Kligerman Wins at Mansfield; ARCA RE/MAX Series Post Race Report
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With an exceptional and ultra-enthusiastic crowd on their feet, the Penske Racing development driver, in the Cunningham Motorsports Dodge, held off Joey Coulter during a green-white-checker finish to win the inaugural Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA 200 presented by National Speed Sport News at the Mansfield, Ohio short track.
"This has been a pretty crazy weekend," said Kligerman, who led the final 103 laps of the 202 lap race. "Twenty-four hours ago I was running through an airport trying to catch an airplane following my high school graduation. I think I still have my diploma sitting on the front seat of my passenger car in the parking lot. This team is successful because we are prepared week in and week out. We unload and are very close to where we are going to race."
The win was Kligerman's third ARCA RE/MAX Series victory in his last four attempts on tour.
Coulter, in the Darrell Gwynn Foundation-Tempest Cycles Chevrolet, finished a career-best second about three lengths away, his third consecutive top-five finish.
"Harold [Holly, crew chief] and the guys are awesome," said Coulter. "The pit strategy we used was awesome and the pit stops were too. It was like Harold knew what was going to happen in front of us before it happened. Kligerman was getting a really good run off of the corners. He's really tough."
Sixteen-year-old Chris Buescher nearly edged Coulter at the final stripe but settled for third, a career-best finish for the Prosper, Texas rookie.
"We really didn't need the green-white-checker," said Buescher. "I was a little bummed. We were three wide passing for second and that last caution just came at the wrong time. Mansfield is a great track and it was good for the ARCA RE/MAX Series to race here because it was almost everyone's first time here. When we go to Salem Frank Kimmel has won there 9 times so when we go here it's neat that we are all on the same level."
Menards Pole winner Justin Lofton battled back from a spin to finish fourth.
"I think that if we would have had five more laps we would have been right there," said Lofton. "This is the hardest I drove all year-these 100 miles here at Mansfield. This is an awesome little track. We need more ARCA RE/MAX Series races here. I'm ready for another 200 laps."
Steve Arpin, who led 14 laps, finished a career-best fifth in the Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota.
"It just felt so good to be up front," said Arpin. "I had so much fun out there tonight. I come from the dirt, and I have to say, this was more fun tonight. What a neat little track. I'd love to take another run at this place."