Toledo, OH – The No. 44 Ansell-Menards Ford, driven by Frank Kimmel, finished 9th in this afternoon’s Menards 200 from Toledo Speedway. Due to weather, qualifying for today’s Menards 200 was canceled on Saturday, setting the field by points from 2010. That positioned Frank inside the top-five for the start; couple that with the pole sitter and 2nd place drivers moving to rear of the field and the Ansell-Menards Ford would start the race from the front row.
The Ansell-Menards Ford was strong from the drop of the green flag and would eventually inherit the lead after the No. 25 spun coming off turn two. From that point Frank would not surrender the lead often over the final 100 laps.
“The No. 44 Ansell-Menards Ford was good today. I’m proud of my team – they gave me another strong Ford and the pit crew had flawless stops all day long,” said Frank Kimmel.
With only a handful of laps to go, Frank appeared destined to win his 10th ARCA Racing Series Race at Toledo Speedway, but a late race caution would alter that prospect. The No. 44 Ansell-Menards Ford would pull out on the restart, with the No. 41 giving chase. It was clear that Frank was going to run the bottom groove, right on the white line, as he had the entire day. Unfortunately, the No. 41 was running a similar line and coming off turn two would make contact with the back left corner panel of the Ansell-Menards Ford, sending Frank into a spin and consequently out of contention for the win.
“I wasn’t blocking or doing anything that would’ve prevented him from trying to pass me clean for the win. I was just running my line, as I had been and he just ran over me. It’s frustrating. You run that hard the entire race and then you have it decided like that. It should’ve been him racing me for the win, not running into me,” said a frustrated Frank Kimmel after the race.
After the spin, Frank would restart 13th and maneuver his way back inside the top-10, eventually finishing the Menards 200 in 9th. Frank and the Ansell-Menards Ford would pace the field three times and was credited with leading the most laps (125). The late race setback would drop Frank Kimmel to 3rd in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Championship Points.
Watch for Frank Kimmel at New Jersey Motorsports Park driving the No. 44 Ansell-Menards Ford on May 22nd for the ModSpace 150 in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Also, be sure to visit a Menards location to purchase your next pair of Ansell Gloves. More information can be found at www.frankkimmel.com www.ansellracingus.com, www.menardsracing.com and www.arcaracing.com.
