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ARCA: Kimmel surpasses Steele in ARCA money earnings

15 January 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

by Don Radebaugh

Toledo, Ohio - ARCA veteran and 98 champion Frank Kimmel continues to assault the ARCA record books; this time with dollars and cents.

Kimmel, upon completing his 10th season competing on the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series tour, became the 2nd million-dollar money-maker in ARCA history, and now the all-time leader in team earnings as well with $1,039,518. The popular Jeffersonville, Indiana driver surpassed 3-time ARCA champion Tim Steele in that category who is currently 2nd with $1,021,267.

"We only ran a total of 7 races in 90 and 91, so we didnt really get going until the 92 season," said Kimmel. "But if youre handing out accolades were sure appreciative of the honor. But if we do that, we need to steer them in the direction of our team owner Larry Clement. Hes the biggest reason for our success in ARCA. His win-win attitude coupled with undaunted determination is the driving force behind the 46. You cant excel in ARCA racing anymore without top-notch equipment, and were never without that. He gets more done before 6 AM than most of us do by noon. Weve got all the pieces and parts it takes to do this; the best car owner in ARCA, a great relationship with our ongoing sponsor Advance Auto Parts and a crew that refuses to lose. Were all very fortunate."

Theyre all very fortunate indeed, not to mention extremely effective. In addition to the money earned to go along with Kimmels 17 career victories, 12 with car owner Clement, 4 with Dan Falldorf and one with Terry Shirley, the Advance Auto Parts team has finished closer to the front more often than any other team in the 90s. In 169 career starts, Kimmel and crew have racked up 84 top-5 and 116 top-10 finishes and led 2,505 laps in 57 races. If you add that up in points starting with his first full season on the tour in 92, it will crank out 8 consecutive top-10 point finishes; 8th in 96 (did not compete in 10 races), 5th in 92, 93 and 95, runner-up in 94, 97 and 99 and champion in 98. Veteran Bob Strait is next in line in the top-5 and top-10 category with 76 and 101 respectively.

Given Kimmels track record in ARCA, one could easily assume that he will remain a perennial contender on the tour well into the new millennium. It all makes plenty of dollars and sense.

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