ARCA

Iowa: Matt Merrell preview

Matt Merrell Looking To Continue Short Track Presence At Iowa NEWTON, Iowa (July 8, 2009) - - Other than a mechanical hiccup in the most recent ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Mansfield Motorsports Park, Matt Merrell has been one of the strongest ...

Published: Oct 2, 2009, 4:42 PM

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Matt Merrell Looking To Continue Short Track Presence At Iowa

NEWTON, Iowa (July 8, 2009) - - Other than a mechanical hiccup in the most recent ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Mansfield Motorsports Park, Matt Merrell has been one of the strongest part-time drivers this season. He along with his Win-Tron Racing team will look to keep that stat alive as the series returns to action Saturday night at Iowa Speedway for the running of the Prairie Meadows 200.

Merrell, set to make his sixth run of the year is also searching for his first career ARCA win. And if there's a team that competes on the ARCA RE/MAX Series circuit that has been known to spawn first-time winners on short tracks, Win-Tron Racing ranks near or more appropriately at the top.

With the big goal looking to be etched into stone, the Lakeville, Minnesota team joined a slew of fellow ARCA RE/MAX Series teams for the open test at Iowa Speedway last week where Merrell spent time testing at the .875-mile paved oval with co-driver James Buescher both trying to give Win-Tron Racing an advantage for the 10th race of the 2009 ARCA season.

"As a team we learned a lot at the test and I learned a lot about the track," said Merrell, who best finish occurred at Rockingham Speedway where he recorded a career-best third. "I spent all day testing two cars, trying different setups and such hoping to give us that extra pull for Saturday's race."

Buescher and Merrell ranked seventh and eighth respectively but the Portland, Texas native cautioned that his team was not showing their full strength.

"We're going to unload faster this week for the race than we did for the test," Merrell explained. "We always come back with a little extra muscle which pays off for us on race day. Mike (Chaffee, crew chief) is so smart about setting up these cars for the short track and with several years of experience at Iowa, he knows what to do and want not to do. I'm stoked about the weekend."

With a third place finish at the Iowa Speedway in 2007, Merrell knows that putting the Win-Tron Racing team in victory lane for the third time this season would be big.

"Our team is running for a championship; it may not be the driver's championship but the owner's championship is just as important. A win at Iowa would be able to shove us forward towards that big goal."

For the sixth time this season, the Win-Tron Racing / Matt Merrell combo is utilizing the 10th race of the season to bring awareness to an even bigger picture off the race track.

The team will continue to recognize and help bring further attentiveness to Colin's Hope.

Colin's Hope is a nonprofit organization that creates and supports programs that aid in preventing children from drowning. Despite numerous sources for water safety, the number of children who drown per year is staggering. Colin's Hope of saving children from drowning is being achieved through improved water safety awareness and standards throughout communities.

"We're going out West so I'm looking forward to spreading our word through the great state of Iowa. I know the fans are going to come in droves this weekend, so hopefully we can gain some more support for Colin's Hope. We're going to get them a win before the end of the season, hopefully it will come Saturday night."

Entering Iowa, Win-Tron Racing holds the second position in the ARCA RE/MAX Series owner's standings after nine races. Car owner Kevin Cywinski is 25 markers from moving back to the top spot held by fellow car owner Jessica Sharp (No. 6). The team fell to the second spot after Matt Merrell posted a 20th place run at Mansfield Motorsports Park nearly three weeks ago. Merrell Lease Service will join Colin's Hope as the primary sponsors of Merrell's No. 32 Dodge Charger in his inaugural Iowa Speedway debut this weekend.James Buescher, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standout will be competing in a second entry for Win-Tron Racing at Iowa Speedway this weekend behind the wheel of the No. 9 Wolfpack Rentals Toyota Camry. Buescher will be gunning for his third ARCA win of the season after taking Win-Tron Racing to victory circle in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February and in his second start of the season at Kentucky Speedway in May.

-credit: wtr

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