ARCA: Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Ready for Anderson Speedway Again
24 April 1999
By Don RadebaughAfter an absence of a nearly a quarter of a century, the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series, the most versatile stock car series in the world, will again take on the storied mile high-banks of Anderson Speedway when the ARCA 300 presented by Insight Communications rolls off on Sunday afternoon May 9th. The last time the ARCA cars raced at Anderson was 1975 when A. Arnold won the race and Joy Fair set an ARCA one-lap track record at 13.240 seconds. Fair, a name synonymous to ARCA through the years, has over 20 ARCA-sanctioned late model track championships at Toledo, Flat Rock, Mt. Clemens and Baer Field Speedways, and at 68, continues to race weekly at Flat Rock. ARCA first raced at Anderson in 1956 and sanctioned 9 events there up through 75.
The upcoming event has attracted the attention of some heavy hitters including NASCAR Winston Cup regular Ken Schrader who has entered his own Chevrolet Monte Carlo with sponsorship from Bobs Candies, Oakwood Homes and QuicShine. Schrader, indicative of his versatility, has posted 5 ARCA wins since 1990 at varied venues including the mile clay oval in Hagerstown, Maryland in 90, the roadcourse in Topeka, Kansas in 91, the mile-dirt fairgrounds oval in Indianapolis in 94, the paved mile Toledo Speedway in 97 and the mile-dirt fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois in 98.
Indiana Andy Hillenburg has also filed an entry and will be aboard the Mary Miller owned Biomet Chevrolet, the same team that fielded cars for Jimmy Kitchens in this years Daytona ARCA 200 and Atlanta EasyCare 300k. According to Hillenburg, who finished 8th in the aforementioned car at Salem back on April 18th of this year, the 95 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series champion will drive the Biomet Chevy at all remaining ARCA events in 99 provided there are no scheduling conflicts.
Additional entrants include ARCA point leader Bill Baird who is fresh off 2 consecutive victories at Atlanta Motor and Salem Speedways, and defending ARCA champion Frank Kimmel. Kimmel looks to redeem himself after a disappointing bout with the Salem Speedway wall in the last ARCA race. With less than 2 laps remaining, the Jeffersonville, Indiana driver cut a right front tire while leading the race and fell to 4th in the final running order.
Also entered is 99 Daytona ARCA 200 winner Bobby Gerhart. Gerhart, who typically only chases the superspeedway portion of the ARCA schedule, has vowed to run every event in an effort to go after the championship. The Lebanon, Pennsylvania veteran is currently 2nd in points 95 markers away from Baird who leads with 685 while Kimmel and 14-time series winner Bob Strait are tied for 3rd with 550. Centralia, Illinois driver Joe Cooksey, after a 5th place finish at Salem, completes the top 5 with 475 points. Veteran Bob Schacht has also thrown his hat into the ring as an ARCA title contender. Of the drivers entered, Schacht has the most ARCA wins with 19. Additional ARCA regulars entered include Mike Ciochetti, Cavin Councilor, Andy Belmont, Tim Bainey, Dill Whittymore, Mark Gibson, Curt Piercy and Norm Benning to name a few.
The race is scheduled to air on SPEEDVISION on Sunday, May 30th at 5 and 10 PM eastern time.
Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.