ARCA RE/MAX Nashville Test Speeds

BIG TURN OUT IN ARCA RE/MAX NASHVILLE TESTING; KIMMEL QUICKEST WITH HEMPHILL, ATWOOD, FEESE, BODINE, PRESSING



NASHVILLE TN (3-25-04)  In prep for the April 9 PFG Lester 150 at Nashville Superspeedway, live on SPEED Channel at 9 pm eastern, a Nashville record 29 ARCA RE/MAX Series teams assembled Thursday for open testing on the 1.33-mile concrete superspeedway.

 

Five-time series champion Frank Kimmel prevailed as fastest over an impressive field of entrants including Ryan Hemphill, Todd Bodine, Casey Atwood, Jason Jarrett, Brian Keselowski and several other notable racers.

 

Kimmel, who is already three for six in the win column at Nashville, busted out a top speed of 160.671 mph in Larry Clement's Advance Auto Parts-Pork Ford.

 

"This is going to be the most competitive RE/MAX Series race ever at Nashville," said Kimmel. "The strength of the field is so impressive. With Ryan Hemphill running so well, Todd Bodine, Casey Atwood coming over; we expect Jason (Jarrett) to pick up too; it's just going to be one heck of race, best-ever at Nashville; we're excited."

 

Hemphill, in Todd Braun's Dodge, was second quickest at 158.964. Atwood, in a FitzBradshaw Chevrolet, turned in the third quickest speed at 158.806. Feese, in a Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet, was fourth at 158.281 with Bodine, in Dan Shaver's Petro-Express Pontiac, fifth at 157.968.

 

"And I think it's just great that Todd (Bodine), Casey (Atwood) and some of the others are coming over here to run. It shows where our series is going. These guys can use a good run here to help get things turned around in their careers. I told Todd (Bodine) today that I was glad he was coming over to run with us; I admire him for it. And we told him we'd give him all he wanted.

 

"It's all about building confidence. It reminds of Casey Mears coming here last year, winning some races. From that point on, his stats in the Cup series drastically improved; and this year, Casey's really performing."

 

In six previous Nashville runs, Kimmel is the overall lap-leader with 352 laps-led in six starts, and has won five out of six Pork Pole awards.

 

Second-generation driver David Ragan, Christi Passmore, Canadian late model standout Don St. Denis in his first RE/MAX Series attempt, Jeff Kendall and Joshua Clemens completed the top-ten in speeds.

 

In addition to the healthy turnout, Hoosier Racing Tire tested a brand new Nashville tire compound for the event.

 

"This is the best mile, mile-and-a-quarter tire Hoosier ever built," Kimmel added. "There's no wear, no heat issues, and really good grip. This is going to be one heck of a race."

 

Previous RE/MAX Series Nashville winners also include Mario Gosselin, Kyle Busch and Ken Schrader. Schrader, who has already filed an entry for the event, was unable to test on Thursday due to a NASCAR Nextel Cup commitment; however, the 10-time RE/MAX Series winner tested there on Wednesday, the day before.

 

The Friday night PFG Lester 150 at Nashville Superspeedway will serve as a preamble to the next-day, Saturday afternoon NASCAR Busch Series Pepsi 300.

 

CONTACT: Don Radebaugh, ARCA PR (734) 847-6726

www.arcaracing.com
     ARCA RE/MAX SERIES OPEN TEST     
       Nashville Superspeedway, Nashville TN, 3-25-04     
       Overall Test Speeds       
     NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN TEAM & CAR TIME SPEED 
      1 46 Frank Kimmel/Jeffersonville IN Advance Auto Parts-Pork Ford 29.800 160.671 
      2 64 Ryan Hemphill/Apollo PA AE Powersports Dodge 30.120 158.964 
      3 14 Casey Atwood/Statesville NC FitzBradshaw Chevrolet 30.150 158.806 
      4 5 Blake Feese/Saybrook IL Bobby Gerhart Racing Chevrolet 30.250 158.281 
      5 49 Todd Bodine/Chemung NY Petro Express Pontiac 30.310 157.968 
      6 95 David Ragan/Kannapolis NC Planning Group International Ford 30.720 155.859 
      7 91 Christi Passmore/Pryor OK GAP Roofing-Royal Trading Ford 30.820 155.354 
      8 06 Don St. Denis/LaSalle, Ontario Wayen Peterson Racing Pontiac 30.860 155.152 
      9 60 Jeff Kendall/Montello WI Assembly Products Pontiac 30.880 155.052 
      10   Joshua Clemens Ford 30.910 154.901 
      11 67 Jason Jarrett/Hickory NC Gladiator GarageWorks-Bennigan's Chevy 31.040 154.253 
      12 66 Mike Langston/Marietta GA Pure Power Motorsports Ford 31.080 154.054 
      13 31 Randal Ritter/Franklin TN Aluminum Racing Products Chevrolet 31.170 153.609 
      14 56 Richard King/Conyers GA Dekalb Pipeline Chevrolet 31.260 153.167 
      15 38 Phil Bozell Bozell Pontiac 31.290 153.020 
      16 13 Johnny Leonard/Cape Coral FL Affordable Roofing Chevrolet 31.300 152.971 
      17 11 AJ Fike/Galesburg IL Fast Track Driving School Pontiac 31.390 152.533 
      18 59 Mark Gibson/Winder GA Williams Brothers Lumber Chevrolet 31.390 152.530 
      19 29 Brian Keselowski/Rochester Hills MI Bob Ducharme Racing Dodge 31.390 152.533 
      20 14 Michael Jacobs/Stamford NY Gaeta Development Chevrolet 32.070 149.298 
      21 68 Roger Moser Moser Chevrolet 32.210 148.649 
      22 18 Chris Comalander/Beaumont TX Comalander Racing Ford 32.270 148.373 
      23   Jonathon Langford Pontiac 32.360 147.96 
      24 1 Brandon Knupp/Sidney OH Andy Belmont Ford 32.590 146.065 
      25 54 Frank Kapfhammer/Louisville KY Long John Silver's Chevrolet 32.660 146.601 
      26 58 Anthony Hill/Carrollton GA Mark Gibson Racing Chevrolet 33.660 142.246 
      27 0 Jason Patrino/Kingston Springs TN Michael Peterson Racing Chevrolet 34.290 139.633 
      28 48 Drew White/Yankeetown FL Hylton Motorsports Ford 34.990 136.839 
      29 0 Tim Mitchell/Fayetteville TN Michael Peterson Racing Chevrolet 38.590 124.074 
               
       Two Incidents:        
       Don St. Denis spun off turn 2, no contact, morning practice, no injury.     
       Jason Patrino brushed the wall right-side off turn 4 wall, afternoon practice, no injury.