---

ARCA: Bob Strait announces run for 2000 ARCA title

25 February 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Toledo, Ohio - The 2000 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series championship chase, arguably the most competitive in its 48-year existence, just got that much tougher. Veteran Bob Strait, one of the most experienced and feared warriors on the tour, has announced he will run for the championship this year with renewed impetus and a new deal.

After posting a win and a pole in Mark Thompsons #66 Midway Islands Ford in October of 99 at Talladega, the 15-time ARCA winner secured the ride permanently for the 2000 superspeedway schedule but was without a ride for the short-tracks. That was until Bill Hendren came calling with the opportunity to drive his short-track Chevrolet. "Were really fortunate thats for sure," said Strait from his auto body repair shop in Illinois. "Its a really nice car. We got the chance to run it last year for a few races, put it on the pole at Springfield and finished fifth at DuQuoin. The interesting part is well be running a Ford on the speedways and a Chevy on the short-tracks. But well have Rhyne Engines in both cars. We had a Rhyne engine in the Midway Islands car for our win at Talladega so I know well be in great shape under the hood."

Strait, who has been bouncing in and out of the ARCA series since 1986, had his career-best points finishes of 3rd in 98 and 5th in 97 in Jack Bowsher-prepared Fords but has never won the title. "I really feel with the opportunity Mark (Thompson) has given me on the speedways, and with Bill (Hendren) coming on board for the short-tracks, we have an honest shot at the ARCA title. The Midway Islands Ford is the finest superspeedway piece Ive ever sat in so you couple that quality with our short-track package and weve definitely got something for em. My brother Don and Bob Bissinger will continue to crew-chief our speedway cars, and right now it looks like the same bunch of guys that used to work with Ken Rowleys ARCA car will crew us on the short-tracks. Theres also a good chance that Bob Dotter (80, 83 and 84 ARCA champion) will serve as consultant to us on the short-tracks. So as you can see, were fully loaded and pumped to go after the championship."

Strait started the season off at Daytona with a 3rd place finish after qualifying outside pole, and is second in points behind Kirk Shelmerdine going into the April 30th Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem Speedway.

In 169 starts, Strait has tallied 77 top-5 finishes and 102 top-10s. In addition to his 15 wins and 16 poles, the Mokena, Illinois veteran has led a whopping 2,116 laps in 51 races. Straits wins came at Cloverleaf, Kil-Kare, Toledo, Delaware, DuQuoin, Salem, Winchester and Talladega.

Text provided by Don Radebaugh

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.