Frank Kimmel No. 44 Ansell/Menards Toyota Camry
Qualifying Report
The Salem Speedway – Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 presented by Crosley Radio
Race Information:
Date: April 28, 2013
Race: 3 of 21
Location: The Salem Speedway
Track Details: .555 Miles
Race Length: 200 laps/ 111 Miles
Broadcast Information:
ARCARacing.com = Live Timing & Scoring
Team Facts:
Current Point Standings: Tie for 1st
Crew Chief: Jeriod Prince
Engines: Triad Racing Technologies
SALEM, Ind. (April 27, 2013) — Frank Kimmel, the nine-time ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards champion who’s the career victories and poles leader at Salem Speedway, Saturday qualified eighth for Sunday’s third race of the ARCA season, the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 presented by Crosley Radio.
Kimmel, who was third in the opening practice on Salem’s washboard-rough .555-mile 33-degree banked asphalt oval, fell to 18th in the 45-minute final practice before posting his best lap of the day, 17.263 seconds, an average speed of 115.739 mph in qualifying.
That made sense, since Kimmel and crew chief Jeriod Prince decided to use one set of tires throughout two practices before bolting another set on for qualifying. Kimmel, who in Salem’s 60-year history has an ARCA all-time best nine victories and eight poles, said he was happy with the balance of his No. 44 Ansell / Menards Toyota and was looking forward to a positive race on Sunday.
“These new tires are really tough and as they wear out, well, as a driver you’re always griping about them because it’s all in the tires,” Kimmel said. “Because in the end who does well will be those who have their cars the best on the long run. And of course Jeriod and I and the guys have been working really hard on that, so we’re hoping we are pretty good.
“We qualified eighth so I was actually pretty happy with that and I think we’ll be OK.”
Kimmel comes into the race tied for the ARCA championship lead with Mason Mingus, who qualified fifth in his No. 32 Win-Tron Racing Toyota with a lap in 17.233 seconds.
In two Salem starts a year ago, Kimmel finished second in this race and fourth in September, which only pumps up his confidence and enthusiasm on a weekend in which the weather forecast called for rain, which failed to appear Saturday.
“We only ran the one set of tires so that’s why we kept getting slower and slower,” Kimmel said of hitting a time-sheet low point in Happy Hour. “But I think the balance of the car, and the progression of how the tires fell off is the best we’ve had it, in a while, so I’m looking forward to how we do in the long runs Sunday.”
Saturday Justin Boston won his first career ARCA pole in just his third attempt, in Venturini Motorsports’ No. 25 Toyota, just ahead of No. 15 Venturini teammate Kyle Benjamin. Anderson Bowen will start third in the 28-car field in the No. 22 Cunningham Motorsports Dodge.
On Sunday an ARCA driver autograph session from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET will precede the main event. The season’s third race is scheduled to get the green flag at 2:15 p.m. Live time & scoring and audio coverage is available online at ARCARacing.com.
ABOUT MENARDS:
With 270 stores in 14 Midwestern states, Menards has the tools, materials and supplies for all your home improvement needs whether just needing a light bulb or can of paint to building a deck or new home. Menards is known throughout the home improvement industry as the low price leader; it’s no wonder their famous slogan – “SAVE BIG MONEY” – is so widely known and easy to remember. Menards does things right – the company’s strength and success can be seen in the well-stocked and maintained stores, the lowest prices in town and the way guests are always treated like family in a hometown hardware store atmosphere.
ABOUT THORSPORT RACING:
ThorSport Racing, based in a state-of-the-art 100,000-square-foot facility in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured active NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. Thorsport, which has run full-season Truck Series schedules annually beginning in 1998, in 2013 will run the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by Matt Crafton, the No, 98 Carolina Nut Co./Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Johnny Sauter and the No. 13 SealMaster Toyota Tundra driven by Todd Bodine in the Truck Series and the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Toyota Camry driven by Frank Kimmel in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.
