Rockingham Test Next Stage for ARCA Title Fight; Media Welcome
Andy Cagle Director of Public Relations Rockingham Speedway andy.cagle@rockinghamracewaypark.com 910.995.2122 > > > Rockingham Test Wednesday, Sept 23 Next Stage for ARCA Title Fight; > Media Welcome; Free Grandstand Entrance > > ROCKINGHAM NC (9-22-09) - ARCA RE/MAX Series open tests can serve a > multitude of things. Whether it be dialing-in your chassis for the > race and/or getting rookies seat-time on unfamiliar tracks, they can > often put race teams one step ahead of the competition before > raceday ever rolls around. > > They can also become a sheer necessity for two young drivers > battling for a championship. In this case, we're talking about point > leader Justin Lofton and rookie Parker Kligerman whose separation in > points is a mere 25 markers with just two events remaining in 2009 - > the Kansas Lottery 150 at Kansas Speedway (Oct. 1) and the ARCA RE/ > MAX American 200 at Rockingham Speedway (Oct. 11). > > That's why both are entered in Wednesday's (Sept. 23) open test at > Rockingham Speedway. Each driver has taken the series by storm in > 2009. While Lofton leads in points, Kligerman leads with a season- > high seven wins to Lofton's six. The most recent battle between the > two title contenders came under the lights last Saturday night at > Salem Speedway where they engaged race fans in the stands and at > ARCAracing.com with a thrilling side-by-side duel for the lead over > the final 15 laps resulting in Lofton edging Kligerman for the win > at the final stripe. As a testament to both, they never touched > during the exchange, which came down right to the checkered flag. > > Lofton, according to his quote, seemed to be looking toward the > future in regards to how things shook down during the Salem race. > > "Me and Parker are going to be racing each other for a long time to > come so there is no reason to get off on a bad note early in our > careers," said Lofton. "I barely lifted during those last 20 laps. > It was unbelievable but that's what it's about. When you can get a > win like that running this close it just means that much more to you > then if you were to just run away with it." > > Kligerman, on the hand, felt he let his team down and issued some > thoughts of his own regarding the future. The difference being, > Lofton was referring to the years ahead while Kligerman seemed to be > talking about the next ARCA RE/MAX Series event on tour. > > "I think I kind of let my team down there at that last run," said > Kligerman. "I should have gotten by Justin Lofton but we're racing > for a championship here and I don't want to get into the situation > that you saw those two (Ricky Stenhouse and Scott Speed) get into > running for the Championship last year. Hopefully Justin Lofton will > remember that the next two races going into the end of the season." > > Kligerman had several opportunities to move the eventual winner in > the closing laps but chose otherwise. > > "I was running right behind him [Justin Lofton] and I could have > moved him a bunch of times," added Kligerman. "He was all over the > place and I thought 'I'll just get by him, I'll get by him clean and > we'll go on to the next race and we don't need to get into a pushing > match for a Championship. Maybe I'm a little bit too nice but > hopefully he will remember that next week." > > ell, it's now next week and the next order of business for the two > title contenders is tomorrow's test at Rockingham. > > And, depending on what happens in the race at Kansas, it's looking > more likely that the battle for the ARCA RE/MAX Series title will > come down to the championship weekend at Rockingham Speedway October > 10th and 11th. > > Interestingly enough, while both drivers have dominated the win > column in 2009 with 13 victories between them, both drivers did not > fare well at Rockingham in the spring. > > Kligerman spun early on off turn two before Lofton bounced off the > wall in turn four. Both drivers were able to finish the race, but > neither driver was a threat to win against the veteran Ken Schrader, > who dominated the race, and/or eventual winner Sean Caisse, driving > a Venturini Motorsports-prepared Chevrolet. > > ARCA RE/MAX Series testing at Rockingham is scheduled for Wednesday, > September 23rd with on-track activities slated from 9:00 AM to 5:00 > PM. Media is welcome to attend. Admission is free for grandstand > seating for the test session. ARCAracing.com will be featuring live > timing and scoring of all the on-track activity. > > For more information about the ARCA/REMAX American 200 or the > accompanying USARacing Aaron's 150 October 9-11 or to order tickets, > please contact the Rockingham Speedway at (910) 205-8800 or visit > our website at www.rockinghamspeedway.com. Tickets begin at $20 for > single-day reserved seating with $5 back-to-school special pricing > for students. Weekend and pit passes are also available. > > CONTACTS: > Don Radebaugh 419-450-0611 > Jackie L. Franzil 419-574-2685 > http://www.arcaracing.com > > 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series > Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham NC, 9-23-09 > Entry List, Open Testing > > NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN TEAM & CAR OWNER > 2 Tim George Jr./New York NY Toyota Eddie Sharp > 6 Justin Lofton/Westmorland CA Toyota Jessica Sharp > 15 Justin Marks/Rocklin CA Toyota Bill Venturini > 19 Johanna Long/Pensacola FL Toyota Eddie D'Hondt > 20 Tom Hessert/Cherry Hill NJ Ford Robby Benton > 25 Steve Arpin/Fort Frances ON Toyota Cathy Venturini > 28 Jeff Buice/Charlotte NC Chevrolet Wayne Hixson > 31 Austin Dillon/Welcome NC Chevrolet Richard Childress > 51 Casey Roderick > 70 Tony Palumbo/Frankfort IL Ford Tony Palumbo > 70 Mike Holt > 77 Parker Kligerman/Westport CT Dodge Mark Gibson > 81 Craig Goess/Woodbury NJ Toyota Eddie Sharp > Clay Rogers/Troutman NC Chevrolet > > >