 DAYTONA,
FL (February 9, 2008) -- Michael Annett, making just his fifth ARCA RE/MAX
Series start, won the season-opening ARCA 200 at Daytona on Saturday. It was
the 21-year-old's second career win. Last season, Annett won at Talladega in
October giving Toyota its first-ever win in ARCA Series competition. After
qualifying third, the Des Moines, IA driver took the lead on lap 49 and led the
final 32 laps en route to the win. Annett finished three car lengths ahead of Justin Allgaier--the
son of Hoosier Tire Midwest owners Mike and Dorothy Allgaier. Bill Baird, the 1999 series champion,
finished third.
Sixty-five cars, competing on Hoosier radial tires, were on hand in Daytona
hoping to capture one of the coveted starting spots.
Justin Marks set the fastest time in qualifying. Marks circled the 2.5-mile
oval in 49.632 seconds (181.335 mph). Fellow Californian Scott Speed was second
with a time of 49.637 seconds (181.316 mph). Michael Annett was third in
qualifying giving Toyota the first three starting positions in Saturday's big
race.
Forty-three cars took the green flag with Scott Speed immediately jumping
into the lead. Overall, the race featured six leaders among five different
drivers including; Scott Speed 1-9, 17-23 (16), Justin Marks 10-16 (7) Tom
Hessert 24-44 (21), Bobby Gerhart 45-48 (4) and Michael Annett 49-80 (32). The
race was slowed for cautions six times for a total of 34 laps.
Recently, the ARCA season opener at Daytona has proven to be somewhat of a
caution-filled event and this year was no different with the "big
one" occurring on lap 30. That is when Kyle Krisilof and Justin Marks made
contact with each other which caused a huge mêlée involving 16 cars.
The wreck caused the race to be red flagged and, after a short delay to
fully clear the track, the race resumed. Unfortunately, 13 of the 16 cars
involved were unable to continue as a result.
At the finish, it was all Michael Annett who won by three car lengths over
Justin Allgaier who started 30th. Allgaier also won the Casite Hard Charger
Award for advancing the most positions during the
race.
Bill Baird finished in third place followed by last year's event winner
Bobby Gerhart. Gerhart was going for his fourth consecutive win in the Daytona
opener.
Last year's series champion Frank Kimmel finished in fifth place after a
disappointing qualifying run forced him to use a past champion's provisional to
make the starting field. Kimmel started the race 43rd en route to a fifth place
finish.
Tom Hessert finished in sixth followed by Landon Cassill, Dedwayne Bryan,
Brad Baker and Dario Franchitti to round out the top ten.
Tire sales and service for the event was provided by Hoosier Racing Tire's
track service team out of Lakeville, IN.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series is in its 56th year of competition. This season marks
the 14th consecutive year Hoosier has been the exclusive tire provider for the
ARCA RE/MAX Series.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series will contest 21 races this season. They return to
action next on April 13th at Salem (IN) Speedway.
The Salem race will debut Hoosier's new short track radial tire which will
be used at Salem, Berlin, Cayuga and Toledo Speedway's this year.
For more information about the ARCA RE/MAX Series visit their newly
redesigned website www.arcaracing.com.
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