Victory Lane in Burnout Style for Mikey Kile |
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Topics: Racing for Wildlife 200, Mikey Kile
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Emily Teeter
Venturini Motorsports
June 12, 2010
BROOKLYN, MI (06-12-10) Venturini Motorsports and Mikey Kile were so close to victory last weekend at Pocono Raceway but came up short when a late race caution came out. Kile settled for second place in his no. 25 Sears Auto Center/DieHard Toyota after starting on the pole position and leading 67 of 80 laps.
Six days later, in Brooklyn, Michigan and 1225 miles away from home, the Westlake, Louisiana driver celebrated his first ARCA victory with a burnout that shredded the left rear tire.
Mikey Kile qualified the no. 25 Sears Auto Center/DieHard Toyota on the outside pole for the fourth time this season. He maintained the second place position for most of the race behind the no. 81 of Craig Goess. On lap 75, Goess pitted and Kile gained the lead.
With 24 laps to go, Venturini Motorsports was looking to pit the no. 25 within the next two laps for fuel and tires - a green flag pit stop was in sights. But the timing couldn’t have been more perfect for the Venturini team where they took advantage of a late race caution on lap 77.
"Luckily, this time the caution came out when we needed it,'' said Kile. "Those last five laps couldn't come quick enough. Those last five laps were the longest five laps of my life.''
Mikey Kile led the last 26 of the 100 laps in the Racing for Wildlife 200, but before driving to the winner’s circle, Kile celebrated a much overdue burnout with the fans.
“The racing Gods were with us this week. We led almost all of the laps last week at Pocono and came up short because of a late caution we didn’t need. This time the roles were reversed and the late caution came out when we needed it. We were able to just race the race track and come up in victory lane.”
Mikey Kile was quick to note the hard work and dedication that is put in behind the no. 25 at the shop and at the track. The racecar that Kile drove to victory was the same car he was behind the wheel of at Pocono Raceway the Saturday prior.
"The Venturini guys got home at three in the morning on Sunday, went back to the shop at noon and worked so hard to turn everything around; just to have it ready to leave for Michigan on Tuesday morning," Kile said. "I wanted to get this win for these guys more than anything. I'm speechless."
It was an emotional win for the Venturini Motorsports team as Mikey Kile won his first career race in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards. The win banner of the Michigan Int’l Speedway victory will hang in the shop along with the two other victories of the 2010 season for Venturini Motorsports that were achieved by teammate Steve Arpin. Three wins in eight starts for Venturini Motorsports– an incredible achievement that protests the great equipment and great opportunity that the team presents.