ARCA Crowns Kimmel With 6th Title

Three Cheers For The Champ; ARCA Crowns Kimmel With Record-Tying Sixth Series Title Honors

COVINGTON KY (12-11-04) Sharing the honor with another ARCA icon, a very humbled and appreciative Frank Kimmel received three standing ovations in recognition of his record-tying sixth ARCA RE/MAX Series title during the 52nd annual national championship awards ceremony Saturday night at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky.

Following a very poignant big-screen video presentation depicting the incredible career of six-time series champion Iggy Katona, Kimmel, who finally matched Katona's long-standing title mark in 2004, took center stage as the audience, measuring more than 600, rose in honor of both. Before Kimmel would leave the stage, two more standing ovations would follow.

Kimmel, humbled by it all, gave thanks to all the ARCA warriors who came before him including three-time champion Jack Bowsher who was on hand for the celebration, as was Kimmel's father Bill Kimmel Sr., both of whom rubbed fenders with Katona in another place and time. Kimmel looked back and segued to the present. "It's hard to grasp being in the same sentence with Iggy under these circumstances," said Kimmel, "but what a huge honor to be there. And if Jack Bowsher would've stayed in ARCA for his entire career, nobody would've beaten his records."

Kimmel, who announced earlier in the day a three-year extension of his title sponsor Advance Auto Parts, thanked Advance and his associate sponsor Pork, who also re-signed, and then expressed his appreciation of his peers. "I really wanted to thank tonight all the guys who race with us week in and week out. I can't tell you how much I appreciate coming to the track, joining my ARCA family, and racing with this group of guys who make this series so special. There are some very dedicated racers here, and I'm just so proud to be among them as a champion. And we will do our very best we can to represent the series and all the competitors, who we admire so much."

Kimmel also thanked his car owner Larry Clement and his brother Bill Kimmel, Jr., who gave up a driving career of his own to crew chief for his renowned brother. For his grand finale, Kimmel lined his entire crew on stage and brought each to the mic for their own personal introduction.

In addition to Kimmel's accolades, Clement also received his due honors for his record-tying sixth series car owner title. While Kimmel and Clement took top honors in the driver/owner category, Kimmel's brother Bill was awarded the Holley Performance Crew Chief of the Year worth $5,000 as well as an additional $2,000 for the Clevite/Victor Reinz Engine Mechanic of the Year.

In all, Kimmel walked off with more than $170,000 in team year-end earnings amidst a record $800,000 in banquet cash and awards doled out among the top-20 teams. While the most substantial portion came from RE/MAX, Kimmel's total also included point fund checks from Hoosier Racing Tire, Sunoco Race Fuels, Ford Motor Company, Bennigan's, Lincoln Electric, Damon Motorcoach and Rhyne Racing Engines.

Following a year-in-review video presentation, banquet host and motorsports television broadcaster Ray Dunlap introduced RE/MAX Int'l Vice President Randy Morse, who thanked the ARCA organization for, "this very valuable partnership," before saluting Kimmel and the entire Tri-State Motorsports team for their, "unparalled success throughout the year." Morse announced earlier in the day a three-year extension under which RE/MAX will continue in its role as the exclusive title sponsor of ARCA's premier racing series, the ARCA RE/MAX Series, through 2008. Morse would later receive ARCA's highest honor - the Marcum Award, from ARCA President Ron Drager.

After Guest of Honor, former RE/MAX Series winner and NASCAR veteran driver Phil Parsons addressed the audience with his personal brand, the top-20 teams were honored on stage with accompanying video presentations for each.

Brent Sherman, who announced a full season in the NASCAR Busch Series for 2005, was honored for his runner-up points finish during which Sherman also received the prestigious Bill France Triple Crown honors for having the highest average finish at three very diverse venues: the Talladega Superspeedway, the Springfield, Illinois mile-dirt and the Salem Speedway short-track. Sherman was also presented with the HG Adcox Sportsman of the Year Award from Herb Adcox, father of the late Grant Adcox.

In Special Awards, TJ Bell received the $10,000 ARCA RE/MAX Rookie of the Year Award presented by Morse. In addition to the top rookie honors and his third-place points finish, Bell received the Midwest Motive Gear Maximum Performance Award and the Thermo-Tec Most Durable Driver honors. Rookie Ryan Hemphill received the Pork Pole Award for his six pole positions earned in '04. Rick Miner, Executive Producer of SPEED Channel, received the ARCA Motorsports Media Award. Jack Bowsher received ARCA's Spirit Award from longtime series official Jim Clarke, who raced against Bowsher in the 1960s. Jack's son Todd Bowsher received the Gladiator GarageWorks Gladiator of the Year and the Speed.51.com Most Popular Driver of the Year. Tom Elliman, of the Ford Motor Company, accepted the Manufacturer championship. Car owner Mary Louise Miller won the Stoner Car Care Products Best Appearing Car Award. Rookie Brandon Knupp earned the Hoosier Racing Tire Hard Charger honors. Christi Passmore won the Reed Cams Most Improved Driver Award. Billy Gerhart, who finished second in car owner points, was awarded the $10,000 Superspeedway Challenge Championship.

In recognizing ARCA's commitment to higher education, Bob Loga Memorial Scholarship recipients included Brett Pulte and Justin Allgaier. Other scholarship recipients, compliments of series sponsor University of Northwestern Ohio, included Justin Schroeder, Anthony Anderson, Vanessa Van Dyke, Randal Bawks, Waylyn Sims and Scott Blackburn.

Billy Venturini was honored for his fourth place points finish soon after Jason Jarrett received his due honors for fifth. Mark Gibson was recognized as the sixth best driver in '04 marking his 10th top-10 points finish since 1986. Car owner Andy Hillenburg accepted for his driver AJ Fike's seventh place points finish, as Fike was reportedly ill with the flu. Christi Passmore received eighth place honors for the second consecutive season. Todd Bowsher came to the stage in ninth. Norm Benning was recognized as the 10th place driver, solidifying his seventh top-10 points finish in the last eight seasons.

Track operators in attendance included track reps from Salem Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona Int'l Speedway, Michigan Int'l Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, the Illinois State Fairgrounds and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

Bits and pieces from the awards ceremony will be earmarked for a year-in-review show scheduled for a January airing on SPEED Channel.

The next scheduled event for the ARCA RE/MAX Series is a two-day test, December 18 & 19 at Daytona Int'l Speedway in preparation for the February 12, 2005 Advance Discount Auto Parts 200 from Daytona, LIVE on SPEED at 4 pm eastern.