana (September 14, 2012) - - This weekend, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards tour returns to the historic Salem (Ind.) Speedway for Saturday night’s running of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Fall Classic by Federated Car Care.

If there’s a track that Kimmel Racing and Will Kimmel are more than able to steal the limelight and wheel their No. 69 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Ford Fusion into victory lane, Salem Speedway tops the charts. And, it goes without saying the crowd will likely explode with chants and cheers should Kimmel Racing be able to accomplish that feat.

While it’s been another clan of the Kimmel family that has paved its way into the local fast lane, steadily the younger Kimmel has begun marking his territory on the circuit. In fact, it started last October right at Salem Speedway. He’s hoping that trend continues Saturday night.

Rewinding back 12 months for a second, Kimmel had virtually a flawless race. After starting 10th, the local favorite worked his way into the lead and commanded the race for 79-laps before eventually falling into the clutches of race winner Chris Buescher. Still, the runner-up finish has left something to be desired by the Clarksville, Indiana-based team and they are hoping for a repeat type performance this weekend.

“It’s finally here,” said Kimmel. “It seems we’ve been waiting for this race for a while now, but now it’s upon us and we’re more than ready. We have plenty of unfinished business if you will at Salem. We had a stellar run there last October. In the spring, we had a great Ford Fusion. We were fast and just biding our time and were collected into a wreck. That was frustrating – but we’ve moved on and we’re focused for what Saturday night may bring.”

With the Kimmel name being paramount at Salem Speedway, the Sellersburg, Indiana native knows that the fan support will be heavy on Saturday night not to mention his own personal cheering section which will include family and friends for the 18th race of the season.

“This has always been a huge race for our family,” sounded Kimmel, who will make his fourth career ARCA start at Salem. “We’ve always had the fan support whether it’s been an ARCA or a Late Model race, so that’s just an extra push to go out there and do well. For us, to also have the support of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers is very humbling. They’ve been around the ARCA Series for a long, long time and for us to have another opportunity to represent them is a blessing.”

The No. 69 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Ford Fusion will slightly have a different look when it unloads at the 0.5-mile oval on Saturday. The team’s automobile will adorn a similar paint and number scheme to retro Bill Kimmel Sr. look from his 1973 Fairgrounds Motor Speedway championship as well as the 1973 American Speed Association (ASA) owner’s championship.

“It’s pretty cool to flash back in time and honor my Grandfather with his colors for Saturday night,” remarked the 24-year old Kimmel. “He had a lot of success in 1973. Who knows we might make new records of our own with this look.”

When Kimmel isn’t behind the wheel of the No. 69 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Ford Fusion, the Indiana native is busting his hump with his full service lawn care business which serves several surrounding cities and includes both business and residential clients.

“It keeps me busy, that’s for sure,” Kimmel explained. “From the moment the sun rises until it begins to set it seems like I’m out there hard at it. It’s a lot of work – but it helps out with stuff that we need in the shop. The family’s real supportive so that makes things a lot easier to deal with.”

The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Fall Classic by Federated Car Care (200 laps / 111 miles) is the 18th of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 92nd ARCA race held at Salem Speedway is a one day show. Practice begins Saturday, September 15 with a forty-five minute session planned from 12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Final practice also consisting of forty-five minutes begins at 1:45 p.m. and will conclude at 2:30 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 4:00 p.m. An on-track autograph session has been etched in immediately following qualifying. The event will take the green flag shortly after 7:15 p.m. later that night. The race will not be televised but additional coverage including a radio broadcast and timing and scoring will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com. All times are local (Eastern).

For sponsorship inquiries with Kimmel Racing, interested parties are urged to contact Bill Kimmel at 502.645.9370 or bill@kimmelracing.com.

For more on Will Kimmel, please visit willkimmel.com.

For additional input on Kimmel Racing, please log on to kimmelracing.com.

PHOTO CAPTION: Will Kimmel, driver of the No. 69 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Ford Fusion, in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Kimmel Racing.

PHOTO CAPTION II: The No. 69 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Ford Fusion driven by Will Kimmel in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Kimmel Racing.

MEDIA CONTACT: NAME: Chris Knight PHONE: 239.834.9797 EMAIL: chris@chrisknightpr.com