Break in ARCA Schedule Allows Kimmel Racing to Enhance Program

CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (March 9, 2009) – Frank Kimmel and the No. 44 Ansell/Menards team started the 2009 ARCA Racing Series season a little over a month ago in Daytona – completing the season opening event with a solid 11th place finish.

With the ARCA schedule structured in a way that provides an eight week hiatus in between the first and second races, Kimmel Racing is taking full advantage of the opportunity to ramp up their competitive spirit and off track presence in time for the bulk of the season to begin. The next race is just over three weeks away – at Salem Speedway on April 5th – and Kimmel and his family built race team are ready to continue the battle for another ARCA championship.

Despite the extended time off, Kimmel and his full time team have been busier than ever.

"In our particular case, this break has been a lifesaver," said Kimmel. "Our sponsorship program with Ansell and Menards came together late in January so this down time gives us the opportunity to get the cars ready and to enhance the program for Ansell, such as decaling the hauler, pit equipment, tool boxes and getting the crew in new Ansell/Menards uniforms."

In addition to all those changes, personnel and equipment elements have also been put in place to ensure a successful season.

"The biggest change we made right after Daytona was to hire on a full time crew," said Kimmel. "In the past we've worked mainly with volunteers to service this team, so to be able to go out and hire a crew that will work all year to improve Kimmel Racing was first and foremost on our list after Daytona. Once we were able to establish our team in that regard, the next thing to do was to get some better equipment."

To improve their stable of cars, Frank Kimmel and crew chief Bill Kimmel took a trip down to Concord, North Carolina to visit with Robby Reiser at Roush Racing.

"We drove down to Roush a few weeks ago and met with Robby Reiser to buy six new cars for this season," explained Kimmel. "We were able to get two intermediate cars, a superspeedway car, a road course car and two spare cars that will definitely come in handy throughout the next seven months."

After taking the green flag for race #2, Kimmel Racing will compete in 21 races between early April and October. The nonstop racing action requires the team to really use this down time to prepare for anything and everything that can happen over the course of the season.

"The ARCA schedule gets pretty rigorous in the middle of the season," said Kimmel. "Because it gets so hectic and with the team traveling to and from the events, it's very important to be prepared for that time by getting all our cars ready now."

Next stop for Kimmel Racing is the team's hometown race track – where the No. 44 car went to Victory Lane in its last outing at the .555 mile paved oval.

"We're really excited to get back to Salem," said Kimmel. "This is the car that we call the ‘Don' – it won at Salem last fall and it was also the car that won both dirt track events in 2008.

"Overall, the race at Salem is an important race for me and for this entire team because we're all from the area and we've got a big group there with us. We always look to run well in front of our friends, family and supporters."

Kimmel Racing, based in Clarksville, Indiana is 48 miles from Salem Speedway. In three weeks, Kimmel will return to Salem Speedway with the hopes of continuing his reign as the hometown hero and from there, he will forge a season long battle for a tenth series championship.