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ARCA Trucks: Aaron Hulings Wins Again in ARCA Trucks

5 July 1999

Flat Rock MI- Current ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series point leader Aaron Hulings became the first repeat winner of the '99 season after dominating the 100 lap main event Saturday night at Flat Rock Speedway.

The 17 year old rookie out of Rockford, Michigan led every lap in his HRP Ford Ranger en route to victory lane after starting from the pole with a new one lap track record of 12.165 seconds. "This is just unbelievable," said Hulings after the race. "The truck was perfect all night. We were a little concerned on going 100 laps without a fuel stop but we made it no problem, and the Hoosier tires kept working because believe me I was using them trying to stay ahead of those guys. I want to thank HRP Motorsports for the opportunity, and my dad, who sets up the truck. Hes my biggest sponsor." The young Hulingss father Brad was a two-time ARCA Midget champion. David Clay, aboard his HVAC Systems-M&M Precision Chevy S-10, finished five lengths back in second in front of Bill Withers, Dave Reeb and Gregg Vasko to complete the top five.

Hulings bolted out into the lead at the onset and opened up a five length advantage over Jeff Speakmans Pennzoil-National Auto Lube sponsored Ford Ranger with David Clay, Robbin Slaughter and Johnny Witham in tow followed by Withers, who raced his way from the tenth starting position to challenge the frontrunners. By the midway point, mechanical troubles for both Speakman and Witham halted their effort while Slaughter, who had troubles of his own when the Columbus, Ohio driver locked horns with a lapped truck off turn two. Slaughters Carmens Vacuum Sales Ford brought out the red flag when it rolled over and came to rest upside down however Slaughter was unhurt and later returned to competition. After racing resumed, a second red flag appeared on the 75th lap for a multi-truck melee in turns three and four when John Kasmierski, John Toth, Jack Weethee, Bob Mikolajczyk and Kendra Lake mixed it up. Only Kasmierski and Toth were unable to return to the race. After the green flag was unfurled for the final time, Clay and Withers, the only trucks left on the lead lap, did everything they could to catch the eventual winner but to no avail as Hulings drove away from the field and under the checkers for his second career ARCA Truck victory. Weethee, Tully Esterline, Slaughter, Lake and Stan Maitlen finished out the top ten.

Hulings also picked up the Revenge Racing Bodies Pole/Win Award and the Cloyes Gears & Products Halfway Leader honors while Withers won the Ed & Company Hard Charger Award for advancing the most positions. A big double-header weekend is next in line for the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series when Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, Ohio takes on the new series on July 9th followed by a Baer Field Speedway appearance in Fort Wayne, Indiana on July 10th.

SERIES POINT LEADERS: Aaron Hulings 1225, Jack Weethee 1155, David Clay 1125, Bill Withers 1095, Johnny Witham 1060, Robbin Slaughter 1020, Gregg Vasko 1005, Tully Esterline 980, Bobby Marvin 970, Troy Marciniak 970.

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