BROOKLYN MI (5-28-08)-Several ARCA RE/MAX Series teams traveled to Michigan Int'l Speedway on Wednesday to participate in a full day open test session in preparation for the series' June 13th appearance to the 2-mile oval. The race will mark the series' 27th appearance to MIS since 1980 and the ninth of 21 events on the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule. Jesse Smith, in a Jones Group Dodge, was unofficially quickest among the 16 drivers who participated; posting a time of 38.967 for a speed of 184.772 mph.
In four starts this season, Smith has posted two top-five finishes driving for the Amhertsburg, Ontario, Canada-based Jones Group Racing team. He was followed on the charts by Shelby Township, Michigan's Robb Brent, SunTrust Rookie/Toledo Speedway ARCA RE/MAX Series race winner Matt Carter, SunTrust Rookie John Wes Townley and Iowa race winner Matt Hawkins.
Erik Darnell, who found victory lane in last year's ARCA RE/MAX Series race at MIS, was among the drivers at MIS on Wednesday, serving as a mentor to fellow Roush Fenway Racing driver and current ARCA RE/MAX Series point leader Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. In all, six of the drivers currently in the top-10 in the series point standings participated in the MIS ARCA Open Test.
The full day open test also served as an opportunity for Michigan Int'l Speedway officials to debut the newest improvement to their facility; a $2.35 million scoreboard that touches the sky at 110 feet tall and features the latest in LED lighting and graphics.
The June 13th ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Michigan Int'l Speedway is part of the speedway's 40th anniversary celebration; other racing events that weekend include the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Cool City Customs 200 on June 14th and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series LifeLock 400 on June 15. Tickets are available for all events, including qualifying days. To order tickets, pit passes, camping or hospitality packages, call the MIS Ticket Hotline at 800-354-1010 or visit MISpeedway.com.
Before heading back to Michigan Int'l Speedway, the ARCA RE/MAX Series will travel to Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania for the Pocono 200 on Saturday, June 7th.
CONTACTS:
ARCA PR/Media, office (734) 847-6726
Don Radebaugh, cell (419) 450-0611
Jackie L. Franzil, cell (419) 574-2685
Unofficial Speeds, ARCA RE/MAX Series Open Test at Michigan Int'l Speedway (5-28-08)
| POS |
NO |
DRIVER/HOMETOWN |
TEAM & CAR |
TIME |
SPEED |
| 1 |
30 |
Jesse Smith/Wildwood MO |
Jones Group Racing Dodge |
38.967 |
184.772 |
| 2 |
00 |
Robb Brent/Shelby Township MI |
Orchard Chrysler Dodge Jeep Chevrolet |
39.078 |
184.247 |
| 3 |
46 |
Matt Carter/Denver NC |
Stine Seed-Ft Dodge Animal Health-Pork Ford |
39.139 |
183.96 |
| 4 |
09 |
John Wes Townley/Watkinsville GA |
Zaxby's-SPS Ford |
39.329 |
183.071 |
| 5 |
42 |
Matt Hawkins/Canton GA |
JaniKing-Racing Radios Dodge |
39.502 |
182.269 |
| 6 |
1 |
Tom Hessert III/Cherry Hill NJ |
Maaco Auto Painting-Boudreaux's Butt Paste Ford |
39.534 |
182.122 |
| 7 |
45 |
Michael Phelps/Suwanee GA |
Bowen Family Homes Dodge |
39.703 |
181.346 |
| 8 |
60 |
Patrick Sheltra/Indiantown FL |
Ferguson Pipe-FloraGanics-Aaron's Outdoors Dodge |
39.707 |
181.328 |
| 9 |
09X |
Clay Rogers/Mooresville NC |
Zaxby's-SPS Ford |
39.734 |
181.205 |
| 10 |
11 |
Bryan Silas/Stuart FL |
Nortrax-Shell Rotella T Chevrolet |
39.776 |
181.014 |
| 11 |
99 |
Ricky Stenhouse Jr./Olive Branch MS |
Roush Fenway Racing Ford |
39.785 |
180.973 |
| 12 |
37 |
Dexter Bean/Westby WI |
Glock Chevrolet |
40.119 |
179.466 |
| 13 |
66 |
Bryan Reffner/Stevens Point WI |
Bill Hendren Racing Chevrolet |
40.142 |
179.363 |
| 14 |
4 |
Tayler Malsam/Bellevue WA |
Dodge Driver Development Dodge |
40.227 |
178.984 |
| 15 |
12 |
Mario Gosselin/Lake Wales FL |
ElectrifyingCareers.com Chevrolet |
41.106 |
175.157 |
| 16 |
62 |
Larry Hollenbeck/Kalamazoo MI |
S.W.A.T. Fitness Ford |
41.626 |
172.969 |
