(10-17-09) - ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie and 2009 Blizzard Series late model champion Johanna Long is doing everything she can to keep her skills sharp behind the wheel of a racecar.
The Pensacola, Florida driver made the trek north this weekend to compete in the 38th annual Winchester 400 CRA Super Series show Sunday afternoon at Winchester Speedway. Long, who was fifth fastest in the final practice session, is entered in the no. 10 AES Human Resources-Panhandle Grading & Paving Chevrolet.
Other notables entered for the Winchester 400 include former ARCA RE/MAX Series winners' Chuck Barnes, Jr. and Kyle Busch. ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series veteran Danny Jackson (2nd in points in 2009) is also entered.
While Long headed north, Alli Owens headed south to Daytona Beach for the Biketoberfest weekend. She was asked to be a guest judge for a motorcycle contest at ROAR Motorcycles for Women. The contest is open to only women bikers but everyone is invited to join the party. Owens also has her race car on display, is signing autographs and holding a raffle for her racing helmet to raise money for The Infant & Children Sleep Apnea Awareness Foundation and SIDS. Once the weekend is over, it's back home to Mooresville, NC and to her new team Venturini Motorsports.
The Belmonts (Andy, Jennifer, Andrew, Kyle and Brett also blasted off Friday for Daytona for Biketoberfest. Andy's parents have a place just off Beach St. in Daytona. They will be spending time with Mom and Dad for the weekend, then back at it hard next week. This past week, the Andy Belmont Racing team spent the week moving the team from Mooresville, NC back to Lexington, NC, where they originally started their NASCAR Dash racing and ultimately won a championship. It will be an extremely busy month of October unloading 5 trailer loads of equipment and race cars and preparing customer cars for a NASA northeast event at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Halloween weekend.
Frank Kimmel will also be heading to Winchester Speedway on Saturday to help his son, Frank II, in the CRA Street Stock race, a 50-lap feature that's part of the Winchester 400 weekend. Frank II will be driving the no. 72 Monte Carlo owned by Frank Oriti of Hinckley, Ohio.
Bill Kimmel and his son Will are getting a car together this weekend in preparation for the October 25th Halloween 200 at Salem Speedway. Will will be piloting the no. 69 Chevy Nova owned by Bob Peters of Clarksville, Indiana.
Like the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series champion Justin Lofton, Steve and Trina Arpin are hanging out at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend working on things for next year. Next month, Arpin plans to travel west for some dirt modified racing in Las Vegas, Arizona, and New Mexico.
ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Joey Coulter, who finished fourth in points in 2009, is one of 47 entrants for this weekend's Mason Dixon 500 late model race at South Boston Speedway in South Boston, Virginia.
ARCA Marketing Director Daren Havens is having some friends over for the Florida vs. Arkansas game Saturday. On Sunday, he and his gal Jenn are taking the kids to the Erie Orchards in Erie, Michigan for hay rides and Halloween activities.
In addition to enjoying the beautiful cool, crisp, sunny fall weekend weather, ARCA PR/Media Director Don Radebaugh (on Saturday) is sanding, staining and varnishing his outdoor wood ceiling on the front porch in between updating the website - gotta cut grass too after running morning errands. He'll also be reading, walking and enjoying his kids. On Sunday, he will march with his daughters while they twirl baton for the Sylvania Twirling Stars in the annual Sylvania, Ohio Fall Festival Parade before checking in again online for web updates. Around the house, National Public Radio (NPR) will be on in the background. Go University of Toledo Rockets.....
