ARCA Midgets: Thinnes Thunders at Toledo Speedway, as Gibson takes ARCA Crown
21 September 1999
Posted By Terry
Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
Toledo, Ohio- Among some extremely stout participants,
Steve
Thinnes stood on the gas Sunday afternoon at Toledo Speedway charging
from the ninth position to victory lane to capture the ARCA/UMARA
sanctioned 30 lap main event while Gene Lee Gibson, even despite
mechanical troubles, reigned as the ARCA Auto Value Midget Series
champion for the second consecutive season.
With IRL and USAC Midget drivers Ronnie Johncox and Andy Michner inches away waiting to pounce on their opportunity to take charge, Thinnes never bobbled on his way to the winners circle taking his 3rd series victory of the season. "I knew if I bobbled even a little, those guys would race by me like I was standing still," said Thinnes in victory lane. "I knew they were there because I could hear them, and I had a good idea who they were so we had to work it hard to the end. Id like to thank ARCA and UMARA for all the racing and all the fans that came out to see us. This place is the closest thing to a superspeedway that we get and its awesome to drive. If theyll have us back, were definitely coming." Johncox finished a length away in second with Michner in his immediate rears for third. Second generation driver Brice Kenyon was fourth and ARCA Midget standout Gary Harrell raced hard from the 15th position to complete the top five.
Defending ARCA Auto Value Midget Series champion Gene Lee Gibson was relegated to the 21st finishing position in the main event completing only one lap resulting from a blown engine. Regardless, Gibson had already accumulated enough points throughout the year to earn his second consecutive ARCA Midget Championship title. "It always feels great to be lucky enough to be the champion," said the second generation open-wheel standout. "Weve always sort of bounced around racing a lot of different classes from supermodifieds to Silver Crown cars without ever really chasing any particular crown so these are extra special. Id like to thank my father whos always been an inspiration to me, and is really the brains behind the chassis design and set-up. Id like to thank my wife who puts up with this racing grind. Were racers from the start, and thats not going to change so its important to me to have someone who understands that. Id like to thank ARCA for a great series and Auto Value for the title sponsorship, and UMARA. Theyre a great bunch to race with and we sure enjoy the co-sanctions and the extra competition. They always bring plenty."
Former ARCA Midget champion and veteran Jerry Nemire led at the onset from his outside front row starting position and began to pull away from the field and looked strong up through lap eight before the engine expired making way for Thinnes who had already raced his way to the front. Thinnes then refused continual challenges for the remainder of the event to earn the well deserved victory.
Jason Fuller, with his sixth place finish, won the 1999 ARCA Auto Value Midget Series Rookie of the Year honors. Veteran Nick Fornoro finished seventh ahead of two-time ARCA Midget Champion Rick Harrell who finished eighth. Phil Rutledge and Rich Corsen completed the top ten.
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