Qualifying at Rockingham Crucial for ARCA Title Contenders Lofton, Kligerman

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

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> Menards Pole Qualifying at Rockingham Could Prove Crucial in ARCA  
> Championship Chase for Title Contenders Lofton and Kligerman
>
> ROCKINGHAM NC (10-7-09) - ARCA RE/MAX Series point leader Justin  
> Lofton started out the 2009 season with the Menards Pole Award  
> presented by Ansell at Daytona Int'l Speedway. The Westmorland,  
> California driver hopes to end his season with the same at  
> Rockingham Speedway, and for good reason.
>
> Beyond the accolades of winning the pole, there is another crucial  
> element to the honor - points. And with only 15 points separating  
> Lofton and rookie Parker Kligerman headed into the ARCA RE/MAX  
> American 200 season finale this Sunday at Rockingham, every possible  
> point matters.
>
> While Lofton leads with a season-high five Menards Pole Awards,  
> Kligerman has not earned a single pole in ARCA in 2009. Now consider  
> the ramifications of the aforementioned. We know that qualifying  
> points are earned for the top three starting positions - 15 for 1st,  
> 10 for 2nd and 5 for 3rd. That means that Lofton has earned twice as  
> many qualifying points as Kligerman has - 100 to 50. Take away  
> qualifying points and Kligerman would be leading the overall  
> championship points by 35 rather than trailing by 15.
>
> "It's really more a testament to our team (Eddie Sharp Racing),"  
> said Lofton. "We are always trying to put ourselves in position to  
> win races, and the best place to do that is from the pole."
>
> Fortunately for Kligerman, qualifying was rained out six times this  
> year, so the spread, given Lofton's qualifying performance, could  
> have been even more.
>
> Kligerman, ironically, qualified for the pole in his career-first  
> NASCAR Nationwide Series attempt last weekend at Kansas Speedway.  
> One of the first things Kligerman said during his post-pole  
> interview was a reference in regards to his ARCA qualifying. "Too  
> bad we couldn't manage to do that in ARCA where we need the points."
>
> While Lofton has the advantage over Kligerman in terms of qualifying  
> success, there are striking parallels between the two up-and-coming  
> racers as both attempt to advance their careers.
>
> For instance, each driver has one career NASCAR Nationwide Series  
> start. Both finished 16th in their Nationwide debuts this year - at  
> Michigan for Lofton, and at Kansas for Kligerman.
>
> If there's one area where Kligerman has surpassed Lofton in 2009, it  
> would be in regards to average finishes. It's the one place that  
> Kligerman has kept Lofton at bay, but it's still incredibly close  
> with one more race on the docket. After 20 events, Kligerman's  
> average finish is 5.2. Lofton's is 5.3.
>
> "I think it shows that Parker and I are pretty close talent and  
> skill-wise, at least at this point in our careers," said Lofton. "We  
> had the same finish in our Nationwide debuts; we both ran good.  
> Parker had me a little getting the pole."
>
> So now it's onto the season finale this weekend at Rockingham where  
> qualifying on Saturday could ultimately prove every bit as important  
> as raceday Sunday.
>
> "The culmination of everything in this race (Rockingham) is more  
> crucial," added Lofton "I mean, we'd much rather head into the race  
> with a 30 point lead rather than a 15 point lead. Or worse, tied,  
> which could happen if we're not on our game in qualifying. Parker  
> has steadily improved his game in qualifying over the second half of  
> the year."
>
> That is definitely a true statement.
>
> Lofton, who started the season with back-to-back poles at Daytona  
> and Salem, earned 45 points over the first half of the year to  
> Kligerman's 5 points earned in the first half. However, in the  
> second half the gap narrowed considerably during which Kligerman  
> earned 45 qualifying points to Lofton's 55.
>
> "I'm just thrilled to go to Rockingham with a tight points battle,"  
> added Lofton. "I'd rather see it close rather than a runaway. I  
> think Parker and I have really kept each other at the top of our  
> games. We've had to really focus in every, and all aspects of our  
> program. I think Parker's had to do the same. It's made us both  
> better racers. If it wasn't for Parker, we may have focused more on  
> other things this year - maybe a few more Nationwide starts, or  
> whatever. But, as things played out, we've had to focus everything,  
> for the most part, on this championship, and that's turned out to be  
> very exciting for everyone.
>
> "It's kind of sad that there's only one race left. Too bad we don't  
> have 10 more. It'd probably still come down to the wire."
>
> Coverage of Championship Weekend at Rockingham will be featured in  
> live streaming audio at ARCAracing.com. In addition to live timing  
> and scoring, live steaming audio coverage begins Saturday afternoon,  
> October 10th with practice from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM followed by  
> Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 2:30.
>
> The Sunday afternoon American 200, scheduled for 1:00 PM, will also  
> feature live streaming audio coverage at ARCAracing.com.
>
> The American 200 will also air same-day on SPEED at 10:00 PM.
>
> For more information about the Carolina ARCA RE/MAX 200 or to order  
> tickets, please contact the speedway at (910) 205-8800 or visit the  
> website at www.rockinghamspeedway.com.
>
> CONTACTS:
> Don Radebaugh 419-450-0611
> Jackie L. Franzil 419-574-2685
> http://www.arcaracing.com
>