Josh Clemons Makes Emotional Return To ARCA RE/MAX Series At Salem

SALEM, Indiana (September 14, 2006) - - Indiana’s own Josh Clemons will make his ARCA RE/MAX Series return this weekend at Salem Speedway behind his familiar No. 41 Ford Fusion for Saturday’s Eddie Gilstrap Motors ARCA Fall Classic presented by Advance Auto Parts.

It’s been nearly a year since Clemons has planned to compete in an ARCA RE/MAX Series event. Clemons has spent the majority of the 2006 season on the sidelines as father and car owner Larry Clemons was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. With his father in attendance this weekend, Clemons would like nothing more than to score the win in front of the hometown crowd for his father.

“Obviously it’s a emotional return for everyone on the Clemons Racing team,�?? said driver Josh Clemons. “Salem is one of my favorite racetracks and I run really well there, so we’re looking forward to matching our career best fifth place finish from 2004.�??

The key to short track racing is staying out of the mess. The team will head into Salem looking to make their third ARCA start at Salem. Practice times are important but not crucial. Qualifying is essential. If you qualify up front, you usually stay there. Once you're in the field, the mode shifts. Race mode, it’s all or nothing.

Clemons continued, “This is our only short track ARCA race of the season, so we plan to make a big deal out of it. I know that we’re going to have a lot of fans in the stands on Saturday and that’s awesome, but we would like to run competitive. Having my father at the track this weekend is a bonus. He is doing well, a little weak at times, but I couldn’t imagine going to the track without him.�??

Sherrill Real Estate will adorn the primary sponsorship role on the No. 41 Ford Fusion this weekend. “We’re really excited about having Sherrill Real Estate on board with us this weekend, “ added Clemons, a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series hopeful.“ They are a local company and they are coming on board for a local race, and that’s a huge boost for everyone involved. We really appreciate their support and we’re looking forward to a good race.�??

The Clemons Racing team heads to the second event at Salem Speedway this season looking to get additional seat time for Clemons as he’ll prepare to run the full ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule in 2007 while going for two championships, the drivers and Rookie-of-the-Year. “We’re really excited about next year. Our team is very capable of running upfront and being in contention for the win each and every week. There will be a lot of tracks that I have never competed at, but I’m looking forward to the challenges that running a full ARCA schedule will bring. It’s going to be a fun year.�??

Rolling into Salem, Clemons, an avid late model competitor from New Albany, Indiana has seven ARCA RE/MAX Series starts to his resume with a career best finish of fifth at Salem Speedway (September 2004) while holding one additional top ten finish at Nashville Superspeedway (April 2004). He also has a career best short qualifying effort of fifth at Salem Speedway (September 2005) followed by a career best superspeedway time trials effort of fifth at Kentucky Speedway (May 2004).

The Eddie Gilstrap Motors ARCA Fall Classic presented by Advance Auto Parts (200 laps/110 miles) is the 21st of 23 events on the 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. This weekend marks the last of the one-day race schedule for the season. Practice begins Saturday with an hour and half (1:05pm-2:35pm) session planned. Pork pole qualifying is on tap later that afternoon (4:00pm). The race is set to take the green flag beginning at 7:15. The race won’t be televised but _arcaracing.com_ (http://www.arcaracing.com/) will have all the latest news and results from the track.