Series to hold open test at Chicagoland

From Springfield Mile Dirt Track Classic to Open Testing at Chicagolan d Superspeedway, ARCA RE/MAX Series Warriors on the Move in Days Ahea d JOLIET IL (8-14-08) -- On the heels of a 100-mile dirt-track classic at the Illinois State ...

From Springfield Mile Dirt Track Classic to Open Testing at Chicagolan d Superspeedway, ARCA RE/MAX Series Warriors on the Move in Days Ahea d

JOLIET IL (8-14-08) -- On the heels of a 100-mile dirt-track classic at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield Sunday, September 17th, several top-notch ARCA RE/MAX Series teams will steer north to Chicagoland Speedway for open testing Tuesday afternoon, August 19th.

The all-day open test is held in preparation for the 8th annual Chicagoland ARCA 200 race event Saturday, September 6th, the final leg of the 2008 Bill France Triple Crown, a title that includes excelling on the DuQuoin mile-dirt and the Salem Speedway short-track.

Several top-notch drivers, attempting to get a jump on Chicagoland, are entered for the open test including current point leader/Formula 1 veteran Scott Speed and Eddie Sharp Racing teammate Justin Lofton, the winner at Michigan Int'l Speedway back in June. Both are SunTrust rookies on tour as is Roush Fenway Racing development driver Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., also entered for the test.

Other pre-entrants for the test include second-generation ARCA racer Billy Leslie, Surrey British Columbia's Ryan Fischer, Wildwood Missouri's Jesse Smith, Plano Texas's James Buescher, Henryville Indiana's Darrell Basham, Ayden North Carolina's Ben Stancill and Oklahoma's Greg Barnhart.

In seven previous races at Chicagoland, there has never been a repeat race winner, nor has there ever been a repeat pole winner. Race winners include Ed Berrier, Chad Blount, Dawayne Bryan, Frank Kimmel, Kyle Krisiloff, Steve Wallace and most recently Michael McDowell.

On-track time for Tuesday's (August 19th) open test is from 9:00 am local to 5:00 pm, with an hour break for lunch.

Practice for the September 6th Chicagoland ARCA 200 race event is scheduled from 1:00-3:00 pm local Central time Friday afternoon, September 5th followed by SIM Factory Pole Qualifying at 5:00 pm. The eighth annual Chicagoland ARCA 200 rolls off at 5:00 pm Saturday afternoon. The race will also be aired next-day on SPEED at 4:00 pm Eastern.