Allgaier, Kimmel Tied For Points Lead Following Construct Corps-Palm Beach Grading 250

[Schwartz Fan]

Allgaier, Kimmel Tied For Points Lead Following Construct Corps-Palm Beach Grading 250


LAKELAND FL (3-26-07) --Justin Allgaier left Lakeland tied for the lead in ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship Points with eight-time Series Champion Frank Kimmel after event two of the 23 race schedule. USA Int'l Speedway in Lakeland, Florida hosted the inaugural ARCA RE/MAX Series event where Allgaier charged from the 19th starting position to a fourth place finish in the Construct Corps-Palm Beach Grading 250.

"I had a blast out there last night," Allgaier said. "We pitted a couple times and got tires, fought our way through the traffic and ended up really good."



This was the inaugural race for the ARCA RE/MAX Series at the USA Int'l Speedway in Lakeland, Florida. Since they hadn't tested at the track and didn't have data to fall back on, the Allgaier Motorsports team worked strictly on race set-up during both practice sessions at the .75-mile banked racetrack. Allgaier, race ready, took his qualifying laps and posted a time of 22.676 seconds at a speed of 118.93 miles per hour, placing him in the 19th starting position in the 250 lap event.

"We felt it was more important to practice our race set-up," Allgaier said. "We didn't even make a mock qualifying run in practice. Larry (Moore) and I felt if we were ready for the race it wouldn't be as important where we started because a calm head and strategy would put us up front. I really like this Speedway; it's a mix between Martinsville and Milwaukee. The track has the size of Milwaukee but the corners of Martinsville and a long straight-a-way like Toledo (Speedway)."

After the green flag dropped, Allgaier strategically moved his way through the pack but reported to the crew the car was tight. Led by crew chief Larry Moore, the Allgaier Motorsports team took on four Hoosier tires and made minor adjustments to free up the car. Allgaier managed to avoid being a part of the 18 caution periods and persevered racing his way through the traffic in the caution laden 250 lap event. Allgaier worked his way to the fifth position when on the last turn, on the last lap, another competitor spun in front of him enabling Allgaier to score his first top-five finish of the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series season.

"What an eventful night," Allgaier said. "We almost got spun out a couple times but found our way to the fifth position when on the last lap we were really tight up off the corner and I think another car tried to out brake me into the corner and spun. Thankfully I didn't get caught up with him and brought home a fourth place finish for the team. I want to dedicate this finish to a mentor and friend of the team, Leroy ‘Trashman' Donley, who passed away recently and to thank everyone on this team for the hard work because it paid off for us tonight. I know it is only the second race of the season but I have to say it sure does feel good to be tied for the points lead with Frank (Kimmel). He is such a legend in this sport. It's too early to count points now but if we keep on doing what we did here and in Daytona you never know."

The ARCA RE/MAX Series is off for a few weeks but will take to the track Saturday April 7th at 12 noon for the running of the ARCA 150 at the Nashville Superspeedway.



The Official Website of ARCA - Allgaier, Kimmel Tied For Points Lead Following Construct Corps-Palm Beach Grading 250