GERHART WINS DAYTONA OPENER
KIMMEL FINISHES 2ND AFTER STARTING LAST

2-14-05

     DAYTONA, BEACH, FL (February 12, 2005) –Bobby Gerhart won the season-opening ARCA RE/MAX Series Advance Discount Auto Parts 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday. The event was shortened from its scheduled 80 laps to 65 as a result of several crashes. At the finish, only 12 of the 41 starters were still running. Gerhart, who led 58 of the 65 race laps, started on the pole after earning the Pork Pole Award as the event's fastest qualifier in his own Lucas Oil Chevrolet. The 46-year-old driver from Lebanon, PA circled the 2.5-mile oval in 48.846 seconds (184.253 mph). The other story of the race was the effort of defending ARCA Series champion Frank Kimmel who finished runner-up to Gerhart after starting last in the field. Kimmel was forced to use a provisional to make the field after failing to complete technical inspections by the established deadline. 

     The race featured four leaders among three different drivers including Gerhart (1-27, 35-65), Matt Hagans (28-31) and Chad McCumbee (32-34). The 65-lap race was slowed six times for 39 laps and ended under caution as a result of an accident on lap 63 that took out 16 cars.

     Finishing in second place behind Gerhart was six-time ARCA RE/MAX Series champion Frank Kimmel driving the Advance Auto Parts-Pork Ford after starting 41st. J.J. Yeley finished in third place in his first-ever ARCA Series start. Yeley started ninth in the Joe Gibbs Performance Racing Oil Chevrolet. 

     Mike Guerity finished in fourth place followed by Matt Hagans, T.J. Bell, Joey Miller, Mike Harmon and Jeff Spraker in fifth through ninth, respectively. Norm Benning completed the list of top ten finishers claiming the tenth spot--one lap down.  

     Hoosier's ARCA Track Service Manager Doug Barnes commented, "Although the radial tires (12.0/28.0-15) were the same as what has been used the past few years, it was the first time the new compound codes (5133 left / 5744 right) were used." Barnes added, "New codes are implemented periodically as a safety precaution to prevent use of older tires."

     Gerhart stated after the race, "The (Hoosier) tires were good, very good." Gerhart was actually the driver who tested the (1") wider Hoosiers in 2001 that are now widely used in the series on Speedways. Interestingly, Gerhart won the following race at Daytona in 2002 after the successful testing. Gerhart also won at Daytona in 1999 bringing his career total to three wins and tying him with Iggy Katona for the most wins at the infamous Florida speedway.  

     The ARCA RE/MAX Series will be back in action March 26th at the 1.33-mile Nashville Superspeedway.