TALLADEGA, Ala.) – Frank Kimmel won his 77thall-time ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards race Friday afternoon, taking the checkered flag in the rain-shortened International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Kimmel, driving the No. 44 Menards Ansell Toyota, took over the lead from Josh Williams on lap 43 and maintained the top position through a series of caution flags and re-starts – and rain.

“It’s great to be back in victory lane,” the 51-year-old Kimmel said. “The last time I won here at Talladega, it was shortened by darkness. The car ran great. I was drafting there with John Wes Townley early and worked our way to the front. I’ve always said you win here with your crew more than anywhere you go.”

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(TALLADEGA, Ala. – May 2, 2013) — Milka Duno, in the No. 35 CanTV-Milkaway Toyota, became the first female ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards driver since 1988 to win the pole at Talladega Superspeedway Thursday afternoon.

Duno had the second-fastest time in the Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell but when the time of Venturini Motorsports teammate John Wes Townley was disallowed following post-qualifying inspection, Duno was announced as the pole winner.

“This is fantastic,” Duno said following her award. “We have been trying, trying, trying for the pole ever since Daytona. All day, I made my crew chief (Kevin Caldwell) crazy, saying ‘what do we need to do?'”

The times of four cars were disallowed. Each of those drivers will start at the rear of the field in Friday’s International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250. The race will begin at 4 p.m. (Central Standard Time) and will be broadcast live on SPEED. (more…)

TOLEDO, Ohio (4-30-13) – They couldn’t be further apart in the race of life; but in the race on the track, they are as close as it gets.

Albeit early in the 2013 season, nine-time ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards champion Frank Kimmel and 18-year-old Scott Rookie Challenge contender Mason Mingus are neck and neck for the championship points battle. In fact, headed into Friday’s Int’l Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway, Kimmel leads Mingus by just 30 points.

It’s an odd match-up, a teenager who’s still in high school and a grown man with kids graduating from college, yet it’s there, as loud and compelling as ever. In plain numbers, 33 years separate Kimmel, who turned 51 on April 30^th, from Mingus, who won’t be 19 until November.

“It’s kind of the way it’s been over the last decade here,” Kimmel said. “If it’s not Mason, it’s some other rookie coming with all the right equipment and lots of talent. Mason might be new around here, but he’s been around for a while. He’s driven late models quite a bit, and has shown a lot of promise. I consider him a formidable opponent for sure.” (more…)