Simko Prepares For ARCA RE/MAX Nashville Debut With Open Test
Simko Prepares For Nashville Debut With Open Test Lebanon, Tennessee - - Slowly but surely Michael Simko and his Auburn Racing team have expanded their ARCA RE/MAX Series boundaries, the team will once again take a major step in the bid to eventually run a full RE/MAX series schedule by participating in the Nashville Superspeedway “open test�?? this Tuesday, March 15th. The second-generation driver hopes to dial in his Mound Steel & Supplies/Diamond Racing Chevrolet around the 1.333-mile speedway and learn enough that will allow him to gain a berth in the second race of the 2005 RE/MAX Series season. “Finally, we're racing again! It's been a pretty busy off-season for the whole team. We sold two of our older cars and purchased a brand new Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the 2005 season. That car won't be on the track until May 14th at Kentucky. For Nashville, we will be taking the same car we ran at all the speedway races last year,�?? explained the driver, Michael Simko. “It was a really good car for us and we really think, especially with the new ignition box deal, that we can run that car right up with all the big teams. As far as the test goes, it will pretty much be a situation where we want to get back in the groove being at the track and me being back behind the wheel, after all it's been six months since Salem. We're just hoping we can go out and be the competitive team we were all last season. It's just going to be great to be at the track again." Michael, the son of former NASCAR and ARCA driver Dave Simko is no stranger to the bigger tracks. In 2003, Simko hustled his way to an eighth place finish in his Superspeedway debut at Kentucky Speedway. In addition, Simko has competed at Michigan International Speedway and Lowes Motor Speedway. “While I’ve been a short track racer for most of my racing career, the superspeedways are just as fun,�?? explained the Clarkston, Michigan native. “While talent plays a huge portion on superspeedways, everything has to be there from a good car, a good motor and even a good team. We’ve proven that we’re just as successful on the larger tracks, so I really don’t’ have any major concerns heading to Nashville.�?? 2004 was a year of success and frustration for the Auburn Racing team. Several good qualifying efforts were spoiled by incidents or engine failure, but Simko was able to add two more top-ten finishes to his resume including a seventh at Chicagoland Speedway and a tenth at Lowes Motor Speedway. The team has nearly doubled their schedule for the season with a mixture of short track and superspeedway action, but Simko is also hoping to attract sponsors that could allow this impressive team to adjust their schedule even more. “ Realistically, we don’t have the financial standpoint to run the full season, but if we got some sponsor help, that can be easily be arranged, we’ll take one step at a time. I want to concentrate on a good run at Nashville and we’ll go from there.�?? The PFG Lester 150 is the second of 23 events on the 2005 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. Practice begins Friday, March 25th with an extensive morning session planned. Qualifying is also on tap for Friday afternoon with the race set to take the green flag Saturday March 26th, 2005. The Speed Channel will air the event live beginning at 12:30pm EST.