TRADITIONAL EVENTS HEADLINE ACTION-

PACKED 2012 SALEM SPEEDWAY SCHEDULE

Local And Regional Divisions Also Well Represented

SALEM, IN, January 9 – Salem Speedway enters its 66th year of existence in 2012 with an action-packed line-up, featuring both the .555-mile high banked oval and the quarter-mile infield track.

The 2012 schedule, that includes 12 events and 14 days of on-track action, reflects an increased emphasis on “special events” with a continuing commitment to local and regional divisions.

“Our aim is to expand our traditional events and create a fun-filled family atmosphere for everyone to enjoy,” said Salem Speedway general manager Richard Deaton.  “Look for more entertainment at the races in 2012, including music, fireworks and kids activities.”

Among traditional events returning to the high banks in 2012 are spring and fall visits by the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.  The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 is set for Sunday afternoon, April 29th and the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Fall Classic 200 will take place under the lights on Saturday, September 15th.

The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 will mark the 91st appearance of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards at Salem since 1955.  No track has appeared more on the series schedule through the years than Salem.

A couple of Texans, Brennan Poole and Chris Buescher, pulled off surprising wins at Salem in 2011.  Poole, in his very first ARCA Racing Series start, won the spring race and Buescher was victorious in the fall.

The Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial, one of the most historic and longest running memorial races in the nation, headlines August action at Salem.  The 53rd annual sprint classic, featuring the Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series, unfolds on Saturday night, August 11th.

Past winners of the James/O’Connor Memorial include such legendary drivers as Bob Sweikert, A.J. Foyt, Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, Bobby Unser, Pancho Carter, Rich Vogler, Kenny Irwin Jr. and Tony Stewart.

A young 21-year-old Californian, JoJo Helberg, captured a thrilling 2011 James/O’Connor Memorial.  The 2012 classic is scheduled to be televised on a taped delayed basis to over 165 million homes throughout the United States.

The annual visit by the Midwest Oldtimers Vintage Race Car Club is also scheduled to take place in conjunction with the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial.

Late model racing takes center stage at Salem on Saturday night, June 16th, as the Ken-Ten Pro Late Model Series returns for the Midwest 200.  The evening of racing action, that also includes the Lucas Oil Great American Stocks, O’Reilly Auto Parts Pure Stocks and Salem Speedway Front Wheel Drive Stocks, will be topped off with a 100-lap late model feature and 100-lap main event for the Great American Stocks.

The Lucas Oil Great American Stocks, one of Kentuckiana’s fastest growing divisions, is in the spotlight as the support division for three major Salem Speedway events in 2012 – both the spring and fall ARCA races and the Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial.   

The Top Speed Modified Tour visits the high banks on Saturday night, May 19th for the Spring Speed Fest.  A great night of racing action, which also includes the Lucas Oil Great American Stocks, O’Reilly Auto Parts Pure Stocks, Salem Speedway Front Wheel Drive Stocks and the second annual Salem Speedway “Faster Pastor Race”.  The evening of on-track activities will be capped off with a fireworks show.

The much anticipated return of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Champions Tour is set for Saturday night, June 2nd.  The 12th annual Hoosier Classic Truck & Tractor Pull will feature the ground-pounding power of three “national” pulling divisions.

Other traditional events planned for 2012 include the 23rd annual Firecracker 200 on Wednesday, July 4th and the season ending Smoker Friendly Discount Tobacco Halloween 200 on Sunday, October 28th.

The Halloween 200 has been expanded for 2012, with racing to take place on both Saturday and Sunday. The 24th annual classic gets underway on Saturday with the “Halloween 200 Prelude”, featuring racing on the infield short-track for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Pure Stocks and Salem Speedway Front Wheel Drive Stocks. The traditional Halloween 200 practice will also take place on Saturday.

The 2012 Salem Speedway season kicks-off on Sunday afternoon, April 1st with the second annual Taco Bell/Pizza Hut Express Short-Track Festival.  The O’Reilly Auto Parts Pure Stocks and Salem Speedway Front Wheel Drive Stocks will be sharing the quarter-mile oval with the FAST Series Legends Cars, Bandoleros and Thunder Roadsters.

The Short-Track Festival is one of four 2012 Salem Speedway events featuring racing action exclusively on the infield short-track.

According to track management, additional events and racing divisions, including figure 8 races for the Pure Stocks and Front Wheel Drive Stocks, could be added to the 2012 Salem Speedway schedule.

Additional information concerning 2012 activities at Salem Speedway, including ticket information, may be obtained by calling (812) 883-6504 or toll free 1-888-246-7223 or by accessing the Speedway web site at www.salemspeedway.com.  Salem Speedway is also on Facebook.

MID-SOUTHERN SAVINGS BANK TO CONTINUE

SUPPORT OF GAS HARD CHARGER AWARD

SALEM, IN, January 20 – Mid-Southern Savings Bank has renewed sponsorship of the Hard Charger Award for the Lucas Oil Great American Stock division for the 2012 season reports track management.

Mid-Southern Savings Bank, with locations in Salem, Orleans and Mitchell, will present a $100 bonus to the “Mid-Southern Savings Bank Hard Charger” at each 2012 Lucas Oil Great American Stock race.  The hard charger award goes to the driver registering the greatest improvement from starting to finishing position.

Mid-Southern Savings Bank, Washington County’s only locally owned and operated bank, has been serving the Kentuckiana area since 1886.

RACING ELECTRONICS TO CONTINUE AS OFFICIAL

COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDER FOR SALEM SPEEDWAY

SALEM, IN, January 11 - Salem Speedway officials recently announced that Racing Electronics will continue as the “Official Communications Provider” for the historic high banked track during the 2012 racing season.  That marks the 17th consecutive year for the Concord, NC, company to serve in that capacity.

“We’re certainly pleased to continue our longstanding relationship with Racing Electronics,” said Salem Speedway general manager Richard Deaton.  “Bruce Silver and all the fine folks at Racing Electronics have served us well for many years.”

Racing Electronics manufactures and supplies a complete line of Race Communication products and accessories, and has been serving the professional driver and pit crew as well as the race fan for over 20 years.

For more information on Racing Electronics and their full line of products visit their web site at www.racingelectronics.com.

KENTUCKIANA FORD DEALERS EXTEND SALEM

ARCA SPONSORSHIP THROUGH 2013 SEASON

SALEM, IN, Dec. 12 – The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers have agreed to title sponsorship of the spring and fall ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards events at Salem Speedway for the next two years reports track management.  The Kentucky and Southern Indiana Ford dealer advertising group recently signed an agreement extending its sponsorship of the popular races through the 2013 season.

“We are extremely pleased to have the continued support of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers for both of these events at Salem Speedway,” said track general manager Richard Deaton.  “The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers are instrumental in helping position the spring and fall races among the top short-track events on the ARCA schedule.”

The 2012 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 will take place on Sunday, April 29th and the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic is set for Saturday, September 15th.

Since 1955 a total of 91 ARCA events have been contested on the .555-mile oval.  Former Salem winners in ARCA competition include some of the top names in motorsports, including Troy Ruttman, Benny Parsons, Bobby Allison, Ken Schrader, Jack Bowsher, Ramo Stott, Iggy Katona and others.

A couple of Texans, Brennan Poole and Chris Buescher, pulled off surprising wins at Salem in 2011.  Poole, in his very first ARCA Racing Series start, won the spring race and Buescher was victorious in the fall.

Ticket orders are currently being accepted for both 2012 ARCA events at Salem Speedway.  To place your order call 812-883-6504 or toll free 1-888-246-7223

ARCA RACING SERIES RELEASES FULL

SCHEDULE FOR 60th ANNIVERSARY SEASON

(TOLEDO, Ohio) - The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) has released the 2012 schedule for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. Twenty events - up from 19 in 2011 - will comprise the diverse combination of speedways, short tracks, dirt tracks, and a road course in the series' 60th Anniversary Season.

"Each of the venues on the 2012 schedule is very important to the identity and industry position of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards," said ARCA president Ron Drager. "The geographic coverage represented by the markets we'll be racing in and the overall number of races are good fits for the series."

In the ARCA Racing Series' 49th consecutive February Speedweeks appearance, Daytona International Speedway will host the season-opening Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on Saturday, February 18. The race will precede that evening's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

The 2012 ARCA Racing Series schedule will conclude with the series' championship event at Kansas Speedway on Friday, October 19. In between, the series will appear in 18 other races at a wide variety of venues, setting the most versatile schedule in motorsports.

ARCA's first visit to Mobile International Speedway in Alabama will be the season's second race on Saturday, March 10. Another new track - Minnesota's Elko Speedway - appears on the ARCA schedule for the first time, with a race on Saturday, June 2. The ARCA Racing Series has never raced in Minnesota, adding significance to the June visit to Elko and establishing the North Star State as the 29th visited by ARCA's premier national tour since 1953.

Toledo Speedway - ARCA's home track - will host the series on Sunday, May 20.

ARCA Racing Series teams will compete in July at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis over the Brickyard 400 weekend, following ARCA's 2011 return to the track for the first time in 26 years. The exact date of the race will be determined shortly.

Additional short tracks returning to the ARCA Racing Series schedule include Salem (Ind.) Speedway on two weekends, Winchester (Ind.) Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Berlin (Mich.) Raceway, and Madison (Wis.) International Speedway.

Talladega Superspeedway will host its 50th ARCA Racing Series race on Friday, May 4, and Pocono Raceway will host two race dates for the 25th consecutive year, in June and August. Additional speedway events scheduled to return in 2012 include races at Michigan International Speedway and Chicagoland Speedway.

Contributing to the long-recognized diversity of the ARCA schedule will be the traditional mile dirt races in August at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and in September at the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds. Road course racing is in the plan for the fifth consecutive year, as the 2.25-mile Thunderbolt Raceway at New Jersey Motorsports Park will host ARCA on the first day of July.

Companion events in 2012 include race weekends with the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series, as well as the USAC Silver Crown Series, the ARCA CRA Super Series, and the ARCA Truck Series.

The full 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule is as follows:

Saturday, February 18 - Daytona International Speedway

Saturday, March 10 - Mobile International Speedway

Sunday, April 29 - Salem Speedway

Friday, May 4 - Talladega Superspeedway

Sunday, May 20 - Toledo Speedway

Saturday, June 2 - Elko Speedway

Saturday, June 9 - Pocono Raceway

Friday, June 15 - Michigan International Speedway

Sunday, June 24 - Winchester Speedway

Sunday, July 1 - New Jersey Motorsports Park

Friday, July 13 - Iowa Speedway

Saturday, July 21 - Chicagoland Speedway

To be determined - Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis

Saturday, August 4 - Pocono Raceway

Saturday, August 11 - Berlin Raceway

Sunday, August 19 - Illinois State Fairgrounds

Sunday, August 26 - Madison International Speedway

Monday, September 3 - DuQuoin State Fairgrounds

Saturday, September 15 - Salem Speedway

Friday, October 19 - Kansas Speedway

The ARCA Racing Series will wrap up the 2011 season with the Championship Awards Banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati, on Saturday, December 10.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards featured 19 events at 16 tracks on its 2011 schedule. The series has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. In 2011, the series has tested the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course.

Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.

TRACK CHAMPIONS AND OTHERS HONORED DURING

SALEM SPEEDWAY 23rd ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

SALEM, IN, Nov. 14 – Track champions were crowned and numerous other honors were handed out at the 23rd annual Salem Speedway Awards Ceremony on Sunday afternoon.

Over 175 drivers, owners, mechanics, sponsors and guests gathered at Cornerstone Hall in Salem for the season ending event.  The top 10 finishers in all four Salem Speedway divisions were among the honorees.

The afternoon of festivities was highlighted by the distribution of season prize money and contingency awards to the teams in attendance.

Season champions honored were Todd Kempf of Huntingburg, Ind., Lucas Oil Super Stocks; David Bayens of Memphis, Ind., Dave & Deb’s Winner’s Circle Great American Stocks; Mike Kestler of Louisville, Global Assembly Pure Stocks and Bill Grant of Clarksville, Ind., Six Sigma Front Wheel Drive Stocks.

Rookie of the Year honors went to Kenneth Owens of Whiteland, Ind. (Super Stocks), Jeff Caudell of Scottsburg, Ind., (Great American Stocks), Todd Whitfield of Clarksville (Pure Stocks) and Bill Growe of Jeffersonville, Ind. (Front Wheel Drive Stocks).

Six Sigma Crew Chief of the Year awards were presented to Kurt Kempf (Super Stocks) and Eddie Bayens (Great American Stocks).

Todd Kempf won the Stewart Automotive & Transmission Performance Award for the Super Stock division by completing 225 out of 225 laps during the 2011 season.  In the Great American Stock division the award went to David Bayens and Shawn Smith, who completed 350 out of a possible 350 laps in feature competition.

Blaise Abbott was recipient of the Salem Speedway Volunteer of the Year Award and Richard Deaton was presented the Boyd Smedley Memorial Award presented annually by radio station WUME-FM.

Prior to the awards ceremony Salem Speedway owner Owen Thompson spoke to the gathering about future plans for the historic half-mile track.  The 2012 season, the 66th for the venerable oval, is scheduled to kick-off in April.

ThorSport RACING ANNOUNCES ENTRY INTO

ARCA RACING SERIES WITH FRANK KIMMEL

(SANDUSKY, Ohio) - ThorSport Racing, the longest-tenured team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with over 500 active entries since 1996, announced today its plans to continue its growth model by fielding a full-season ARCA Racing Series team in 2012. Nine-time ARCA Racing Series champion Frank Kimmel will drive the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Chevrolet under the ThorSport Racing banner in 2012.

Kimmel will kick off his partnership with ThorSport Racing by running the championship finale of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season at Homestead-Miami Speedway November 18. He will join new teammates Matt Crafton, Johnny Sauter, and Dakoda Armstrong - all running in their respective trucks - by piloting a fourth entry, the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Chevrolet Silverado at the Ford 200.

"This is an exciting move for ThorSport Racing, and we're looking forward to growing together with the ARCA Racing Series and long-term with Frank Kimmel and his team," said Matthew LaNeve, vice president of motorsports partnerships for ThorSport Racing. "Frank obviously has a pedigree of success within the series, as well as a history of setting the bar high for the rest of the field. ThorSport has had a long-standing pattern of excellence and championship-caliber teams in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Matt Crafton, Johnny Sauter, and now rookie Dakoda Armstrong. We felt this was the right move at the right time."

ARCA, or the Automobile Racing Club of America, is an auto racing sanctioning body founded in Toledo, Ohio in 1953 by John Marcum. The ARCA Racing Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars used in the ARCA Racing Series were previously used in NASCAR. 

"The level of competition in the ARCA Racing Series has impressed us, and we felt this was a great opportunity with Frank," said David Pepper, team manager and competition director for ThorSport Racing. "With our NASCAR resources and knowledge base, as well as being geographically close to many of the ARCA races, we felt it was a natural fit. This partnership not only forges a great relationship for competitive racing in our organization; it also encourages job growth in the North Coast as we continue to seek out exceptional talent in the area."

"The ARCA Racing Series prides itself on being at the cusp of growth for its fans and teams each year, which makes this partnership an exciting one for our 2012 season," said Mark Gundrum, vice president of marketing and communications for ARCA. "ThorSport Racing will provide a great opportunity for Frank to meet his goals, and should provide Ansell, Menards, and ARCA with additional business-to-business avenues and opportunities. We welcome ThorSport to ARCA with open arms. The organization is a first-class, proven contender and we're thrilled to add their competitive experience to our top series. We look forward to watching not only the relationship grow, but also the competition intensify on track for our fans and SPEED viewers."

"It has been a pleasure to have Frank Kimmel represent Ansell in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards the last three years," said Steve York, director of channel and vertical development for Ansell. "As our representative, Frank reflects the qualities of Ansell's employees worldwide - dedication, loyalty, and a desire to be the best at what we do. We are thrilled to partner with Menards along with ThorSport Racing as they also exemplify these qualities as a proven winner on and off the track. Ansell looks forward to a very successful season and the presentation of Frank's 10th ARCA Racing Series championship trophy."

"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to work with ThorSport Racing in 2012," said Kimmel. "It's a great opportunity to work with the best in class - from a world-class shop and staff to resources of such a strong organization. These guys know how to run for championships, and I think I've shown a few times that I can do the same. I'm ready to get back into the seat in Daytona and charge for the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards championship together! To be able to kick everything off in Homestead is just icing on the cake - Matt Crafton and I have raced together for years as fellow 'Menards teammates;' I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone on the competition side and making a great run there for the team."

About ThorSport Racing

ThorSport Racing, based in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured active NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport Racing's first race came at the Milwaukee Mile on July 6, 1996. NASCAR's only Ohio-based team, which has run full-season schedules annually beginning in 1998, currently runs the No. 88 Menards Chevrolet driven by Matt Crafton; the No. 13 Safe Auto/Curb Records Chevrolet driven by Johnny Sauter; and the No. 98 Ferrell Gas/Agrisure Chevrolet driven by Dakoda Armstrong.

ThorSport Racing has wheeled into Victory Lane with Terry Cook, Matt Crafton, and Johnny Sauter since its inception and has finished a dominating seven times within the top 10 in points with both trucks. In April 2011, Sauter wheeled into Victory Lane at Martinsville Speedway. In 2009 and 2010, both Crafton and Sauter finished in the top five in driver points. In 2011, ThorSport Racing moved into a state-of-the-art, world-class 100,000-square foot racing facility in Sandusky. 

About Frank Kimmel

Frank Kimmel is one of the most recognized faces in ARCA history. A record-setting nine-time driving champion (1998 and 2000-2007), Kimmel has 74 wins in 430 ARCA Racing Series starts, with a record 10,334 laps led in that time. He is ARCA's all-time leading superspeedway lap leader and all-time leading superspeedway pole winner, and also finished as the second-place driver in 1994, 1997, 1999, and 2008.  Kimmel's 236 top-fives and 317 top-10 finishes are records for active ARCA drivers, and his 42 career Menards Pole Awards comprises a total one fewer than Iggy Katona's record 43. He has finished in the top 10 in ARCA Racing Series points in 20 consecutive seasons. The 1992 ARCA Rookie of the Year, Kimmel is the all-time leading money winner in the series with over $4 million in career earnings. He is the only driver to have been invited from ARCA to compete in the International Race of Champions (2006), and has also competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide, and Camping World Truck Series. Kimmel was the track champion at Charlestown (Ind.) Speedway in 1986 and 1987, and the champion at Louisville (Ky.) Speedway in 1989.

KEMPF, BAYENS, KESTLER AND GRANT

CAPTURE SEASON CHAMPIONSHIPS AT SALEM

SALEM, IN, October 4 – Todd Kempf, David Bayens, Mike Kestler and Bill Grant walked away from Sunday’s Scott County Visitors Commission Season Championship Classic at Salem Speedway with season titles in tow.

Kempf of Huntingburg, Ind., captured the Lucas Oil Super Stock championship, while Bayens of Memphis, Ind., claimed the Dave & Deb’s Winner’s Circle Great American Stock title.  Kestler of Louisville won the inaugural Global Assembly Pure Stock championship and Grant captured the track’s first Six Sigma Front Wheel Drive Stock title.

Kempf, the 2004 and 2005 Super Stock champion, finished just one point (601-600) in front of former track champion Chris French of Vine Grove, Ky., to claim his third Salem title.

Veteran Tony Johnson (566) of Louisville finished third in the final standings, with Mike Sharp (563) of Cox’s Creek, Ky., fourth and Jerry Norris (536), who has been racing for over 50 years, fifth.

Bayens held off a fast closing Shawn Smith of Louisville to win his second Salem Speedway championship on Sunday.  Bayens, who finished 16 points in front of Smith (694-678) was the 2006 Great American Stock champion.

Kyle Hadley of Louisville, whose memorable 2011 season included two victories, finished third (666) in the standings, with Justin Pirtle (552) of Salem fourth and Jay Baker (546) of French Lick, Ind., fifth.

Kestler finished just 12 points (606-594) in front of Travis Rogers of Jeffersonville, Ind., in winning the Pure Stock championship.  Those two were a fixture at the top of the standing all season long, as they won three races each during the year.

Todd Whitfield (528) of Sellersburg, Ind., finished a distant third in the standings, with Jeffersonville drivers, Tim Donohoo (463) and Tom Donohoo III (435), fourth and fifth respectively.

The Six Sigma Front Wheel Drive Stock championship ended up being decided by a tie breaker as Bill Grant and Matt Schindler of Jeffersonville ended the season with 599 points each.  The number of victories during the season was then used to determine the champion and Grant prevailed with three wins to two for Schindler.

Wesley Napier (575) of New Washington, Ind., finished third in the final Front Wheel Drive standings, with Bill Growe (541) of Jeffersonville fourth and Austin Baum (515) of Shepherdsville, Ky., fifth.

Race winners on Sunday included Matt Erich of Indianapolis (Super Stocks), Kyle Hadley (Great American Stocks), Travis Rogers (Pure Stocks) and Bill Grant (Front Wheel Drive Stocks).

Racing returns to the high banks of Salem Speedway on Sunday, October 30th, for the 23rd annual Smoker Friendly Discount Tobacco Halloween 200.

Tickets, both reserved and general admission, are currently selling for the Halloween 200 and may be purchased by calling 883-6504 or toll free 1-888-246-7223.

BUESCHER WINS ARCA FALL CLASSIC;

ALL THREE KIMMELS FINISH STRONG

(SALEM, Ind.) - After zero wins in the first 15 races of the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season, Chris Buescher has doubled his career victory total in just the last 13 days.

Buescher (No. 17 Jasper Engines & Transmissions/Reliance Tool/David Ragan Ford Ford) led 104 of 200 laps, including the last 37, to win the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic presented by Federated Car Care at Salem Speedway. The victory was the fourth in Buescher's career, and his second straight in ARCA Racing Series competition. He also drove to victory on September 5 in DuQuoin, Ill.

Currently second in points, the Roulo Brothers Racing driver is just the second person with multiple ARCA victories this season, following points leader Ty Dillon's seven in the first 17 races.

"It's such a great feeling here at Salem," Buescher said. "We've had good runs here and suffered here, but it's just amazing for all these fans. This turned out absolutely incredible and it always is. I hope we put on a show for everybody and I hope they enjoyed it.

"Thanks to all these guys, the Roulo Brothers, and Jasper for coming on board here with David Ragan and Roush. There are so many people that have helped us get to this point. Two in a row: that's a first for me in this series. It's a ball."

Buescher had also won twice at Toledo Speedway in his career, but the Salem win was meaningful to him, as it came at the track where he made his first ARCA Racing Series start in 2009. Buescher then started ninth and finished fourth at the high-banked, 0.555-mile oval.

"This is where I made my first start, and now I finally get back and get a win here," he said.

Will Kimmel of Sellersburg, Ind. finished a career-high second after leading 79 laps at his home track. Kimmel (No. 68 Clarksville Schwinn & Cyclery/Jones Group International Ford) ended the night just ahead of Tim George Jr. (No. 31 Applebee's/Potomac Family Dining Group Chevrolet).

Clint King (No. 25 Warehouse Design Inc. Chevrolet) started the race as the man to beat, having driven his Venturini Motorsports entry to the Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell for the second time in his two starts. The 16-year-old also started first before finishing third in his series debut in Oregon, Wis. on August 26, his birthday.

Right after the green flag, though, Buescher served notice that his performance in leading practice was something he could repeat in race conditions. He charged ahead of King at the start, moving out to a 0.462-second lead after one lap. Chad Hackenbracht (No. 58 Tastee Apple Chevrolet) did the same from the fourth starting position, advancing to third over King's Venturini Motorsports teammate, Max Gresham (No. 55 Live Oak Plantation/World Crown 300 Chevrolet).

The lead pack began to encounter traffic just four laps into the race, but all escaped and drove by without harm. On Lap 7, though, Hackenbracht made slight contact with King driving off of the second turn, cutting King's left rear tire and sending him into a spin in Turn 3. Saddled with heavy damage, the pole winner's night was over before it began.

Hackenbracht moved into second, followed by Gresham, Tom Hessert (No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet), and Grant Enfinger (No. 36 Hoosier Tire Midwest/RaceTires.com Dodge). The green flag flew again at Lap 12, and Buescher coasted again. He led by 0.813 second at Lap 18, and then moved inside a lapped car while the three drivers behind him got bunched up the next time around. The increased traffic in his wake added 0.3 second to his margin, and he continued to maintain a lead of more than a second through the first 25 laps.

Meanwhile, Dillon experienced an uncharacteristic night in traffic. After qualifying 14th, the points leader moved to 10th by Lap 20, but still faced a deficit of over four seconds to Buescher's lead.

Back at the front, Hackenbracht gained on Buescher over Laps 28 and 29, but Buescher moved back to his previous margin by Lap 32. The top five next encountered a pack including Milka Duno, Brett Hudson, and Matt DiBenedetto, passing them all by Lap 40. The lapped trio separated the top five from the sixth through 10th cars, creating a sizable gap between identical five-car packs.

Gresham, though, suffered a cut tire in the second turn on Lap 42; he was forced to drive to pit road. The top four continued on, with Buescher still leading the way by just under a second.

Buescher led Hackenbracht, Hessert, Enfinger, and Chad McCumbee (No. 1 ModSpace Ford) at Lap 50, having held a tight grasp on the point for the full first quarter of the race. Will Kimmel made his way to the top five the lap after that, though, passing McCumbee for position. Soon after, Jared Marks (No. 12 Dodge Motorsports/Mad Croc Dodge) drove by McCumbee for sixth.

Behind them, Dillon had improved to ninth, but faced heavy challenges from a father and son duo: Frank Kimmel (No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford) and Frank Kimmel II (No. 77 Mars Trucking/Jim French Builder Ford). The Kimmels weren't the only ones chasing Dillon, though.

As Buescher passed Darrell Basham's lapped car to start Lap 65, he had Dillon in his sight and was ready to put the points leader one lap down. Just then, though, Hackenbracht cut a tire from second place to bring out a caution flag. Hessert followed Hackenbracht to pit road; suddenly, Buescher's two main pursuers were out of the mix and the back of the lead lap bunched up to the front.

Frank Kimmel II stayed out when the leaders pitted to close Lap 67, taking the Lap 68 lead over cousin Will Kimmel, who had won the race off of pit road. Enfinger, Buescher, and George filled out the top five.

The green flag flew at Lap 71, with Will Kimmel passing his cousin immediately. Will Kimmel began to show just how valuable his Salem Speedway experience had been, driving away from Frank II as Enfinger and Buescher followed him in the top three. Those three ran tightly as the green flag run wore on, slightly dropping George and McCumbee off the pace.

The middle of the race belonged to Will Kimmel. He led through a caution brought about by a multi-car incident at Lap 87, and stayed up front through Lap 100, the race's halfway point. Meanwhile, Frank Kimmel had advanced to third, trailing Buescher. Will Kimmel was the first to lap Dillon by Lap 111, and Buescher and Frank Kimmel followed him the next time around. Max Gresham's lapped car separated Will Kimmel from Buescher and his uncle, staking him out to a 1.47-second lead at Lap 115. Frank Kimmel passed Buescher for second on Lap 119, and that competition helped Will Kimmel; his lead increased to 2.112 seconds on that lap.

Will Kimmel lapped Dillon again on Lap 125, with his uncle following closely behind. The green flag run continued. From a 2.486-second advantage at Lap 131, Will Kimmel increased his lead over his uncle to 2.983 seconds in three laps.

Racing in the family's home state, the third Kimmel rushed to join the family fun at the front. Frank Kimmel II passed into third at Lap 138, and began a run in which the top of the scoreboard read Kimmel-Kimmel-Kimmel. Will Kimmel's lead extended to 4.53 seconds in that span, but George broke the string by passing Frank II for third on Lap 147 - just as Levi Youster spun to bring out another caution flag.

Will Kimmel led the lead lap drivers - by this time, just the other Kimmels, George, Buescher, and Hackenbracht - to pit road to close Lap 150, and Frankie Kimmel used a two-tire stop to take the first spot at the pit exit along the backstretch. George, Will Kimmel, Frank Kimmel, Buescher, and Hackenbracht followed in that order.

Frank Kimmel II got away clean at the Lap 154 green flag, using Hessert's lapped car as a pick between him and the other five contenders. Buescher passed for third quickly and aimed to the outside to take second from George on Lap 160, but could not complete that pass. His battle with George allowed Will Kimmel to catch up even as Hackenbracht and Frank Kimmel had fallen from the lead pack, creating a tight four-car line separated by only a half-second.

Buescher passed George for second on Lap 163, all while moving to within 0.081 second of Frank Kimmel II's lead. Buescher made the last pass he would need on Lap 164, proving that his car had been the one to beat all along. One lap later, his lead was more than one second; he doubled that advantage in just two more trips around the 0.555-mile bullring.

Several cautions slowed the final quarter of the race, as Hackenbracht dropped fluid on the track and George made contact with Kimmel II. Buescher weathered every caution period and every restart, setting himself up for a clean run ahead of Will Kimmel, George, Marks, Frank Kimmel, and DiBenedetto on the final green flag at Lap 194.

Buescher led by 0.625 second at Lap 195, 0.841 seconds with two laps to go, and finished 1.186 seconds ahead of Will Kimmel to drive to victory for the second straight race.

George finished third, despite front end damage from his late contact with Frank Kimmel II.

Marks, of Napoleon, Ohio, scored a career high by driving home fourth, and nine-time Salem winner Frank Kimmel ended the evening in fifth place.

DiBenedetto, Frank Kimmel II, Dillon, McCumbee, and Gresham filled out the top 10. Dillon had been three laps down, but earned the Aaron's Lucky Dog late in the race to finish just two laps off the pace while running speeds similar to the leaders. He maintained his points lead over Buescher with two races to go.

McCumbee's top-10 finish gave him the Bill France Four Crown Award, an honor bestowed upon the driver who compiles the best average finish on four selected tracks of different categories throughout the season. The 2011 Four Crown tracks were New Jersey Motorsports Park (road course), Michigan International Speedway, the Illinois State Fairgrounds (dirt oval), and Salem (short track). McCumbee finished third, eighth, first, and ninth in those events, respectively.

Six caution flags slowed the race for 39 laps. The event finished in one hour, 30 minutes, and three seconds, at an average speed of 73.951 mph.

BARNES WINS GREAT AMERICAN STOCK RACE

In a preliminary to the ARCA Fall Classic 200, Chuck Barnes of Louisville outdistanced 15 others to win the Federated Car Care 50 for the Dave & Deb’s Winner’s Circle Great American Stocks.

Shawn Smith, who hounded Barnes over the past several laps, finished second with Brian Bayer third.  Season point leader, David Bayens finished fourth and Kyle Hadley fifth.

Shannon Beckham, Brent Gardiner, Jeff Caudell, Mike Matheis and Justin Pirtle rounded out the second five in that order.

Racing returns to Salem Speedway on Sunday afternoon, October 2nd, as seven divisions converge on the high banks for the Scott County Visitors Commission Season Championship.  Championships will be on the line for all four Salem divisions – Lucas Oil Super Stocks, Dave & Deb’s Winner’s Circle Great American Stocks, Global Assembly Pure Stocks and Six Sigma Front Wheel Drive Stocks.  Plus, the FAST Series Legend Cars, Bandoleros and Thunder Roadsters.

HELBERG RIDES THE HIGH BANKS

TO THRILLING JAMES/O’CONNOR WIN

SALEM, IN, August 7 – JoJo Helberg scored an emotional and exciting breakthrough win at Salem Speedway on Saturday night, surviving a late-race challenge to capture the 52nd annual Joe James/Pat O’Connor Memorial. The event was the first career Xtreme Sprint Series (XSS) victory for the 21-year-old driver.

Helberg, hailing from Santa Rosa, Calif., roared from the fifth starting position to chase down race leader Mike Larrison in the early stages of the 30-lap feature, taking the lead when he caught Larrison in dense traffic. Helberg began to pull away from the field when Larrison cut a tire and spun on lap 13, triggering a multi-car melee that left Jimmy McCune parked on his side. McCune was okay but unable to rejoin the field.

Brian Gerster, seeking to score his third consecutive XSS victory, began closing on Helberg in the waning laps. The race was interrupted by a caution with less than 10 laps remaining for Jerry Caryer’s stalled machine, and on the ensuing restart Aaron Pierce asserted himself into the mix when he passed Gerster to take second.

Pierce waged a torrid chase to close on Helberg, but fell just a car length short at the finish. At the flag it was Helberg, Pierce, and Gerster, with Jason Cox slipping past Ryan Litt in the closing laps to take fourth.

“To stand here in the victory circle, it means everything,” said an elated Helberg. “My dad was here with me, my uncle was here, they came from California this weekend and their being here makes this all the more special. We’ve worked really hard to continue to improve and to win here at Salem at such a prestigious and historic race, I can’t describe how good this feels.”

The second five consisted of Larrison, Kyle Flint, Tom Tolbert, Brian Olson, and Sondi Eden. Heats were won by McCune, Olson, and Eden. Gerster shattered the existing track record with a clocking of 14.169-seconds during time trials.

Eden’s heat race victory marked the first time that a female has posted a win in sprint car competition on the famed Salem Speedway high banks.

The Xtreme Sprint Series now gears up for a double-header weekend that begins on Saturday night Aug. 20 at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, followed by a visit to the historic Winchester Speedway on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 21.

Todd Kempf of Huntingburg, Ind., recorded his second Lucas Oil Super Stock victory of the season in one of two preliminaries to the James/O’Connor Memorial, while David Bayens of Memphis, Ind., won a 40-lap race for the Dave & Deb’s Winner’s Circle Great American Stocks.

Kempf was followed across the line in the Super Stock feature by Mike Sharp, Chris French, Tony Johnson, Scott E. Beeler and Jerry Norris in that order.

Shawn Smith, Kyle Hadley, Shannon Beckham and Mike Matheis rounded out the top five in the Great American Stocks main event.

Bayens’ victory puts him just one win shy of tying John Collins as the all-time Great American Stock win leader with 18 victories.

BRENNAN POOLE PULLS OFF SURPRISE WIN

IN KENTUCKIANA FORD DEALERS ARCA 200

ARCA Racing Series Debut For Texas Driver

SALEM, IN - Brennan Poole fought back from one lap down in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem Speedway to do in one race what many ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards drivers try week after week to achieve: Win.

Poole, who drove the No. 55 Renton Coil Spring/Midas Chevrolet for Venturini Motorsports in his ARCA Racing Series debut, gave Venturini a second consecutive spring win on Salem's high-banked, 0.555-mile oval.

"I just feel blessed to be in this car and get the Venturinis to Victory Lane," Poole said. "It's incredible. My first time at Salem, and my first time in an ARCA car, and I've just got to thank God, man."

Steve Arpin won in the team's No. 55 car last season; that car was turned over to Max Gresham and the No. 25 Venturini team today.

Poole is the first driver to win his first ARCA Racing Series start since Patrick Long at New Jersey Motorsports Park on September 13, 2009. He passed Tom Hessert on Lap 176, and held the lead over the final 31 laps in a race that was extended to 206 laps because of a late caution period.

"We went a lap down, and I was able to get the lap back, and we got around the 52 car there late in the race," he said. "The car was good enough, and we had a little bit of tire, and we were able to pull away from everybody there late in the race."

A 20-year-old from The Woodlands, Texas, Poole started second to Menards Pole Award winner Ty Dillon (No. 41 UNOH Chevrolet). The 200-lap race opened with 20 laps of caution after light rain in southern Indiana throughout the morning left the track slightly damp and in need of drying.

Poole fell to third on the first lap of green flag racing when passed by Chad McCumbee, but gained the position back on the backstretch on Lap 27.

Almost immediately, the top pack of Dillon, Poole, McCumbee, Tom Hessert, and Gresham encountered lapped traffic, but navigated around it. Poole challenged Dillon for the lead on Lap 38, and the group passed Milka Duno one lap later.

Dillon held a 0.652-second lead over Poole after 40 total laps, and the group passed Sean Corr to leave just 15 cars on the lead lap at Lap 45. Dillon extended his lead to 0.764 second, but Poole closed by a half-second over the next five laps and started to truly pressure the pole winner.

Frank Kimmel, Grant Enfinger, and Chris Buescher tangled together on the backstretch on Lap 52, leaving Buescher to be towed off and Enfinger with heavy damage. Kimmel would rebound.

The green flag flew on Lap 60, and Dakoda Armstrong - last fall's Salem winner - began to challenge Gresham for fifth place. Armstrong spun on Lap 69, though, collecting Salem Speedway veteran and Kentucky native Brett Hudson.

Dillon stayed in the lead with Poole following, but the two made light contact on Lap 79, allowing Gresham to come all the way to the lead two laps later. Dillon, meanwhile, fought his car as it pushed up the track, and lost several spots. Poole experienced trouble, too, falling back to eighth.

The drop by the initial leaders allowed Hessert and a recovered Enfinger to battle for the lead, but Gresham maintained an advantage of about three seconds just after Lap 90. Lapped traffic again played a role in slowing down the lead pack, and by the time Gresham and Hessert passed Kimmel on Lap 100, Gresham's advantage was down to 0.979 second.

Hessert took the lead on the backstretch of Lap 104, putting Poole one lap down at nearly the same time. Hessert lapped Dillon two laps later. Meanwhile, Enfinger was behind Gresham in third, followed by Tim George Jr. and Matt Merrell at Lap 110. Duno, back on the lead lap, had used an impressive drive through four-wide traffic just four laps earlier to move to sixth.

Merrell bumped Enfinger for third on Lap 118, and then Gresham for second the next lap. Enfinger, still feeling the effects of the earlier incident, brushed the wall in the second turn of Lap 120 from fourth place.

As Merrell approached Hessert's lead, only one lapped driver was in his way: Poole. At that time, Dillon and teammate Tim George Jr. moved into fourth and fifth, respectively, approximately six seconds behind the lead.

As Dillon challenged Gresham for third, Merrell passed Hessert to take the lead on Lap 127. Dillon, though was only four seconds behind. By Lap 140, he lowered that deficit to three seconds, and then passed Hessert on Lap 145 for second.

By this point, Enfinger was one lap down, and Merrell caught him in the second turn of Lap 146, allowing Dillon to catch up as the two cars battled. Dillon passed Enfinger two laps later, and had Merrell all to himself. George worked hard to slow Merrell and help his teammate, and the next hurdle for the two leaders was Dufault on Lap 150. Dillon caught Merrell five laps later, but Merrell maintained the lead out of Turn 4. One turn later, though, Dillon lost his right front tire and he and Merrell crashed, sending Josh Williams to the lead.

"We had a really fast car," Dillon said. "We were coming back through the field with fresh tires. I just overdrove a little bit and blew a right front. I overheated it. These guys never gave up on the UNOH Chevy; she was really fast."

Williams started first at the green flag on Lap 171, just ahead of Hessert and Poole, who had rebounded. His lead would be short-lived, though, as upon the ensuing green flag Hessert sped to the front and drove away from Williams. Poole also passed Williams, taking second.

Poole passed Hessert on Lap 176, and led by more than a full second one lap later. Even amid several multi-car incidents over the final laps, Poole was able to maintain the lead, and Dillon and Kimmel both rebounded into the top five after George and Hessert made contact on Lap 198. The race was extended to 206 laps after late cautions, and Poole stuck to the lead through every lap. Dillon and Kimmel had a chance to challenge on the final restart, but Poole drove away to win in his ARCA debut. His final margin of victory was 0.643 second.

Poole was quick to thank Arpin, who won last April at Salem, for his advice.

"I want to shout out to Steve Arpin," he said. "I talked to him before I came out here and he helped me out. His tips were pretty good."

Dillon finished second, just missing on his bid to win four of his first six ARCA starts.

"I hate to lose, but second place isn't bad after all the stuff we went through," Dillon said.

Kimmel, a nine-time ARCA winner at Salem, was third. The result was his 24th top-five in 35 ARCA starts at Salem. Bryan Silas, making his ninth career Salem start, finished fourth to match his career high. Merrell ended the race fifth.

Williams was sixth, Hessert seventh, Armstrong eighth, McCumbee ninth, and Enfinger 10th. The race was slowed by eight cautions for 70 laps. The full results from the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 are now available on ARCARacing.com.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards returns to action at its home track, Toledo Speedway, on Sunday, May 15.

PIERCE REPEATS IN WINGED SPRINT

SPECTACULAR 30 AT SALEM SPEEDWAY

Kempf And Kimmel Win Salem Division Openers

SALEM, IN, April 4, 2011 – Life might be filled with mysteries, but Aaron Pierce has definitely figured out the springtime opener at historic Salem Speedway.

For the second consecutive year, on Sunday afternoon Pierce captured the “Winged Sprint Spectacular” for the Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Series.  The prestigious event served as the 2011 season opener for the series.

Pierce survived a late-race charge by Canadian Ryan Litt, who chased Pierce in a thrilling duel amid lapped traffic in the waning laps.  But the Daleville, Ind., driver held on, driving the Sam Pierce Chevrolet sprinter to victory by a scant margin.

Veteran Jeff Bloom took the lead at the outset from the outside of row one, trailed by Pierce, who started right behind in fourth position.  Litt used a strong start to surge from the fourth row to challenge for third within two laps.

Pierce stalked Bloom throughout the early stages, finally slipping past on the backstretch on lap seven.  One lap later Litt moved past Bloom and began closing on Pierce.

The two leaders dipped and dodged dense traffic and it appeared Litt was gaining momentum.  Pierce was masterful as he navigated a late pack of cars to hold Litt at bay, but on the final lap Litt made a valiant charge that brought the spectators to their feet, only to see the BS&B Radiator entry fall just short.

Bloom held on for third, trailed by Jason Cox and series veteran Jimmy McCune.  The second five consisted of defending series champion Troy DeCaire, Billy Wease, Dave Buaugartner, Kyle Fling and Kyle Weigant.

Jacob Wilson thrilled the crowd with an impressive driver, roaring from the 16th starting spot to challenge for fifth in the late stages before dropping out with mechanical woes.

Jason Blonde, who recently captured the World Speed Trials at Bristol Motor Speedway in his BioBased.US Xtreme sprint car, was uninjured after making heavy contact with the turn one wall during a practice session.  Chris Neuenschwander was also unhurt after colliding with the turn two wall earlier in the day.

Jason Cox’s 14.408-second clocking bested the 24-car field during time trials, while heat races were won by Wilson, Baumgartner and Pierce.

Veteran Salem driver Todd Kempf of Huntingburg, Ind., passed John Cozart on lap four and went on to win the Lucas Oil 40 for the Lucas Oil Super Stocks on Sunday.

The victory was Kempf’s 26th career Lucas Oil Super Stock win and moved him to within four victories of Chuck Barnes all-time record of 30.

Chris French of Vine Grove, Ky., who posted quick time during qualifications finished second, with Tony Johnson of Louisville third.  Todd Carr of Lexington, Ind., and Jerry Norris of Louisville rounded out the top five.

Will Kimmel of Sellersburg, Ind., led the final 12 laps around the .555-mile oval to win the season opening 40-lap event for the Dave & Deb’s Winner’s Circle Great American Stocks.

Kimmel passed Brian Bayer, who had paced the first 28 laps, as the two raced into turn one on lap 29.  After making the pass the third generation driver never looked back in claiming the win.

David Bayens of Memphis, Ind., finished second, while Bayer of Birdseye, Ind., who was battling mechanical woes, held on for third.  Defending series champion Winston Wood of Bloomington finished fourth and Kyle Hadley of Louisville was fifth.

Racing returns to Salem Speedway on Saturday and Sunday, April 30-May 1, as the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards visits the high banks for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200.   

PNC BANK SIGNS TWO YEAR AGREEMENT AS TITLE

SPONSOR OF SALEM SPEEDWAY’S PIT ROAD 

SALEM, IN, March 14 - The orange and blue colors of PNC Bank will be seen on Pit Road for the 2011 season at the Salem Speedway, as the bank recently signed a two-year agreement to be title sponsor. It will now be known as PNC Pit Road.

“Salem Speedway has a long history as an economic engine for Salem and surrounding communities,” said Mike Moll, senior vice president for PNC Bank. “We are proud to be a partner in what is shaping up to be a great year for racing in this area.”

PNC Bank has 132 branches throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana, including downtown Salem. 

“We are certainly pleased to have PNC Bank associated with racing at Salem Speedway,” said track General Manager Richard Deaton. “PNC is recognized as one of the leading financial services organizations in the country.” 

This marks the first time in the track’s 65-year history that a sponsor’s name has been attached to pit road.

The 2011 season kicks-off on Sunday, March 27th, with the inaugural Salem Speedway “Short-Track Festival”.  The afternoon of racing action; featuring Pure Stocks, Front Wheel Drive Stocks, Legends Cars, Bandoleros, Thunder Roadsters and IKO Mini Cups; will utilize the track’s new quarter-mile infield oval.

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