ARCA RE/MAX Series Teams Looking to Tame The Rock in Season-Ending American 200

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE			                			       CONTACT: Andy Cagle
									         					910-995-2122

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (Sept. 23, 2009) - Once mother nature stepped aside  
Wednesday morning, 23 teams of the ARCA RE/MAX took to the Rockingham  
Speedway with the goal of learning everything they could to help them  
get around the famed one-mile oval faster in the October 11 running of  
the American 200 at the track.

And with a tight battle for the 2009 ARCA championship coming down to  
the last race of the season at Rockingham, speed at the track known  
for shredding tires is going to be a premium.

“The biggest thing we have been working on today is learning the  
place; learning tire management and getting me acquainted with what  
70% is, what 80% is, and what 90% is,” said Steve Arpin, driver of the  
No. 25 Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet. “We have got a really good  
car. The Venturini’s have a good car every time they come here. We are  
just going to do it again.”

The No. 25 has won both of the ARCA races held at the track since the  
return of the series last year. At the end of the day, Arpin again at  
the No. 25 at the top of the speed charts with a fast lap of 24.877  
seconds, 144.712 miles per hour.

For most of the drivers on track, the day’s objective was tire- 
management and long green-flag runs.

“The biggest thing at Rockingham is making the tires last,” said  
Parker Kligerman, driver of the No. 77 Cunningham Motorsports Dodge,  
who is currently second in the ARCA points standings. This is a very  
abrasive surface. In the spring we did a hundred lap run, so we are  
working towards that. If we keep a consistent, balanced car then the  
speed will come. Today, we have changed springs, shocks, a lot of  
stuff to keep the car balanced and keep the tires underneath it.”

Kligerman was third fastest in the test session, turning a best lap of  
25.141 seconds, 142.192 miles per hour.

“We are just working on the long runs,” said Justin Marks, driver of  
the No. 15 Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet, who fell just below  
teammate Arpin, Clay Rogers (25.014 seconds, 143.919 miles per hour)  
and Kligerman at the top of the speed chart, with a fast lap of 25.312  
seconds, 142.225 miles per hour. “The tires fall off so quick that the  
handling goes away so fast. We are trying to tune the car to run on  
old tires and try to make it work on long runs.”

While the teams were trying to get a handle on making adjustments to  
the car, the drivers on hand were enjoying turning laps at the track.

“I love this place,” said Marks. “It is my favorite track. You can  
move around and find a place where your car works and where it is  
fast. It’s a big challenge. It’s racing where you have to be smart to  
win, which is the kind of racing that I like.”

“This place is awesome,” said Arpin. “Of all the places we go this is  
my favorite. It’s racy. It has three or four distinct grooves. It’s  
going to be a lot of fun.”

Justin Lofton the current ARCA RE/MAX Series points leader, hopes to  
pull into Rockingham next month and leave with the championship  
hardware.

“Coming back to the Rock, a track that has so much history, makes me  
look forward to an exciting championship weekend,” Lofton said.

Lofton turned the sixth fastest lap of the day, posting a quick lap of  
25.526 seconds, 141.033 miles per hour.

For complete practice speeds, go to www.arcaracing.com.

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.


Caption Pic DSC_845

A crew member from the Eddie Sharp Racing No. 2 Ruby Tuesday Toyota  
Camry team and a Hoosier Tires engineer check tire wear, temperature  
and pressure after a run by driver Tim George, Jr Wednesday morning at  
the Rockingham Speedway. George was one of 23 drivers on hand to test  
for the Oct. 11 running of the ARCA RE/MAX American 200.


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Andy Cagle
Director of Public Relations
Rockingham Speedway
andy.cagle@rockinghamracewaypark.com
910.995.2122