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First Day Of Technical Inspections Productive For ARCA RE/MAX Series At Daytona

Teams Rolling into Daytona Garage Area: Competitive Field on Hand

DAYTONA BEACH FL (2-5-08)–From Formula One veterans to former ARCA RE/MAX Series champions, the entry list for the 45th running of the ARCA 200 at Daytona is nothing less than extraordinary. In all, more than 65 teams pulled their transporters into the ARCA RE/MAX Series garage area on Tuesday in time for the first day of technical inspections. Among the entrants are 13 former series winners, including Jeremy Clements, Bobby Gerhart, Kyle Krisiloff, Blake Feese, James Buescher, Mario Gosselin, Ken Butler III, Kirk Shelmerdine, Frank Kimmel, Bill Baird, Dawayne Bryan and Michael Annett.

Of the former series winners entered at Daytona, Gerhart is the only former Daytona winner entered. The Lebanon, Pennsylvania-based driver has a total of five Daytona victories to his credit, including the last three consecutive, making him the ARCA RE/MAX Series? all-time Daytona winner.

Busy Week of Technical Inspections Planned

On Tuesday, ARCA RE/MAX Series officials focused on fuel cell tech. On Wednesday, ARCA RE/MAX Series officials will issue laser-cut, anodized restrictor plates manufactured by Cometic with openings 7/8? in diameter. In addition, the ARCA RE/MAX Series will issue rear Bilstein shocks and rear Eibach springs to race teams through BSR Products. The series does not issue front springs or shocks but the equipment used on the racecar must meet minimum specifications.

Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Kicks Off At Daytona

Last season, ARCA RE/MAX Series car owner Ray Evernham and driver Erin Crocker earned Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge honors, marking the first time that a female driver has earned the award, which is a separate point fund for races on speedway ovals greater than one mile in length. Under the terms of a contract extension with long-time series sponsor Hoosier Racing Tire, the 2008 superspeedway challenge point fund increases 30 percent to $75,000 total, including $15,000 to the 2008 Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Champion.

The 2008 Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge kicks off with the ARCA 200 at Daytona on February 9th. Other superspeedway challenge events on the 2008 schedule include Kansas Speedway (April 26th), Kentucky Speedway (May 10th, July 18th), Pocono Raceway (June 7th, August 2nd), Michigan Int?l Speedway (June 13th), Nashville Superspeedway (August 9th), Chicagoland Speedway (September 6th) and Talladega Superspeedway (October 3rd).

Busy Race Week for Alli Owens

Daytona Beach, Florida native and electrifyingcareers.com driver Alli Owens is preparing for a very busy Speedweeks. In addition to making her career first ARCA RE/MAX Series attempt, the 19-year-old joined NASCAR driver Mike Skinner as Grand Marshal of the Inaugural Community Motorsports Parade on Saturday, February 2nd, 2008. In addition, Owens plans attend the Volusia County School District?s second Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebration at DeLand High School on February 6th, 2008 from 3-6 p.m.

Owens is not the only female competitor attempting to make the 43-car ARCA 200 at Daytona starting field. Phoenix, Arizona?s Gabi DiCarlo, who posted a 24th-place finish in her restrictor plate racing debut at Talladega Superspeedway in October of 2007, has entered the race in the No. 90 Great Clips-Lucas Oil Chevrolet fielded by Stringer Motorsports. She plans to compete in the entire 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule.

Country Joe Racing Becomes Win-Tron Racing

Country Joe Racing, a Minnesota-based ARCA RE/MAX Series operation with two Rookie of the Year titles (Joey Miller in 2005 and Blake Bjorklund in 2006) and numerous race wins in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, has changed their name to Win-Tron Racing beginning with the ARCA 200 at Daytona. Under the ownership of business partners Kevin Cywinski and Nate Thiesse, the team earned one win, five top-fives, ten top-10s and one ARCA SIM Factory pole award in 23 events in 2007. The new name, Win-Tron Racing, is a play on the team owner?s names, with ?Win? coming from three letters of Cywinski?s last name and ?Tron? coming from Thiesse?s nickname, Natron.

?It?s been a busy off-season for our organization,? said Thiesse. ?It?s nice to return to racing with our team upbeat, drivers locked and cars ready to go. Our performance won?t miss a beat this year, we?re just anxious to get back to the track. Dominick Casola tested very well with our ARCA program in Daytona last December and to have James Buescher back is a huge plus. We?re aiming towards an owner?s championship this year in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and we strongly believe we can make it happen.?

The team will field two Dodge Chargers during the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series season, including the No.?s 32 and 9. The team will also field a full-time United Speed Alliance Racing Hooter?s Pro Cup team with driver Matt Merrell.

New Number for Mike Harmon in 2008

ARCA RE/MAX Series veteran Mike Harmon, who finished 14th in the final driver?s point standings in 2007, has announced a new partnership with Florida-based Elite 2 Sports and Entertainment. Harmon will pilot the No. 24 D.A.B. Constructors, Inc. Chevrolet for Elite 2 Racing in the ARCA 200 at Daytona, marking a departure from the familiar No. 38 that Harmon has driven in previous seasons.

?I?m certainly looking forward to the start of the 2008 season and the ARCA 200,? Harmon said. ?I have a new 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that will be powered by Rhyne Competition Engines for this race. I?m also grateful to D.A.B. Constructors, Inc., RedHotFranchises.com, The Daily Buzz, and the Nick Jones Foundation for their support. The ARCA events at Daytona are always very competitive, but we?re excited about our chances with Elite 2 Racing.?

Harmon plans to compete in selected ARCA RE/MAX Series events as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series for Elite 2 Racing in 2008.

No Shortage of Open Wheel Drivers at Daytona

Former Formula One driver Scott Speed and 2007 INDY 500 winner Dario Franchitti are among the open wheel drivers-turned stock car racers entered for the 45th ARCA 200 at Daytona. Both drivers have previous ARCA RE/MAX Series restrictor plate experience via series starts at Talladega Superspeedway in October of 2007.

Speed, who plans to compete full time in the No. 2 Red Bull Toyota for Eddie Sharp Racing in the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series season, finished tenth at Talladega in October. Franchitti finished 17th in a Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge.

Other drivers with open wheel experience who have competed in the ARCA RE/MAX Series include Juan Montoya (two career starts in 2006, career best third at Talladega), Christian Fittapaldi (two career starts in 2003, career best tenth at Daytona), Danny Sullivan (One career start in 1981, career best sixth at Talladega), Rodger Ward (ARCA RE/MAX Series race winner at the Milwaukee Mile in 1959), Jimmy Bryan (ARCA RE/MAX Series race winner) Troy Ruttman (three-time ARCA RE/MAX Series race winner) and Johnny Parsons, Sr. (ARCA RE/MAX Series race winner in 1957).

ARCA 200 at Daytona Set for Saturday: Live on SPEED

Up to 43 full bodied ARCA RE/MAX Series stock cars are scheduled to take the green flag on Saturday, February 9th at 4:15 p.m. Eastern for the 45th running of the ARCA 200 at Daytona. The race will be broadcast LIVE on SPEED beginning at 4 p.m. The starting field for this year?s ARCA 200 at Daytona has been increased from 41 to 43 positions.

Positions one through 32 will be set by Friday?s SIM Factory Qualifying session. Positions 33-36 will be ?provisional starters? ? the top four teams highest in ARCA RE/MAX Series Owner?s Point Standings in 2007 not yet in the starting field. Positions 37-42 will consist of ?Golden A? Program Teams who competed in 100 percent of the series races in 2007 that are highest in 2007 owners points. Position 43 is reserved as a provisional starting position for any former ARCA RE/MAX Series champion driver whose car/team has not earned one of the previous 42 starting positions. If no past champion driver provisional is used, the position is available to a former series champion owner. If no past champions provisionals are used, the next eligible Golden A team will earn the 43rd starting position. If no additional Golden A teams are eligible for a provisional, the field will be set at 42.

For more information on the ARCA RE/MAX Series, visit www.arcaracing.com.

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