 KANSAS
CITY, KS (April 25, 2008) -- Veteran Formula One driver Scott Speed came from a
lap down to win Friday's Kansas Lottery $150 Grand race at Kansas
Speedway. Speed was making just his fifth series start en route to notching his
first-career win in the ARCA RE/MAX Series. Speed is the fourth different
driver, in four events, to win this year.
Forty-two cars were entered for Friday's race with 39 drivers posting times
in qualifying. Ken Butler III earned the pole for the event after circling the
1.5-mile oval in 30.799 seconds (175.330 mph). Butler's time set a new track
record smashing the old mark set last year by Justin Marks by nearly three
miles an hour.
Scott Speed was second fastest in qualifying with a time of 30.885 seconds
(174.842 mph). Both Butler and Speed are teammates at Eddie Sharp Racing.
The 100-lap race featured 11 different leaders among six different drivers.
Those leading during the event included; Scott Speed 1-14, 94-100 (21 laps),
Michael Annett 15-43 (29 laps), Robb Brent 44-46, 60, 76-90 (19 laps), Jeremy
Clements 47-49 (3 laps), Jesse Smith 50-59, 65-75, 91-93 (24 laps) and Patrick
Sheltra 61-64 (4 laps).
The race went green with Scott Speed jumping out to the early lead. Speed's
turn out front ended when he had to pit to re-attach his window netting which
had fallen down. Speed went a lap down as a result.
Speed used the mishap as motivation to work his way into position midway
through the race to earn the lucky-dog award for being the first car a lap down
when a caution came out.
Once back on the lead lap, the veteran open wheel driver fought his way
through the field to run second when a caution came out with less than ten laps
to go. Leader Jesse Smith and Speed opted to stay out while the rest of the
field pitted for new Hoosier rubber.
When the race resumed with seven laps to go, Speed motored past the the
18-year-old Smith to take over the race lead. Speed held on to capture his
first career win, while 17th starting Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. was able to capture
second place.
Jesse Smith finished a career-best third with Michael Annett and Robb Brent
rounding out the top five.
Jeremy Clements finished in sixth followed by Ken Butler III, Patrick
Sheltra, Gabi DeCarlo and Ryan Fischer in seventh through tenth,
respectively.
The race had just four cautions for a total of 19 laps.
Justin Allgaier, who entered the race as the series points leader, fell to
third after suffering engine failure on lap 83. Following strong performances
at Salem (3rd) and Iowa (4th), Matt Carter takes over the lead in the driver
standings with 805 points. Carter finished 11th in Friday's race. Defending
series champion Frank Kimmel, despite a disappointing 20th place finish,
retains second place with 765 points.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series is back in action May 4th at Rockingham
Speedway. The race will be broadcast LIVE on SPEED at noon (ET).
Hoosier is the official tire of the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
All ARCA competitors use Hoosier radial tires on paved surfaces
and Hoosier bias-ply tires at dirt tracks.
All ARCA RE/MAX Series races are serviced out of Hoosier's
corporate headquarters located in Indiana.
For complete race results and more information about the ARCA
RE/MAX Series visit their website at www.arcaracing.com.
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