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2011 ARCA Racing

Seventh Heaven: Bobby Gerhart Wins for Record Seventh Time in ARCA Racing Series at Daytona International Speedway

(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.) - Bobby Gerhart resisted the challenges of Chris Buescher and Matt Merrell in the final laps of the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 to win the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season opener at Daytona International Speedway for the seventh time, adding to one of the most prestigious records in ARCA's 59-year history.

Gerhart (No. 5 Lucas Oil Slick Mist Chevrolet) started fifth, pitted for fuel only on the first caution of the race at Lap 5, and led the final 61 of 80 laps to win the first oval race on the new pavement at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

The win is Gerhart's second consecutive at Daytona, fifth since 2005, and eighth since 1999. No other driver in the 48-year history of ARCA racing at Daytona has won more than three times.

"It'll probably take a long time, maybe until even after I'm done racing until the meaning of what we've done sets in," Gerhart said. "It's a storybook deal. I'm so geared up to compete here and I have the privilege to do that. I'm already thinking about what we're going to do next year. It's a tremendous privilege for any race driver to come here and have the opportunity to compete at this level. I feel so lucky to do that right now."

A short pitting strategy was again Gerhart's best friend, as he took advantage of an early crash by Brett Hudson and the ensuing caution to enter the pit for a dash of fuel that would help him to the end of the 80-lap, 200-mile race. Throughout the week, drivers had cited the smooth new pavement as a cause for little tire wear, and Gerhart took advantage.

"Some things had to go our way," Gerhart said. "We didn't feel from the very beginning that we had the fastest car here, but there's a key to getting (to Victory Lane). You've got to put yourself in position. You've got to take a gamble now and then, and that's just the way it went. We took a gamble. I'm not going to say we didn't have a good car; we had a hell of a car. This thing's dynamic. It really is."

Buescher (No. 17 David Ragan Ford Ford) challenged Gerhart over the final laps and appeared to have several opportunities to steal the win, but drove the winner cleanly and took second in only his first superspeedway start. Buescher has made 16 starts in his career and has won twice, both at Toledo Speedway last season.

"That was a lot of fun," Buescher said. "I'm really glad that we get to come to Daytona. With the resurfacing, we really thought we had a chance against Bobby, but he pulled it off again. Overall, it was a lot of fun, a great first speedway experience. I'm glad I didn't pull out of line and drop to 20th. I'm really appreciative of Daytona International Speedway having ARCA. It's been a blast."

On a front row featuring two 18-year-old rookies, Kyle Fowler (No. 15 Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet) seized the lead from Menards Pole Award winner Ty Dillon (No. 41 Richard Childress Racing Development Chevrolet) on the first lap, and stayed just ahead of Dillon through the first 15 laps.

Dillon pulled out for clean air on Lap 16, only to fall to 13th by the end of the next lap. On Lap 18, a pack featuring Jason Bowles (No. 6 Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota) as the last car began to slow, causing Joey Coulter (No. 16 Rip It Energy Fuel/Darrell Gwynn Foundation Chevrolet) to hit him. The collision collected Tom Hessert (No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Toyota) and brought out the race's second caution. Dillon's Chevrolet sustained right front damage, essentially removing the rookie from contention.

Gerhart stayed out as the leaders pitted, taking the lead with Buescher in second on Lap 20. Neither driver would look back.

From there, Joey Licata Jr. (No. 77 WRONG Inc. Dodge) and Merrell (No. 32 Red Line Oil Toyota) traded the third position, and breakaway single-file packs of six to 10 cars would define the front of the field.

Chad Hackenbracht (No. 58 Tastee Apple Chevrolet) crashed in Turn 4 on Lap 46, sustaining a troubling flip against the wall. Hackenbracht emerged from his car easily and walked to the waiting ambulance before being examined and released at the infield care center. The resulting damage yielded a red flag.

When the red flag cleared, Gerhart and Buescher drove away, with Licata joining them in the top three for most of the duration.

A chain reaction on Lap 64 sent nine cars reeling. Hal Martin, suffering a tire rub in the No. 55 NOLA Motorsports Park Toyota, began to slow on the backstretch, hailing the attention of teammate Steve Arpin in the No. 25 Mike's Hard Lemonade/Trent's Tire Toyota. When Martin's tire blew in the outside lane, Arpin tried to move inside to avoid a collision but instead caught Milka Duno and the No. 63 Citgo Lubricants Dodge. Steve Blackburn and Duno contacted next, and five other cars were involved in the aftermath of the damage. Dillon, who had fallen well off the pace earlier in the race, moved just under the wreckage and came away 13th.

As had been the case for most of the race, Gerhart drove slightly above the yellow line in the turns in the waning laps, potentially opening opportunities for Buescher to move inside and take the lead. Merrell and Licata pushed Buescher, but none of the drivers were able to make a clinching move against Gerhart, the speedway expert. Licata pulled out on the final lap in an attempt to gain position, but fell back to sixth, giving Merrell third. Ricky Carmichael and Bowles finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Benny Gordon, Chad McCumbee, Grant Enfinger, and Frank Kimmel completed the top 10. Dillon finished 11th.

Maryeve Dufault finished 28th in her ARCA Racing Series debut, and Duno, making just her second ARCA Racing Series start, ended the race 31st. Both drivers were involved in the Lap 64 collision.

Gerhart's final margin of victory was 0.135 second. The race was slowed five times for 30 laps; not since 2004 has an ARCA race at Daytona been halted by so few caution periods. Gerhart's winning speed was 122.387 mph in a race that lasted one hour, 38 minutes, and three seconds, not including the 10-minute, 41-second red flag period.

ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Officially Unveiled at Championship Awards Banquet Press Conference

2010 Photo By Dan Peters (Chicagoland Speedway)

(COVINGTON, Ky.) - Officials from the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and Menards^® announced today a partnership which will position the Eau Claire, Wisc.-based home improvement retail chain as the official presenting sponsor of the ARCA Racing Series for the 2011 season. The announcement and official logo unveiling helped to highlight the annual Championship Awards Banquet press conference at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.

The 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season will open Saturday, February 12 at Daytona International Speedway, and will feature 19 races, many of which are in the direct footprint of the Menards retail area. Menards features over 250 stores in a total of 12 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In all, states featuring Menards stores will host 13 of the series' 19 races in 2011.

"Menards is involved in racing because we are race fans," said Jim Johnson, merchant coach for Menards. "We want to be in the racing community, and we think that the race fan is our customer."

Also appearing at the Championship Awards Banquet press conference were representatives of the two major vendor partners in Menards' relationship with ARCA, Ansell Protective Products and Messina Wildlife Management. Corey Haugen, the national accounts manager for the Red Bank, N.J.-headquartered Ansell, and James Messina, vice president of the Washington, N.J.-based Messina, both spoke to offer their support for Menards and the overall series partnership.

Menards, the Official Home Improvement Store of ARCA, enters its first season as the lone presenting sponsor, but is experienced as a key partner after serving as a presenting sponsor of the series in 2010 with outgoing RE/MAX International, which also served for nine years (2001-09) as a title sponsor.

"ARCA and Menards have established a very solid understanding of the opportunities and responsibilities on each side of this agreement after one full year of a presenting series sponsorship," said Mark Gundrum, vice president of marketing and communications for ARCA. "We feel that the proven results of the successful Menards vendor program open the door for substantial growth of this partnership in the future."

The major connection between ARCA and Menards stretches back to 2009, the company's first year as a significant series partner. Menards acts as the title sponsor of the series' pole award, the Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell.

2010 Photo By Dan Peters (Chicagoland Speedway)

Menards is also visible on track in the ARCA Racing Series. With Ansell, Menards is a co-primary sponsor of the No. 44 Kimmel Racing Ford and nine-time ARCA Racing Series champion Frank Kimmel.

Menards home improvement stores are well-known throughout the Midwest for a complete selection of high-quality, name-brand merchandise, tools for any job, and state-of-the-art in-store computers to help guests design their special projects. Menards carries the materials and tools for all home improvement projects from just needing a light bulb or can of paint to building a deck or new home.

Most Menards stores also carry name-brand appliances, pet products, lawn and garden supplies, and even a line of convenience groceries as a one-stop shopping experience. With home improvement at the forefront of today's do-it-yourself market, Menardsprovides a valuable resource for the entire community. Menards creates employment opportunities and economic growth while fulfilling the various home improvement needs of local homeowners, tenants, and business owners.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. The series tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces, as well as a left- and right-turn road course.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.

ARCA Daytona Veterans Provide Thoughts on "Smooth, Easier" Track

(TOLEDO, Ohio) - Between them, nine-time ARCA Racing Series champion Frank Kimmel and six-time Daytona winner Bobby Gerhart have made 42 ARCA starts at Daytona International Speedway. With the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 - the opener for the 59th season of ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards action - just over one week away, the two drivers and several other Daytona veterans gave their expert thoughts on the 2.5-mile superspeedway's newly-paved surface and the way racing action will change.

Frank Kimmel, No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford (19 starts, seven top-fives, 10 top-10s):

"Well, from the grandstands, I think it's going to be a better race for the fans. You'll be able to run two- and three-wide all the way around. As for the drivers, the track's easier to drive; it's got so much grip and it's so smooth. You don't have the issues you had with the track in the past so I think you'll see bigger groups running together all the way around. It should make the drivers more confident and should be an exciting race."

Bobby Gerhart, No. 5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet (23 starts, six wins, eight top-fives, 12 top-10s):

"If history repeats itself, and it usually does, I think we'll see a very good race. I go back to Talladega. When Talladega was newly paved, it was the most passing we had seen there in a long time. The only glitch is that we've got the same basic aero package we had then but we're two notches down on the restrictor plate now. So if I had any reservations for Daytona, it's that I just don't know based on the maneuverability of the cars based on the drag power, or the power we don't have, I should say. When Talladega was paved, it was the most passing we've seen, but that was on a 29/32nd (of an inch)-stamped plate. Now we're on a 27/32nd (of an inch)-laser cut plate. Each one of the moves has moved the power meter down. Every time you do that, it makes the cars a little harder to maneuver. You'll have to calculate more in how to make a pass. It doesn't mean you can't pass, but you're going to have to plan ahead more. The track itself - they did a beautiful job. Like I've always said, it's going to be a privilege to race there."

Steve Arpin, No. 25 Mike's Hard Lemonade Toyota (two starts, one top-10):

"I think you'll definitely see a better race. You'll see a lot closer racing with bigger packs, much like you do at Talladega; but Daytona will have its own unique characteristics. The transition (at Daytona) off the banking is a lot more aggressive than it is at Talladega, so it's a much faster transition at Daytona. I think Daytona's going to be the best of both worlds - tighter, cleaner racing, and more aggressive. From the fan's perspective, that means a tighter, better race all the way around - bigger groups, more bumper-to-bumper. And from the driver's perspective, handling won't be the issue it used to be on the old track, so the drivers are going to be a lot more comfortable in the cars. One thing's for sure, being the first stock car race on the track, there's going to be a lot of eyes on us, which will make it even more exciting. You take the bumps out, smooth like it is, and we're all going to feel like Superman out there. It's going to be so cool; I can't wait."

(Arpin competed at Daytona in the NASCAR Nationwide Series last season, finishing a career-high 10th).

Tim George Jr., No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (two starts, one top-10):

"The new racing surface at Daytona has tons of grip and is great to drive on. I just finished the Rolex 24 weekend there, and the banking feels like it's a lot smoother. I think this will yield closer and more exciting racing. I know my confidence is up after a great test with RCR in the ARCA Racing Series a few weeks ago. There's a bump low between (Turns) 3 and 4, but other than that the surface is much smoother than the old track. I think the set-ups will be a lot more like Talladega - which I love. Just set the car to go fast since handling is less important now. Of course, everything will change in a big draft.

"Testing helps at a superspeedway like Daytona, but we did not draft at all at the ARCA open test. We are scrambling to get my backup car together and didn't want to risk hurting the primary - especially since it's so good! (Earnhardt Childress Racing) does a great job with their plate motor package and my guys have worked hard to get this car right. We are going back to Daytona to compete for the win.

"ARCA will be the first series to run in a large draft at Daytona on the new pavement. Hoosier builds us a great tire to run on. I'm excited to get back down to Daytona - most of my days in 2011 so far have been at Daytona. With Rolex and ARCA testing, then the Rolex 24, I'm feeling right at home there."

(George competed in the Grand Touring segment of the Rolex 24 at Daytona last week and was part of a TRG Motorsports team that finished 13th in the class.)

Lane Construction, which also repaved the surface at Talladega Superspeedway, site of the second race on the ARCA calendar, used 50,000 tons of asphalt to repave more than 1.4 million square feet of the 2.5-mile Daytona oval over a period of six months.

The 80-lap, 200-mile Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 airs live on SPEED at 4:30 p.m. Eastern on February 12, with live timing and scoring presented by ARCA Nation at ARCARacing.com. Bobby Gerhart (No. 5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet) is the defending and all-time leading winner at the track, with wins in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2010. Gerhart also won four consecutive poles between 2003 and 2006.

DPR Sports & Racing

United States
ph: 630-776-3411
dan@danspitstopracing.com