[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″]
[/media-credit]TALLADEGA, Alabama (May 1, 2012) – – The fourth race on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards tour treks to Talladega (Ala.) International Speedway for the running of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 and the entire Andy Belmont Racing (ABR) team including driver Mikey Kile cannot wait for their No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion to hit the pavement on Thursday.
ABR, a long-time fixture in the ARCA Racing Series has strengthen its restrictor plate racing program over the years and with impressive results in a recent test session at the 2.66-mile speedway, Kile leads the team in an upbeat demeanor about their chances for a strong performance if not victory in Friday afternoon’s contest.
“I’ve felt real good about Talladega; even before the test,” said Kile, who has two top-five finishes in two prior starts at the Alabama-based racetrack. “Without question, we had a top-five car at Daytona, but if not for that late-race stop for fuel, we would have been right there in the hunt near the end. I’m really stoked though about our chances for Friday.”
To be in contention for his second-career ARCA victory but first with ABR, the Westlake, Louisiana native knows that he has to play it safe and keep the fenders on his No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion.
“Like Daytona, I’m expecting a little excitement at Talladega, but I think we’re prepared for anything that may and try and thwart our efforts,” Kile explained. “Believe me, the goal is to keep our ModSpace Ford Fusion glued to the bottom of the racetrack until its go time and then (it’s) game on. We’ve had a solid start to our season and definitely a worthy run on Friday afternoon will continue to keep everyone looking at our No. 1 as contenders all year long.”
When asked about his prior success at Talladega, Kile described his finishes as being at the right place at the right time. “A fourth and a fifth at Talladega is good, but a win would be so awesome,” sounded Kile. “Our car really seems to hook-up well in the draft and if we can get the right partner (drafting) behind us, who knows what we’re able to do. It’s all about positioning and timing. I just have that gut feeling that our ModSpace Ford Fusion is going to be stout.”
Team principal Andy Belmont likes his driver’s optimism for Friday’s race and shares similar feelings about their chances. “It’s Talladega and anything can happen, but Mikey has been hyping on this race since climbing out of the car at Daytona,” Belmont commented. “Jeff (McClure, crew chief) and Mikey have really seemed to connect over these last three races and the trust is there together, so that’s a good element for a race like we’re expecting on Friday afternoon. Hopefully, we’ll be like Mikey said at the right place at the right time and we can get this ModSpace Ford Fusion back in victory lane!”
After finishing a respectable 12th in the most recent race at Salem (Ind.) Speedway, Kile sits fourth in the championship standings entering the fourth race of the season, 75 points behind leader Brennan Poole.
“Another reason to play it safe until near the end of the race is that Talladega is a crucial race as far as the point standings are concerned. There’s going to be a lot of cars and you either can gain or potentially loose a bunch of points if something goes amuck. This early into the season, we’re sitting okay as the championship is concerned, but we definitely need to make some ground up on the guys ahead of us and I’m hoping that’s where experience will come into play.”
“ModSpace Motorsports looks forward to this weekend at Talladega with ABR and the No. 1 Ford Fusion,” stated William Mann, Vice President of Motorsports for ModSpace. “The team had a great run at Daytona and has a strong superspeedway program. They will be contenders for the win this weekend.”
For the third time this year, Kile will have a teammate at ABR as rookie Thomas Praytor will steer the No. 2 Realtor Ford Fusion in the final restrictor plate race of the season.
The International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 (94 laps / 250 miles) is the fourth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 50th ever ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, May 3rd with a three hour practice session planned from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. Coverage of time trials is available online through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. A 45-minute final practice has been etched in on Friday, April 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. The event will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 4:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional live broadcasting available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com in collaboration with Alabama’s local WTDR Thunder 92.7 FM. All times are local (Central).
For more on Mikey Kile, please visit him online at MikeyKile.com and through Twitter @MikeyKile.
Additional information on Andy Belmont Racing is available by logging on to AndyBelmont.com.
About ModSpace:
Modular Space Corporation (ModSpace), based in Berwyn, Pa., is a leading provider of modular buildings, portable storage and services for temporary and permanent space needs. With more than 40 years of experience, ModSpace serves a diverse set of customers and markets through a network of 80 branches throughout the United States and Canada. Further information is available by visiting .
About Andy Belmont Racing (ABR):
Andy Belmont Racing (AndyBelmont.com) is a competitive and respected motorsports operation who fields race cars in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. ABR has been serving the motorsports community and winning for nearly 25 years. Currently, the team fields a full-time ARCA Racing Series program for series winner Mikey Kile in the No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion.
