ARCA Testing At Daytona

[Joe Starr]

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (December 18, 2009)--Rain showers have subsided at this time and four jet dryers are drying the Daytona Int'l Speedway racing surface so that ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards testing can begin. More than 50 drivers are in the ARCA Garage anxiously awaiting their turn to test at the 2.5-mile speedway, including a record number of female entries. Among them, Braun Racing's Milka Duno, the first Hispanic woman to test an ARCA stock car, in the No. 90 Toyota.

[Joe Starr]

Chinese and Indian Drivers Explore the World of Stock Cars at the ARCA Test at Daytona

CHARLOTTE NC (12-17-09) - Starbeast Motorsports, a new race team seeking to bring the international community to the world of NASCAR, is excited to test Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan and Chinese driver Darryl O'Young at the ARCA Racing Series 3-day open test at Daytona International Speedway Dec. 18-20. The test, an essential step before exploring any future options in NASCAR, will serve as the drivers' introduction to stock cars and ovals.

Although both drivers are new to stock cars, they are considered among the best drivers within their respective countries. Karthikeyan is the first and only Indian driver to compete in Formula 1 and currently runs in the Le Mans Series. O'Young, a Hong Kong resident, recently made Chinese motorsports history by representing his country competing in a full season of the FIA GT championship and the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Starbeast Motorsports has formed a strategic partnership with JTG Daugherty Racing, which has a proven track record with successfully marketing and developing foreign driver Marcos Ambrose to race in the premier NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. JTG Daugherty Racing will provide technical and marketing support for Starbeast Motorsports.

"Collaborating with such an experienced race team as JTG Daugherty Racing will help Starbeast Motorsports develop a successful NASCAR program," stated Miguel Abaroa, Founder & CEO of Starbeast Motorsports. "The goal is to eventually bring stock car racing to the 2.5 billion potential Chinese and Indian fans. This is a first step."

Andy Hillenburg will advise the drivers and assist the new team with the upcoming ARCA test.

[Joe Starr]

DAYTONA BEACH FL (12-17-09) - On the day before the ARCA Racing Series open test gets underway at Daytona Int'l Speedway, the entry list for the 3-day test continues to grow.

2010 ARCA RE/MAX Series Event #1
Daytona Int'l Speedway, Daytona Beach FL, (Dec. 18, 19, 20 2009)
Entry List, Open Test/Current 12/17/09

NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN TEAM
0 Butch Jarvis/Blountville TN Jarvis Racing Dodge
1 Nick Igdalsky/Long Pond PA ModSpace Ford
1 Nick Igdalsky/Long Pond PA ModSpace Ford
2 Brandon McReynolds/Mooresville NC ESR Toyota
4 Ricky Carmichael/Tallahassee FL Turner Motorsports Toyota
5 Bobby Gerhart/Lebanon PA BGR Chevy
10 Darryl O'Young/Hong Kong China Fast Track Racing Ford
10 Narain Karthikeyan/Madras India Fast Track Racing Ford
10 Michelle Theriault/Bristol CT Fast Track Racing Ford
10 Jill George/Cedar Falls IA Fast Track Racing Ford
10 Kyle Grissom/Concord NC Fast Track Racing Ford
10 Brandon Thompson/New Plymouth OH Fast Track Racing Ford
10 Dan Sheppard/Atlanta GA Fast Track Racing Ford
10 Tyler Speer/Woodstock GA Fast Track Racing Ford
11 Bryan Silas/Stuart FL Fast Track Racing Ford
12 Derek White/Kahnuwake Quebec DGM Racing Chevy
12 Russ Dugger/Owosso OK DGM Racing Chevy
14 John Ferrier/Middletown NY ABR Ford
14 Tony Yawn Jr./Roanoke AL ABR Dodge
15 Alli Owens/Daytona Beach FL Venturini Motorsports Chevy
16 Joey Coulter/Miami Springs FL Coulter Motorsports Chevy
16 Randy Renfro/Willow Springs NC Coulter Motorsports Chevy
21 Ray Mooi/New Lenox IL Bowsher Motorsports Ford
21 Jennifer Jo Cobb/Kansas City KS Bowsher Motorsports Ford
22 Dakoda Armstrong/New Castle IN Cunningham Motorsports Dodge
23 Frank Wilson Jr./Belmont WV Hixson Motorsports Chevy
25 Mikey Kile/Westlake LA Venturini Motorsports Toyota
26 Brad Smith/Shelby Township MI Brad Smith Motorsports Ford
28 Brent Cross/Cortland NY Lacross Motorsports Chevy
28 Chris Cockrum/Conyers GA ACG Motorsports Chevy
30 Terry Jones/Amherstburg ON Jones Group Racing Dodge
31 Tim George Jr./New York NY Richard Childress Racing Chevy
36 Robb Brent/Shelby Township MI Allgaier Motorsports Dodge
36 Robb Brent/Shelby Township MI Allgaier Motorsports Chevy
36 Glen Reen/Wilbraham MA Allgaier Motorsports Dodge
43 Kyle Martel/Lebanon PA Martel Racing Chevy
48 James Hylton/Inman SC Hylton Motorsports Dodge
48 Wheeler Boys/Calgary Alberta Hylton Motorsports Dodge
51 James Buescher/Plano TX Phoenix Racing Toyota
52 Bill Baird/Sarasota FL Ken Schrader Racing Chevy
52 Bill Baird/Sarasota FL Ken Schrader Racing Chevy
52 Josh Richards/Shinnston WV Ken Schrader Racing Chevy
54 Zach Bruenger/Granite Falls NC Jimmy Means Motorsports Dodge
54 Jay Norville/Forest City NC Jimmy Means Motorsports Dodge
54 Brad Means/Mooresville NC Jimmy Means Motorsports Dodge
55 Steve Arpin/Fort Frances ON Venturini Motorsports Toyota
58 Chad Hackenbracht/Denver NC Hackenbracht Motorsports Chevy
59 Leilani Munter/Rochester MN Mark Gibson Racing Dodge
60 Patrick Sheltra/Indiantown FL Sheltra Motorsports Dodge
66 Mark Thompson/Cartersville GA Venturini Motorsports Toyota
66 Hal Martin/Galliano LA Venturini Motorsports Toyota
69 Steve Blackburn/Prestonsburg KY Blackburn Motorsports Dodge
70 Tony Palumbo/Frankfort IL 7VN Motorsports Ford
70 Mike Holt/Snow Camp NC 7VN Motorsports Ford
70 Richard Clifton/Circleville OH 7VN Motorsports Ford
73 Amber Cope/Puyallup WA Rick Markle Racing Dodge
73 Angela Cope/Puyallup WA Rick Markle Racing Dodge
73 Nur Ali/Fort Worth TX Rick Markle Racing Dodge
75 Scott Stenzel/Orlando FL Bob Schacht Motorsports Ford
77 Tom Hessert/Cherry Hill NJ Cunningham Motorsports Dodge
80 Brad Lloyd/Napa CA Hoover Motorsports Ford
82 Sean Corr/Goshen NY Hard Corr Racing
83 Grant Enfinger/Fairhope AL Grant Enfinger Racing Ford
85 Lance Fenton/ Tyler TX Gill Racing Dodge
88 Danica Patrick/Roscoe IL JR Motorsports Chevy
89 Chris Lafferty/Concord NC Lafferty Motorsports Chevy
89 Brian Rose/Louisville KY Lafferty Motorsports Chevy
90 Milka Duno/Caracas Venezuela Braun Racing Toyota
90 Chad Blount/Walkerton IN Stringer Motorsports Toyota
95 Tommy Joe Martins/Como MS Ronnie Smith Racing Ford
97 Matt Lofton/Mooresville NC Strutmasters Racing Toyota
03 Donny Kelley/Humble TX PGM Racing Chevy
03 Mathew Smith/Houston TX PGM Racing Chevy
06 Avery McCluskey/Goodspring TN Peterson Motorsports Ford
07 Ricky Byers/Leeds AL Stott Classic Racing Dodge
Alison MacLoud/Guelph ON
Danny Martin, Jr./Sarasota FL
Johnny Slosek/Springfield MA

[Joe Starr]

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (Friday, December 18, 2009) -- Daytona Int'l Speedway racing surface drying efforts are complete and ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards testing has begun. Drivers are scheduled to post single car runs today.

[Joe Starr]

Venturini Motorsport Tops ARCA Practice.

The top three speeds turned in during the ARCA testing today at Daytona International Speedway were the three Venturini Motorsports Chevrolets.

Car Pos Driver Sponsor Speed

25 1 Mikey Kile Venturini Motorsport 180.708

55 2 Steve Arpin Venturini Motorsport 179.648 2

15 3 Alli Owens Venturini Motorsport 178.660

[Joe Starr]

Venturini Motorsports 1,2,3 in Testing at Daytona; Mikey Kile Quickest.....

DAYTONA BEACH FL (12-18-09) - Mikey Kile, who recently announced a full ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards schedule in 2010 with Venturini Motorsports, is starting the season on top the charts.

The Westlake, Louisiana driver was fastest Friday in open testing at Daytona Int'l Speedway, circling the storied 2.5-mile superspeedway in 49. 708 seconds, an average speed of 180.708 mph.

Kile's Venturini Motorsports teammates' Steve Arpin and Alli Owens followed on the charts in second and third.

Rain hampered much of the on-track activity today resulting in the garage closing at 4:00 PM rather than the regularly scheduled time of 5:00.

On-track activity resumes Saturday morning from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards
Test Results, Daytona Int'l Speedway (12-18-09)

POS NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN TIME SPEED
1 25 *Mikey Kile 49.804 180.708
2 55 *Steve Arpin 50.098 179.648
3 15 *Alli Owens 50.375 178.660
4 2 *Brandon McReynolds 50.504 178.204
5 16 *Joey Coulter 50.627 177.771
6 11 *Bryan Silas 50.683 177.574
7 1 *Nick Igdalsky 50.890 176.852
8 85 *Lance Fenton 50.897 176.828
9 83 *Grant Enfinger 50.933 176.703
10 97 *Matt Lofton 50.934 176.699
11 36 *Robb Brent 50.982 176.533
12 88 *Danica Patrick 51.095 176.142
13 43A *Clay Rogers 51.105 176.108
14 83 *Grant Enfinger 51.164 175.905
15 52K *Josh Richards 51.165 175.901
16 76 *Jerick Johnson 51.365 175.217
17 10A *Narain Karthikeyan 51.404 175.084
18 90A *Chad Blount 51.469 174.863
19 22 *Dakoda Armstrong 51.496 174.771
20 8C *Scot Alves 51.548 174.595
21 54B *Chris Lawson 51.834 173.631
22 73A *Angela Cope 52.436 171.638
23 60 *Patrick Sheltra 52.517 171.373
24 36C *Glen Reen 53.779 167.352
25 5A *Bobby Gerhart 0.000 0.000
26 59 *Leilani Munter 0.000 0.000

[Joe Starr]

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (December 19, 2009) -- The second day of a three-day ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards Test at Daytona Int'l Speedway is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. ET Saturday. Drivers, including Ricky Carmichael and James Buescher attended a driver's meeting Saturday morning at 8 a.m. to go over test procedures.

Saturday's ARCA Testing will feature single car runs during the morning session and the first drafting session of the weekend during the afternoon session.

Twenty six drivers were able to post lap times yesterday during the first day of testing, which was shortened to just 35 minutes due to rain showers in the area. Buescher and Carmichael were not among those who were able to make laps around the track but both Carmichael, renowned for his accomplishments in Supercross racing, and Buescher have past ARCA Racing Series experience at Daytona. Buescher is the defending Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA Race winner.

[Joe Starr]

Drafting Session Provides Learning Experience for Danica Patrick, Others

Day two of three-day ARCA Test Complete: Venturini Motorsports' Mikey Kile, Steve Arpin, Alli Owens Quick

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (December 19, 2009) -- The second day of a three day ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards test session at Daytona Int'l Speedway allowed drivers to experience their first stock car draft on Saturday afternoon.

More than 60 drivers participating in ARCA Testing this weekend, to prepare for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA race at Daytona Int'l Speedway on February 6 (live on SPEED at 4 p.m. Eastern).

The draft also produced the fastest speeds of the day with a trio of Venturini Motorsports drivers-Mikey Kile, Steve Arpin and Alli Owens--comprising the top-three positions on the speed charts.

"We found a lot of stuff today and a lot of speed," said Kile, fastest overall with a 49.164 second/183.061 mph lap. "We tried a lot of different packages in single car runs and here at the end of the day was our first drafting session. We had an awesome day...the team had an awesome day."

Kile's teammates, Fort Frances, Ontario's Steve Arpin and local, Daytona Beach, Florida, native Alli Owens, posted identical times (49.192 seconds/182.957 mph) while pushing Kile around the 2.5-mile track.

Defending race winner James Buescher, in a Phoenix Racing Toyota, was fourth fastest in the Saturday afternoon drafting session, followed by Brandon McReynolds in Eddie Sharp's No. 2 Toyota.

There were two cautions during Saturday's testing, both for single car incidents. Tim George, Jr., in an RCR Chevrolet, spun in turns three and four with one half hour remaining during the session, sustaining right side damage to his ARCA Racing Series racecar. The second and final caution occurred with less than 20 minutes remaining in the test day for a single car spin by Penske Development driver Dakoda Armstrong. There was no damage.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards will return to Daytona Int'l Speedway for a third and final day of testing Sunday. Much like Saturday's schedule, Sunday morning will feature single car runs while teams will have the option to draft on Sunday afternoon.

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 is live on Speed beginning at 4 p.m. on February 6, 2010 and is part of Daytona Speedweeks 2010.

[Joe Starr]

No. Name Laps Time Speed
25 Mikey Kile 36 49.164 183.06
15 Alli Owens 36 49.192 182.96
55 Steve Arpin 36 49.192 182.96
51 James Buescher 51 49.312 182.51
2 Brandon McReynolds 46 49.323 182.47
60 Patrick Sheltra 7 49.355 182.35
16A Randy Renfro 32 49.374 182.28
11 Bryan Silas 32 49.394 182.21
22 Dakoda Armstrong 29 49.408 182.16
52K Josh Richards 39 49.418 182.12
36A Robb Brent 6 49.436 182.05
69 Steve Blackburn 22 49.46 181.97
90 Milka Duno 17 49.475 181.91
30 Terry Jones 11 49.486 181.87
97 Matt Lofton 27 49.491 181.85
07 Ricky Byers 25 49.494 181.84
43 Kyle Martel 51 49.545 181.65
4 Ricky Carmichael 28 49.564 181.58
88 Danica Patrick 69 49.572 181.55
88A Danica Patrick 14 49.621 181.37
31 Tim George Jr. 22 49.68 181.16
85 Lance Fenton 36 49.763 180.86
16 Joey Coulter 11 49.773 180.82
51B Ryan Crane 21 49.782 180.79
28A Chris Cockrum 9 49.885 180.41
5A Bobby Gerhart 11 49.926 180.27
21 Jennifer Jo Cobb 26 49.941 180.21
59 Leilani Munter 40 49.97 180.11
36C Glen Reen 23 49.99 180.04
54 Brad Means 4 49.998 180.01
66A Hal Martin 17 50.038 179.86
14 John Ferrier 14 50.057 179.80
77 Tom Hessert 36 50.064 179.77
83 Grant Enfinger 14 50.072 179.74
10 Darryl O'Young 17 50.181 179.35
75 Scott Stenzel 27 50.213 179.24
5 Bobby Gerhart 2 50.311 178.89
76 Jerick Johnson 2 50.313 178.88
36 Robb Brent 6 50.314 178.88
70B Richard Clifton 31 50.317 178.87
0 Butch Jarvis 15 50.351 178.75
12A Russ Dugger 44 50.393 178.60
54B Chris Lawson 2 50.434 178.45
54A Zach Bruenger 5 50.482 178.28
75A Chuck Walker 18 50.487 178.26
36D Ashley Parlett 10 50.516 178.16
70 Tony Palumbo 32 50.669 177.62
8 Jill George 23 50.674 177.61
12 Derek White 21 50.756 177.32
82 Sean Corr 35 50.805 177.15
58 Chad Hackenbracht 35 51.079 176.20
28 Brent Cross 13 51.383 175.16
73A Angela Cope 5 51.498 174.76
48 James Hylton 6 51.624 174.34
73 Amber Cope 2 51.676 174.16
1B Tony Yawn Jr. 32 51.9 173.41
03A Donny Kelley 2 52.031 172.97
77A Tom Hessert 2 52.151 172.58
23 Frank Wilson Jr. 29 52.234 172.30
89B Justin Boston 34 52.805 170.44
89 Chris Lafferty 8 52.905 170.12
36E Jason Bowles 2 53.583 167.96
03 Stephan McCurley 4 54.508 165.11

[Joe Starr]

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (December 20, 2009)--The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards wraps up a three-day test session at Daytona Int'l Speedway Sunday. Teams are using the test to gain superspeedway racing experience and to prepare for the February 6 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 ARCA season opener (Feb. 6 live on SPEED at 4 p.m. Eastern).

Sunday's testing began at 9 a.m. with single car runs. Several teams will use the afternoon portion of Sunday's test to draft.

The list of women drivers includes:

•Daytona Beach native and Atlantic High School graduate Alli Owens driving the No. 15 Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet
•Leilani Munter driving a Dodge for Mark Gibson Racing
•IndyCar Series driver Milka Duno, a native of Venezuela, testing the No. 90 Braun Racing Toyota
•Jennifer Jo Cobb in the No. 21 Bowsher Racing Ford
•Michelle Theriault, Jill George and Ashley Parlett are all testing Fords for Fast Track Racing
•Amber and Angela Cope, twin nieces of 1990 Daytona 500 champion Derrike Cope who are shaking down Dodges for Rick Markle Racing.
"They are 10 girls out here now so it's just not me anymore," said Owens, who sat on the outside pole for the 2009 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. "There are a lot of us out here. I'm looking forward to seeing how they do compared to us. I know we have really good equipment. It will be nice to see them up there on the board.

"It's a really good sign for the sport. I try not to get caught up in the female aspect of it. To me when they put their helmet on, they are nine other drivers out there to beat."

International feel: There is a strong international presence during this weekend's ARCA test with countries such as India, China and Canada represented.

Narain Karthikeyan, who is the only Indian driver to ever compete in Formula 1, is testing with Starbeast Motorsports, a newly formed team that has formed a strategic partnership with JTG Daugherty Racing for technical and marketing support.

Darryl O'Young of China is Karthikeyan's teammate at Starbeast and represented his country in a full season of the FIA GT championship and has competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

"As a young driver, you know about Monaco, Indianapolis, Daytona and a few other races," Karthikeyan said . "I've grown up knowing about the (Daytona) circuit and to be here in such a historic circuit, it was awesome this morning went I went out for my laps."

Karthikeyan is unsure of his future stock car plans but would love a return trip to the 31-degree high banks for February's Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200.

"I'm use to open-wheel cars, single seaters, this is a whole new ball game," Karthikeyan said.

Wheeler Boys joins Derek White, Steve Arpin and Terry Jones among Canadians testing at Daytona. Boys, whose father Trevor made 102 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts between 1982-93 and five Daytona 500 starts, is testing the No. 48 Dodge for Hylton Motorsports.

The three-day test session, which runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will conclude on Sunday and is open to the public with free access to the Oldfield Grandstands through the lobby of Daytona 500 Experience.

[Joe Starr]

Robb Brent Quick in Sunday Morning Testing at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (December 20, 2009) -- The journey from Robb Brent's native Michigan 1,600 South to Daytona Beach, Florida became a trip well worth it on Sunday when he concluded the morning session of Sunday's ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards testing at the top of the charts.

Brent, in a Dodge owned by veteran team owner Mike Allgaier, circled the 2.5-mile superspeedway in 49.250 seconds for a speed of 182.741 mph. Mikey Kile, Bryan Silas, Alli Owens and Patrick Sheltra completed the top-5 during Sunday morning testing. "I've never been even in the top-25 in testing or practice at a restrictor plate race so to see my name at the top of the board at Daytona Int'l Speedway is really significant for me," said Brent. "Whether you're posting speeds in the top-20 or top-5 it feels the same so when I'm in the car and the spotter tells me I'm at the top it's like yay! It's a really good feeling. It's really out of the driver's hand at a track like Daytona. Dave Leiner is a great crew chief and he has really figured out these cars. I came to Daytona as a last minute deal for last year and we weren't prepared. We were way off and didn't make the race so to be at the top of the charts now just shows how far this team has come.

I've raced at Talladega more than Daytona and the difference is quite noticeable. Talladega is very smooth and you just kind of drive around. Daytona is very bumpy. You notice it all the way around."

Sunday's morning session concluded ten minutes early so track officials cleaned the racing surface after Joson Bowles cut a tire in the No. 36.

Daytona testing concludes this afternoon with a final drafting session.

December 20, 2009

POS NO DRIVER/HOMETOWN TIME SPEED
1 36A *Robb Brent 49.250 182.741
2 25 *Mikey Kile 49.466 181.943
3 11 *Bryan Silas 49.513 181.770
4 15 *Alli Owens 49.559 181.602
5 60 *Patrick Sheltra 49.625 181.360
6 55 *Steve Arpin 49.652 181.262
7 30 *Terry Jones 49.662 181.225
8 16 *Joey Coulter 49.877 180.444
9 36E *Jason Bowles 49.926 180.267
10 88A *Danica Patrick 49.934 180.238
11 69 *Steve Blackburn 49.998 180.007
12 97 *Matt Lofton 50.011 179.960
13 5A *Bobby Gerhart 50.043 179.845
14 43 *Kyle Martel 50.078 179.720
15 90 *Milka Duno 50.083 179.702
16 28A *Chris Cockrum 50.085 179.695
17 66 *Mark Thompson 50.108 179.612
18 14 *John Ferrier 50.130 179.533
19 88 *Danica Patrick 50.224 179.197
20 0 *Butch Jarvis 50.319 178.859
21 83 *Grant Enfinger 50.323 178.845
22 82 *Sean Corr 50.335 178.802
23 8E *Kyle Grissom 50.342 178.777
24 4 *Ricky Carmichael 50.346 178.763
25 07 *Ricky Byers 50.360 178.713
26 36D *Ashley Parlett 50.365 178.696
27 5 *Bobby Gerhart 50.370 178.678
28 22 *Dakoda Armstrong 50.371 178.674
29 77 *Tom Hessert 50.442 178.423
30 52K *Josh Richards 50.470 178.324
31 54B *Chris Lawson 50.474 178.310
32 59 *Leilani Munter 50.598 177.873
33 54A *Zach Bruenger 50.690 177.550
34 75 *Scott Stenzel 50.696 177.529
35 21 *Jennifer Cobb 50.744 177.361
36 54 *Brad Means 50.744 177.361
37 54C *Jay Norville 50.792 177.193
38 16A *Randy Renfro 50.831 177.057
39 75B *Bennie Chastain 50.836 177.040
40 75A *Chuck Walker 50.854 176.977
41 73 *Amber Cope 50.929 176.717
42 73A *Angela Cope 51.018 176.408
43 12A *Russ Dugger 51.040 176.332
44 70A *Mike Holt 51.057 176.274
45 70B *Richard Clifton 51.738 173.953
46 1B *Tony Yawn Jr. 51.777 173.822
47 70C *James Stevenson 52.393 171.779
48 58 *Chad Hackenbracht 52.487 171.471
49 89B *Justin Boston 52.777 170.529
50 89 *Chris Lafferty 52.984 169.863
51 06 *Avery McClusky 54.119 166.300
52 30B *BJ McLeod 0.000 0.000
53 28 *Brent Cross 0.000 0.000

[Joe Starr]

Patrick Sheltra is at the top of the afternoon session at a touch over 183 MPH.

[Joe Starr]

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (December 20, 2009) -- The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards wrapped up a three day test at Daytona Int'l Speedway on Sunday afternoon where IZOD IndyCar Driver Danica Patrick took the first step in transitioning to full bodied stock cars.

Under the watchful eyes of race fans and national media, Patrick worked with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and the JR Motorsports team in the ARCA Racing Series garage to prepare for her upcoming stock car racing debut in the February 6 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. On Sunday afternoon, Patrick posted her weekend best 49.442 second/182.028 mph lap, placing her fifth among 29 drivers who participated in the Sunday afternoon portion of testing. Patrick and her team also spent portions of Sunday making simulated pit stops.

The three day test drew drivers from the world over, with Venezuela's Milka Duno, India's Narain Karthikeyan and China's Darryl O'Young joining US and Canadian drivers. Most teams used the session to prepare for ARCA's February 6 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 season opener at Daytona Int'l Speedway (live on SPEED at 4 p.m. Eastern) while others participated primarily to gain superspeedway racing experience in anticipation of future ARCA speedway races.

Mikey Kile, who plans to run the full 20-race ARCA Racing Series schedule in 2010, recorded the fastest time of the weekend with a 49.164 second/183.061 mph lap on Saturday afternoon while drafting with Venturini Motorsports teammates Steve Arpin and Alli Owens.

Owens, a Daytona Beach, Florida native, joined Patrick as one of a record ten females who participated in Daytona testing, recording the fastest time by a female driver this weekend (49.192 seconds/182.957 mph) during Saturday afternoon's draft. Fellow Floridian Patrick Sheltra, who resides in Indiantown, topped the speed charts during the Sunday afternoon portion of testing. Robb Brent, in a Mike Allgaier-owned Dodge, concluded Sunday morning's session leading the speed charts with a 49.250 second/182.741 mph lap.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards will return to Daytona Int'l Speedway for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on Saturday, February 6. The race is live on SPEED beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern and is part of Daytona Speedweeks 2010.

Sunday Afternoon Test Speeds:

Pos. No. Name TIME Speed
1 60 Patrick Sheltra 49.176 183.02
2 36A Robb Brent 49.269 182.67
3 66 Mark Thompson 49.367 182.31
4 82 Sean Corr 49.438 182.05
5 88 Danica Patrick 49.443 182.03
6 97 Matt Lofton 49.474 181.91
7 59 Leilani Munter 49.512 181.77
8 5A Bobby Gerhart 49.529 181.71
9 16 Joey Coulter 49.531 181.70
10 83 Grant Enfinger 49.57 181.56
11 30 Terry Jones 49.633 181.33
12 22 Dakoda Armstrong 49.712 181.04
13 55 Steve Arpin 49.717 181.02
14 43 Kyle Martel 49.734 180.96
15 21 Jennifer Jo Cobb 49.795 180.74
16 52K Josh Richards 49.855 180.52
17 30B BJ McLeod 49.864 180.49
18 77 Tom Hessert 49.865 180.49
19 16A Randy Renfro 49.905 180.34
20 69 Steve Blackburn 49.908 180.33
21 11 Bryan Silas 49.926 180.27
22 88A Danica Patrick 50.014 179.95
23 12A Russ Dugger 50.094 179.66
24 12 Derek White 50.567 177.98
25 58 Chad Hackenbracht 50.606 177.84
26 77A Tom Hessert 50.668 177.63
27 25A Mikey Kile 50.72 177.44
28 4 Ricky Carmichael 50.799 177.17
29 48 James Hylton 51.288 175.48