ARCA Trucks: John Witham Wins First Ever ARCA Truck Series Race
18 May 1999
By Kim HarigThe checkered flag from the first ever ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series race, held on the mile oval at Flat Rock Speedway on May 15, was taken home by John Witham, of Hamilton, Ohio, in his #5 Fab Shop-Pate Manufacturing 99 Ford Ranger. The polesitter, and third fastest qualifier on the inverted field, Troy Marciniak, led the first lap with Witham taking over on lap 2, and holding the lead for the remaining 49 laps.
Bill Withers set the standard in his #57 Withers Motorsports 99 Ranger winning the Hoosier Pole Award with the fast time of 12.852 seconds, with Witham close behind clocking in at 12.854.
The race was slowed only once when Marciniak spun in turn two and caused a short caution in the first ten laps. After that, it was a battle between Witham and Withers for first, with Witham managing to hold off the Withers Motorsports Ranger, and winning by four truck-lengths. The race finished with only four cars on the lead lap with Robbin Slaughter bringing in third and Gregg Vasko in fourth. David Clay finished out the top five.
Witham was also awarded the Cloyes Gear Halfway Leader honors and Slaughter won the Ed & Co. Hard Charger award for advancing the most positions, from 10th to 3rd.
Next action for the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series will be June 4 at Toledo Speedway.
SERIES POINT LEADERS: John Witham 265, Bill Withers 260, Robbin Slaughter 240, Gregg Vasko 230, David Clay 225, Tully Esterline 220, Troy Marcinak 215, Jack Weethee 205, Aaron Hulings 200, Jeff Wichman 195
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