ARCA

Toledo: Frank Kimmel race report

Kimmel Continues Short-Track Success with a 4th-Place Finish at Toledo Speedway Toledo, Ohio (May 23, 2010)- The Kimmel family has a long-standing reputation for short-track success, and Frank Kimmel carries on that legacy every time the ...

Published: May 25, 2010, 2:55 PM

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Kimmel Continues Short-Track Success with a 4th-Place Finish at Toledo Speedway

Toledo, Ohio (May 23, 2010)- The Kimmel family has a long-standing reputation for short-track success, and Frank Kimmel carries on that legacy every time the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards rolls into Toledo Speedway. Sunday afternoon was no exception. Making his 30th-consecutive start at the half-mile oval, Kimmel raced to an impressive fourth-place finish in the Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care. His highest finish of the season vaulted Kimmel up three positions in the series points to sixth-place, leaving Kimmel 155 markers behind leader Patrick Sheltra.

In typical short-track fashion, the Menards 200 was action-packed, with 10 cautions and a red flag, slowing the field for 58 laps. Kimmel was able to avoid the wrecks and keep his Ansell/Menards Ford Fusion in the top-10 for the entire distance of the race.

Chris Buescher led the 32-car field to green for 200 laps of short-track racing action in front of packed grandstands. Kimmel started the 100-mile race from the inside of row five, directly behind his Menards racing teammate Matt Crafton.

Kimmel rode in ninth position through the first 20 laps of the race when the second yellow flag of the afternoon waved. He reported to crew chief Bill Kimmel Jr. that his No. 44 Ford Fusion was free going in the turns, good in the middle and loose off.

Despite a loose car, Kimmel continued to clock some of the fastest lap times in the field. He began to move up when the cars were sent back to green-flag action on lap 28, climbing to eighth. Kimmel then made a great save when contact from behind sent him sideways coming out of turn two on lap 36. The contact caused Kimmel to lose two positions, dropping him to 10th place.

Through the next several caution periods pit strategy came into play as several cars began to come down pit road for service. Kimmel Jr. made the call to stay out through the early cautions as the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford Fusion was picking his way through the field. The No. 44 made it to the top-five just before the halfway point of the race.

A six-car wreck on lap 98 forced ARCA Racing Series officials to fly the red flag. After the short delay, Kimmel Jr. called his driver to pit road for four fresh Hoosier tires, fuel and a slight air pressure adjustment. Kimmel returned to the track in 8th place, ready to resume racing.

Kimmel snuck underneath the No. 55 of Steve Arpin on lap 140, looking to get back in the top-five. Unfortunately, he got loose in the middle of turns three and four, making contact with Arpin and receiving damage to his left front fender. Arpin hit the wall and brought out the caution for the 7th time of the night, giving the Ansell/Menards crew a chance to bring their Ford Fusion down pit road to fix the damage and change left side tires.

The extra pit stop moved Kimmel back to the seventh position when the field went back to green on lap 152. With only 48 laps to go Kimmel and his Ansell/Menards Ford went on a tear as Kimmel drove his way to fourth place when the checkered flag waved.

"We had a good day in the Ansell/Menards Ford Fusion," said Kimmel. "I was really happy with it. The car was a little tight in the middle, a little loose getting in and a little loose up off, but we kept adjusting on the car and getting it better. Our lap times today were actually very fast. We were faster than the leader at times. Of course we got in to the 55 car and wrecked him earlier today. I didn't mean to do that, but I got loose underneath him. Overall, we gained on it some today. We'll go to the Michigan test on Tuesday and keep working on getting better."

17-year-old Chris Buescher won the Menards 200 presented by Federate Car Care, earning his first-career ARCA Racing Series victory. Joey Coulter, Tom Hessert, Kimmel and his Menards teammate Matt Crafton rounded out the top-five.

Kimmel's fourth-place finish adds to an impressive record at Toledo Speedway. In 30 starts, Kimmel has earned 22 top-five finishes, three poles and nine victories at the half-mile oval.

The ARCA Racing Series will enjoy an off-weekend before heading to the hills of Pocono for the Messina Wildlife Animal Stopper 200 on Saturday, June 5. SPEED will have live event coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m. EST.

-source: kimmel racing

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