ARCA Truck/Midget year in review release

GUINN, BAUMGARTNER CONQUER ARCA TOURING TITLES
(11-22-02)

TOLEDO, OH – Erie, Michigan driver Chad Guinn raced his way into the
ARCA record books earning his career-first ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck
Series title in 2002 while Ottawa Lake, Michigan driver Dave Baumgartner
nailed down his career-first ARCA Auto Value Midget Series championship.

Guinn, in his father Larry Guinn’s BFI-Northland Collision Ford Ranger,
posted five wins in ’02 among nine top-five finishes and nine top-10s.
In addition, the all-time series winner with 15 career victories led 190
laps en route to his first touring series title. “This is a great
honor,” said Guinn. “I especially want to thank my mom and dad for all
their support and for standing by the program. We’ve got so much quality
help; Chuck Carroll is one of the finest crew chiefs there is anywhere,
in any series. We worked hard for this; I finally know what it feels
like to be a champion; and it feels great.” Guinn’s victories came at
Illiana Motor Speedway, Ona Speedway, Dixie Motor Speedway, the LaSalle
Speedway dirt and the new Lake Erie Speedway.

Piqua, Ohio driver Jeff Speakman led the way with four Old Milwaukee
Pole Awards and finished second in points in his own Pennzoil-National
Auto Lube Ford 100 points away from Guinn. Speakman also picked up one
victory at Lake Erie along the way. New Haven, Indiana driver Pete
Wormcastle, who posted victories at Adirondack Int’l Speedway, Lorain
County Speedway and I-75 Speedway, tied for third in points with
Fairfield, Ohio driver Darren Jones who won the season finale on the
Tri-City Speedway dirt. Wormcastle also led 262 laps in ’02, more than
any other driver. Sidney, Ohio 16-year old driver Brandon Knupp won the
Hoosier Racing Tires Rookie of the Year honors en route to his 5th place
points finish. Series veterans’ Brett Oakley, Bill Withers, Robbin
Slaughter, Joe Wormcastle and Jack Weethee completed the 10 in points
respectively.

Additional Lincoln Welders Truck Series winners in ’02 included Joe
Wormcastle at Kentucky Speedway, Phil Bozell at Toledo Speedway and Paul
Hahn at Flat Rock Speedway.

Baumgartner, driving for his father and champion car owner Jim
Baumgartner all year, picked up three ARCA Auto Value Midget Series
victories at Flat Rock, Mansfield and Shady Bowl Speedways en route to
his first touring series title. “It feels great; no question about it,”
said the 25-year-old champion. “It’s something I’ll always have on my
resume; maybe it can even help take us to the next level.” Baumgartner
also led the way with three Old Milwaukee Pole Awards.

Crawfordsville, Indiana driver Sondi Eden posted one victory at Dixie
Motor Speedway on her way to finishing a career-high second in points
over series veteran Gary Harrell who finished third. Seymour Autocraft
Engines ARCA Rookie of the Year Adam Schuyler finished fourth in series
points with second generation open-wheel racer Chris Hettinger finishing
fifth overall. Phil Rutledge, Chris O’Connell, Ryan Gillenwater, Matt
Maners and Isaiah Bross completed the top-10 respectively.

Outside of Baumgartner, Noblesville, Indiana driver Ron Gregory won
twice on the tour at Mansfield Motorsports Speedway and Columbus Motor
Speedway while the remaining ARCA Midget victors in ’02 included Aaron
Pierce at the Indianapolis Speedrome, Travis Miniea at Sandusky
Speedway, Matt Brun at Shady Bowl Speedway and Teddy Beach at the
Speedrome.

CONTACT:  ARCA PR (734) 847-6726