ARCA
Ponoco II: Frank Kimmel race report
Kimmel Finishes Fifth at Pocono LONG POND, P.A. (August 2, 2009) -- Kimmel Racing turned in a top-five performance in today's Pennsylvania ARCA 200 at Pocono Raceway. "A top-five is a good, solid day for this Ansell/Menards team," said Kimmel ...
Published: Oct 2, 2009, 4:34 PM
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Kimmel Finishes Fifth at Pocono
LONG POND, P.A. (August 2, 2009) -- Kimmel Racing turned in a top-five performance in today's Pennsylvania ARCA 200 at Pocono Raceway.
"A top-five is a good, solid day for this Ansell/Menards team," said Kimmel after the race.
The previous day, another rain out in qualifying meant the No. 44 Ansell/Menards team would line up fourth for the 80-lap event. The team met race day wide awake and ready to race after a delicious dinner at a local favorite Bella Mia Pizzeria and Ice Cream and a good night's rest at the house they rented for the weekend.
Kimmel took the Green Flag, rolling off fourth and took over the third spot on the first lap before the caution flag flew. Crew Chief Bill Kimmel Jr. instructed his driver to save all the fuel he could under caution in case of a long green flag run. The race restarted on lap six with Kimmel hanging tough in the third spot. After nearly getting a run on the leaders, Kimmel lost a position to the No. 25 car through the tunnel turn; which would prove to be the trickiest area of the track for Kimmel. A long caution flag on lap 10 allowed Kimmel an opportunity to pit for fuel on lap 16. One of the few drivers to pit, Kimmel's team played the fuel mileage strategy hoping for a long green flag run. Kimmel restarted the race 28th on lap 17. Within two laps, Kimmel gained nine spots and continued the battle forward.
On lap 36, the leaders began a round of green flag pit stops that allowed Kimmel to gain track position. By lap 40, the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford was shown in fifth position. On lap 41, the caution flag flew with Kimmel running in third place and the team called him down pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments.
Kimmel restarted the race in fifth place on lap 46. Another caution flag flew shortly after but Kimmel was still sitting in fifth place when the field once again took the green flag on lap 55. Kimmel grabbed a spot on the restart and began to battle for the third position. With fifteen laps to go, Kimmel lost several spots but settled in to the sixth position. Kimmel reported that the car wouldn't turn in the tunnel turn - an important handling point on the race track. After a pair of late race cautions, the No. 44 car picked up one more spot, rounding out the day in fifth place - his third top-five finish of the 2009 season.
"Pit strategy helped us there in the beginning and if we would have had a longer green flag run at the time, we probably would have led some laps," said Kimmel. "Overall, the car was pretty good but I could barely run through the tunnel turn, the car was pushing so bad. That was the spot on the race track that probably hurt us the most. But still it was a great day for the team and for all the Ansell fans and employees in attendance."
# # #-credit: kr
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