| 2006 CHAMPIONSHIP RACE; WHO'S IN AND WHO'S OUT |
It's a long way from Daytona to DuQuoin, not to mention an enormous fulltime grind; but it's exactly what a growing number of teams are preparing for.....all the while earning their hard-earned share of glory in an increasingly competitive ARCA RE/MAX Series world. In 1999, Bobby Gerhart Racing wasn’t planning on running the full season. The BGR team was slated to run just the speedways, possibly an occasional short-track. But after opening the year with a win at Daytona and a solid sixth place finish at Atlanta, Gerhart found himself atop the point standings headed to the next event (Salem short-track), which was not originally on Gerhart’s schedule. As it turned out, Gerhart ended up running all the races in ’99 and finished a career-best third in points. After announcing plans to run 10-12 events in 2006, the Lebanon, Pennsylvania veteran could find himself in the same situation. “It really depends on what happens at Nashville,” said Gerhart, “but not entirely.” “We’ll probably run the first five races this year and see where we are. If we come away from Nashville as the point leader, or a top-five team, we really have no choice; we’ll go to Salem. “We’re not really set-up to run the short-tracks, but we could be if we need to be. Lucas Oil is on for 10 TV races this year. We’d need some help to run the rest. We’ve announced a limited schedule, but based on performance, that could change.” It could also change for Lake Wales, Florida driver Mario Gosselin, who finished a solid eighth at Daytona. Currently ninth in points, Gosselin, headed to Nashville, would need some help to run the entire schedule. “Right now, we’re pretty-well committed to coming to Nashville,” said Gosselin. “More than likely, we’ll also be bringing a second car….a rental deal. If we come out of Nashville up high in points, we’d have to think seriously about going to Salem; I’m just not sure how. We’d have to convert our Nashville car into a short-track car….change the brakes, suspension and go. “We’ve got two speedway cars and five other’s (intermediate and short-track) in the works, but honestly, we’d have to find some sponsorship to run the whole schedule. We just can’t do it otherwise. But, if we were leading the points after Nashville, we’d have to figure a way to get to Salem. I’ve wanted to run the whole (ARCA RE/MAX Series) schedule for years, but without help, we just can’t.” In 2005, Gosselin was fourth in points after the first two races (Daytona and Nashville) and did not make the trip to Salem. “It was really disappointing. We were fourth in points, but we just didn’t have it to go to Salem, so we fell off the deal and that was that.” Gosselin won at Nashville in 2003 keeping Clint Bowyer at bay to win the guitar. Headed to Nashville for the next event on tour – the PFG Lester 150 on April 15th LIVE on SPEED, Gerhart, as this year’s Daytona ARCA 200 champion, is the point leader over Robert Yates Racing development driver Matt McCall. However, McCall, after an impressive Daytona debut, will fall off the points chase when the series hits the short-track trail, as will series veteran Matt Hagans, who is currently third in points. Hagans is planning on giving up the seat in favor of newcomer Donny Lia, scheduled to run the remaining superspeedway events in 2006 for Hagans Racing. For Kevin Harvick’s driver Burney Lamar, who is currently fourth in ARCA RE/MAX Series points after Daytona, it’s another scenario. Lamar is scheduled to run just two more RE/MAX Series events in 2006 while chasing a full NASCAR Busch Series schedule for K.H.I. That brings us to Damon Lusk, who is currently fifth in points after Daytona. “We’re doing everything we can to make it possible to run the full (ARCA RE/MAX Series) schedule,” said Lusk. “We’ve been in meetings all morning discussing the what-ifs.” And what Lusk means by the 'what-ifs'….is…….what if he’s the point leader after Nashville? “What if we’re leading the points after Nashville? We’ve gone over that possible scenario. And, we go to Salem if that’s the case. We’re not sure exactly how yet, but we go.” Lusk is as serious about the possibility of chasing an ARCA RE/MAX Series championship as it gets. “We just built a brand-new, 15,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art race shop in Denver, North Carolina. It’s all brick, complete with plenty of shop space, meeting rooms, suites, you name it, it’s here. We’re serious about our racing program. “We’re just not 100% sure of our plans; but we should know in the next day or two. Regardless of what we do, I want to race somewhere where we can be competitive, and we know we can be in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. We’d love to give Frank (Kimmel) a run for the championship, and we should know very soon whether that’s going to be possible.” Currently sixth in points is 6’7” Dallas, Texas driver Ken Weaver, who already announced a full run for the 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series championship driving Dodges for Eddie Sharp Racing. After a very respectable third place points finish in his 2005 rookie season, Weaver is arguably in position to chase seven-time series champ Frank Kimmel for the ’06 crown. “Nothing is 100% in this world, but I’d say we’re 95% sure we’re running the whole thing this year,” said Weaver. “Now that we’ve seen all the tracks, I think we’re in a better position to chase Frank. We know that the competition in the ARCA RE/MAX Series is continually on the rise. Experience is the key to success in anything, so now that we have more of it, I’m more confident. Having raced with Frank for a full season now, I have a great deal of respect for what those guys are able to do. Again, it gets back to experience, and Frank’s got plenty of that. “In ARCA, you’re also running against Cup teams. We can’t match a Cup team’s technology and experience, so we have to drive the car harder. That’s what we’re planning on doing this year.” Right behind Weaver in points is third-generation racer Billy Venturini, who after sitting out much of the 2005 season to recover from injuries sustained at Daytona, is eager to get back in the fulltime chase, which Venturini Motorsports has every intention on doing. “The only thing that would keep Venturini Motorsports from giving Frank a run for the championship would be finances,” said Venturini. “Our plans are to race the complete schedule, and if we can get the proper funding, we’ll be able to compete at the level it takes to run with Frank.” TJ Bell came away from Daytona eighth in points. He’s also another who would like to chase the entire RE/MAX Series program. “My intention is to run the whole thing,” said Bell. “We’re definitely going to run Nashville and Salem, and see from there. Those two tracks (Nashville and Salem) are my favorite on the circuit.” Bell finished second at Salem last spring. “I love Salem and Nashville. I like the grip at Nashville (1.33-mile concrete). Sometimes it’s too grippy, and you can get in over your head, but I like it. “The way I look at it, we came away from Daytona ahead of Kimmel in points; and that’s what you have to do in this series to win. You’ve got to stay in front of that 46; and as long as we do that, we’ve got a shot at the title. Frank’s the man to beat there, period.” Rounding out the top-10 in points is Clinton, Michigan native Jason Hedlesky, whose respectable run at Daytona netted him 10th in points heading to Nashville. Hedlesky will be driving the 08 car for Hardcore Motorsports all year. Although he’s never run a full RE/MAX Series schedule, given the high-quality of the team itself, look for more respectable runs from the Hardcore Motorsports program in 2006. Interestingly enough, seven-time champ Kimmel rests (may not be the proper word) in 11th. “Actually, we were really pleased with our Daytona finish,” said Kimmel, who also finished 3rd at Daytona in his IROC debut. “We didn’t have the best car there, so given all that can happen in that race, we were happy to come out 11th. We’ll just go to Nashville and pick it up from there. Not sure which car we’re running at Nashville; we’ll decide after the test.” (ARCA RE/MAX Series open test on March 28). Kimmel’s quest for an eighth title will necessitate more manpower and grunt in ’06 with a fulltime, second team suited-up for rookie driver Ryan Foster. Kimmel and the Tri-State Motorsports team will field Foster’s Ford right from their New Albany, Indiana-based shop. The two-car team is coming as 46 and 47. “Anytime you add the extra effort to run a second team, it can take away from your primary operation. Ryan will be in well-prepared equipment this year with Joe Rhyne motors, and it’s going to take a certain amount of effort to make it happen." With the ever looming issue of financial concerns potentially getting in the way, there’s also fulltime aspirations from a number of teams/drivers this year including ’05 ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series champ Brett Rowe, Mark Gibson Racing’s Ryan Howard, newcomer Blake Bjorklund, Darrell Basham, Todd Bowsher, Norm Benning, Chad McCumbee, Johnny Leonard, Mike Harmon, Andy Belmont, Justin Allgaier, Eric McClure, Dexter Bean, Brad Smith, Tim Mitchell, Mike Koch and James Hylton. Also, count Chuck Weber, Brian Tyler, Walt Brannen, Brandon Knupp, Benny Chastain and others as drivers who are doing everything they can to ensure fulltime participation in 2006. Now add all the driver development teams in the mix and the plethora of continually incoming talent from all walks of motorsports, and the plot thickens. So who’s in for the ‘06 championship chase and who’s out? While we’ve narrowed it down some, it’s hard to nail down completely, but that only adds more drama. How ever the 2006 season unfolds, speculate as we may, it’s poised to be packed with plenty of flavor – ARCA RE/MAX Series style. From Daytona to DuQuoin, ain’t nothing like it on earth. Bubba….Bar the door……… NOTE: Still in a speculative mode, and based on the big, full-season points picture and understanding that some among the current top-10 will not stay, and just for grins, the current points could almost look like this headed to Nashville……
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