ARCA Trucks: In ARCA Trucks, Hulings Holds off Withers for Kil-Kare Cash
18 July 1999
By Don RadebaughXenia, Ohio, - Aaron Hulings continued his reign on the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series Friday night at Kil-Kare Speedway in Xenia, Ohio, but not without a fight.
The Rockford, Michigan driver overhauled Bobby Marvin on the 14th circuit but had to deal with a whole bunch of Bill Withers for the remainder of the 50 lap main event to earn his 4th career ARCA Truck Series victory in his seventh attempt. "I knew we had a great truck here tonight, and I couldnt be happier," said the current point leader in victory lane. "But Bill was a bit stronger and he sure showed me there at the end. It was all I could do to hold him off, and for awhile, I didnt think we would be able to, but he raced me clean and Id like to thank him for that. Id also like to thank HRP Motorsports for the opportunity. I just cant believe the things that are happening to me this year. This is a great series and Im loving every bit of it." Withers, in his Withers Foreign Auto-Mannings USA Ford Ranger, was second ahead of David Clay in the HVAC Systems-M&M Precision Ford while Troy Marciniak in a Chevy S-10 and Marvin, aboard his Ed & Co-Prestige Delivery Ford, finished out the top-five.
Marvin led at the onset after starting from the pole ahead of Robbin Slaughter, Jack Weethee, Withers and Johnny Witham while Hulings and Clay began their assault on the front-runners. Hulings, with Clay in tow, quickly charged towards the front while Marvin, with the leaders stacked in his rear-view mirror, did all he could to hold off the continual charge. Hulings soon maneuvered his way into second ahead of Withers, Clay and Marciniak and went to work on the leader. Hulings then hustled past the former leader and Withers, Clay and Marciniak soon followed. The second generation driver, with Withers on his bumper, showed the way for the duration but not without constant pressure from the runner-up finisher. Withers continued to peak inside and outside of the eventual winner searching for the right opportunity before a late-race caution with three laps to go eliminated his chance to mount another worthy challenge.
Jeff Speakman won the Hoosier Tire Pole award at 14.237 seconds and brought his Pennzoil-Natl Auto Lube-Esslinger Ford home in sixth ahead of Slaughter, Wichmann, Dave Reeb and Scott Belknap to complete the top ten. Wichmann and Marciniak were heat race winners. Hulings was the Cloyes Gear Halfway Leader while Wichmann won the Ed & Company Hard Charger award for advancing the most positions. The next appearance for the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series will be at Springport Speedway in Springport, Michigan Saturday night, July 24th.
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