ARCA: Race Report and Standings from Salem
20 April 1998
For Immediate Release By Don Radebaugh Frank Kimmel Takes ARCA Salem Honors Frank Kimmel drove Larry Clement's Advance Auto Parts-Riteway Industrial Chevrolet to victory Sunday at Salem Speedway in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 scoring his sixth career ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series victory and first ever ARCA win on the half mile high-banked Indiana oval. Kimmel, from nearby Jeffersonville, Indiana, gave the local fans the charge they were looking for when the current series point leader crossed the final finish line three car lengths in front of Mark Gibson, the only other driver on the lead lap. "I want to thank all my fans for standing behind us," said Kimmel in victory lane. "We wanted this one bad and I know you did too. It's tough to survive here at Salem for 200 laps and your car has to be set up just right to do it. Fortunately my crew set me up with the perfect handle here today and it showed. This car would stick anywhere." Josh Baltes, who led 12 laps, Dan Pardus and Rick Groetsch scored their best career ARCA finishes after finishing third, fourth and fifth respectively just one lap down. Two-time ARCA winner Eric Smith finished sixth while Cavin Councilor, in his first ARCA short-track start, finished seventh ahead of Jeff Finley, Randy VanZant and Joe Cooksey to complete the top ten. Kimmel was impressive all afternoon leading three times for 87 laps, nearly half the distance. However, Kimmel had his hands full for much of the way having to fend off constant challenges from Bob Strait, Dill Whittymore and Gibson. Strait, who started the race from the pole, led 52 laps and was a constant threat until the 13-time ARCA winner got caught up in a turn two accident trying to sneak underneath the spinning car of Mike Lorz. Whittymore, from nearby Seymour, Indiana, also had his hometown contingent cranked up after leading 34 laps, but a brush with the turn four wall ended his day while running second just 21 laps from the finish. Strait, Lorz and Whittymore were uninjured. Gibson was a show all in himself. After crashing his primary car in an earlier practice session, Gibson’s crew had to unload the backup car, plant a motor beneath the hood and watch as the Winder, Georgia driver methodically raced from the 29th starting position to challenge for the win. Dirt late model specialist John Gill led 15 laps and appeared to be one of the drivers to beat until his engine expired on lap 63. The raced was slowed 13 times for 78 caution flag laps, all for fairly minor incidents and debris. Kimmel also picked up the Auto Value Parts Stores halfway leader award while Gibson took the Thermo-Tec Cool Drive honors and the Hoosier Tire Midwest Hard Charger award for advancing the most positions. VanZant, in his first ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series start, finished ninth to earn the STP-Prestone highest finishing rookie award. SERIES POINT LEADERS: FRANK KIMMEL 700 MARK GIBSON 635 BOB STRAIT 535 ANDY BELMONT 495 JEFF FINLEY 490 ANDY HILLENBURG 415 NORM BENNING 415 BILLY VENTURINI 400 KIRK SHELMERDINE 390 BILL BAIRD 370
