Kimmel Racing onto Pocono with Sights on Solid Finish for Ansell and Menards
National Desk
July 31, 2009
CORNELIUS, N.C. – Coming off what was nearly team´s best race of the season, Kimmel Racing looks to Pocono Raceway with high hopes for a solid race weekend with the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Ford Fusion. Last week at Berlin Raceway, Kimmel led 36-laps and was running in third place when an on track incident with two laps to go took him out of contention. This week, he´s looking to redeem himself at Pocono during Saturday afternoon´s Pennsylvania ARCA 200.
"Our performance at Berlin was a real shot in the arm for the whole team," explained Kimmel. "Even after the way it ended, it was still an overall success for the team based on the fact that we led laps and that we were a real factor in the entire event. What happened in the end is just one of those racing deals, but I definitely think the team is on an upbeat swing now."
Kimmel´s expectations for this weekend´s 80-lap race at Pocono Raceway is shaped by the past several events where the cars have been fast but the results have been impacted by usual occurrences of racing.
"In the last three races, the outcome hasn´t exactly been what we wanted but we´ve had fast cars and in general the team is looking the most competitive it has all year," added Kimmel. "For example, we had a fast car at Pocono in June but we blew two tires – ran over something on the warm up lap and lost the right front and then later in the day we lost the left front. We don´t really know for sure but it was probably something in the geometry of the car that led to the tire problem and we´ve changed that since then so we shouldn´t have any problems this weekend."
Kimmel, who has logged three wins and a total of 290 laps led at Pocono in 33 career starts, has clearly set his weekend goals.
"We want to be consistent and qualify in the top-10 and shoot for a top-five finish this weekend," said Kimmel. "Getting through Pocono clean will be the key for us."
The team will unload chassis #440, which was last raced at Kentucky Speedway where Kimmel qualified seventh and ran strong all night. A late race delay on pit road relegated the team to a eighth place finish, which was a solid top-10 but not quite the result Kimmel and crew were hoping for after running in the top-five most of the night.
"We ran well at Kentucky and that gives us hope for this weekend," said Crew Chief Bill Kimmel Jr. "We just had a bad pit stop at the end that put us back but overall the car was fast and that´s why we choose to bring this car to Pocono. Also, we were pretty good at Pocono in June as far as handling was concerned but the tire issue hurt us. So overall, we should have a good weekend as long as we keep the bad luck at bay."
Once again, friends and supporters of Kimmel Racing – Dennis and Eileen Reider – will be on hand to cook for the team throughout the weekend. "It´s always great to get back to Pocono because Dennis and Eileen take such good care of the crew, on top of which, they are two of the best cooks in the country," said Kimmel. "They´ve become really good friends of ours. Hopefully with the good food we can have plenty of energy to turn in that top-five finish on Saturday."
Kimmel Racing will take to Pocono Raceway Friday morning for practice prior to Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 1:45 p.m. Eastern. Saturday´s race goes green at 1 p.m. Eastern with live SPEED Channel coverage of the event.
"Our performance at Berlin was a real shot in the arm for the whole team," explained Kimmel. "Even after the way it ended, it was still an overall success for the team based on the fact that we led laps and that we were a real factor in the entire event. What happened in the end is just one of those racing deals, but I definitely think the team is on an upbeat swing now."
Kimmel´s expectations for this weekend´s 80-lap race at Pocono Raceway is shaped by the past several events where the cars have been fast but the results have been impacted by usual occurrences of racing.
"In the last three races, the outcome hasn´t exactly been what we wanted but we´ve had fast cars and in general the team is looking the most competitive it has all year," added Kimmel. "For example, we had a fast car at Pocono in June but we blew two tires – ran over something on the warm up lap and lost the right front and then later in the day we lost the left front. We don´t really know for sure but it was probably something in the geometry of the car that led to the tire problem and we´ve changed that since then so we shouldn´t have any problems this weekend."
Kimmel, who has logged three wins and a total of 290 laps led at Pocono in 33 career starts, has clearly set his weekend goals.
"We want to be consistent and qualify in the top-10 and shoot for a top-five finish this weekend," said Kimmel. "Getting through Pocono clean will be the key for us."
The team will unload chassis #440, which was last raced at Kentucky Speedway where Kimmel qualified seventh and ran strong all night. A late race delay on pit road relegated the team to a eighth place finish, which was a solid top-10 but not quite the result Kimmel and crew were hoping for after running in the top-five most of the night.
"We ran well at Kentucky and that gives us hope for this weekend," said Crew Chief Bill Kimmel Jr. "We just had a bad pit stop at the end that put us back but overall the car was fast and that´s why we choose to bring this car to Pocono. Also, we were pretty good at Pocono in June as far as handling was concerned but the tire issue hurt us. So overall, we should have a good weekend as long as we keep the bad luck at bay."
Once again, friends and supporters of Kimmel Racing – Dennis and Eileen Reider – will be on hand to cook for the team throughout the weekend. "It´s always great to get back to Pocono because Dennis and Eileen take such good care of the crew, on top of which, they are two of the best cooks in the country," said Kimmel. "They´ve become really good friends of ours. Hopefully with the good food we can have plenty of energy to turn in that top-five finish on Saturday."
Kimmel Racing will take to Pocono Raceway Friday morning for practice prior to Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 1:45 p.m. Eastern. Saturday´s race goes green at 1 p.m. Eastern with live SPEED Channel coverage of the event.