 JOLIET,
IL (August 28, 2009) -- Justin Lofton made quite a statement Friday at
Chicagoland Speedway. The 23-year-old ARCA RE/MAX Series driver led 55 of 100
laps and fought off the challenges of a final lap restart to win the Ansell
Cut Protection 150. Even more importantly, the California driver also
regained the lead in the driver standings from Parker Kligerman who has won six
races this season. It was Lofton's fourth win of the season and comes with six
races remaining in the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series season.
Forty cars were on hand for the race with 39 actually taking the green flag.
In qualifying, Brian Ickler earned his second career pole award as the
event's fastest qualifier. Ickler circled the 1.5-mile oval in 30.399 seconds
(177.637 mph). Jesse Smith was second with a time of 30.539 seconds (176.823
mph).
The race featured six leaders among three different drivers including; Brian
Ickler 1-24, 46-62 (41 laps), Justin Lofton 25-45, 63-85, 90-100 (55 laps) and
Parker Kligerman 86-89 (4 laps).
The race was slowed seven times for 33 laps.
The final caution came out in the race's closing moments and set up a
one-lap shootout to the finish.
While Lofton was in the lead for the final wave of the green flag, rookie
Grant Enfinger was on fresher tires and was lurking on Lofton's bumper.
Enfinger was able to get underneath Lofton exiting the final turn but was
unable to gain enough momentum to take the lead at the finish line.
Lofton was able to take the win by .074 seconds over Enfinger who settled
for a second place finish.
Hal Martin, making just his second series start, finished a career-best
third.
Brian Ickler, after starting from the pole, finished in fourth place
followed by 9-time series champion Frank Kimmel in fifth place.
With the win, Justin Lofton unofficially takes over the lead in the driver
standings by 55 points over Parker Kligerman after Kligerman ran out of gas on
the final lap of the race while running third.
The ARCA RE/MAX Series will be back in action this Friday, September 4, at
Toledo Speedway. Three day later, the series will return to the track for
another race on Labor Day at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.
For more information on the race at Chicagoland or the ARCA RE/MAX Series
visit www.arcaracing.com.
Hoosier Racing Tire Corp. is proud to be the official tire of the ARCA
RE/MAX Series.
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