Boooooooooooooo! ARCA is going to the double-file restart format. I prefer the format in which the lead lap cars are in one line and the lap down cars in the inside lane. ARCA also got the no-bump-drafting-in-the-corners rule.
Bobby Gerhardt gets into the wall early on. He continues on as they try to figure out how much damage he has. He possibly got into the speedi-dry put down for all the Sprint Cup blow ups.
And on lap 18 of 80 a melee! Jeb Burton, Buster Graham, Justin Allison, Scotty Hubler, Kody Weisner, Will Kimmel, Cole Powell, Benny Gordon, Mario Gosselin, Mark Thompson, and Justin Boston all involved. 15 cars involved.
Looks like Mason Mitchell pushes Chase Elliott into Buster Graham spinning him around and the field piles in, on, and around.
They’re fighting on pit road! Someone had climbed onto a pit box and was pulled off and was fighting the guy pulling him off. They are still fighting on pit road – teams are now involved. Buster Graham’s team went to the 9’s pit box (Chase Elliott) to voice their displeasure.
Chase is saying he didn’t make any contact with Buster Graham. Chase said the 99 was spinning out as he got to him. Looking at the video if Chase didn’t tap him, he got really, really close. In car with 98 seems to indicate that he didn’t hit Chase. There will be 59 laps to go as they teams come in for pit stops.
Dylan Kwasniewski lost the lead on pit road.
Will Kimmel coming out of the Infield Care center says he “was watching them beat and bang on each other like ‘Days of Thunder’ and it finally caught up with ’em”. He initially said “there are a lot of kids who have never been here before” then amended it to kids, people or whoever. He’s pretty hot under the collar. He didn’t want to say they were done for the day, but admitted it by the end of his comments.
Lelani Munter and Matt Kurzejewski bring out the caution on the restart. Kurzejewski was spinning around and spun into Lelani Munter who was up against the wall.
Jeb Burton said “some of them guys don’t really need to be otu there, but that’s all a part of it”. He’s really bummed.
Buster Graham said his “brakes were working and Grant Enfinger’s brakes were working, but apparently the 9’s brakes weren’t working. He did the same thing to Ty Dillon at Road America. I guess his brakes weren’t working there either.” He said it was too early to be that aggressive. He also said Chase has a lot to learn and that everybody wants to win races, but that’s not the way to do it.
What a delight to have no Michael Waltrip, no Larry McReynolds, no Chris Myers, no aggravations calling this race. A listening pleasure!!! I’m going to miss Rick Allen calling ARCA and Truck races when he goes to NBC.
Terry Jones in the 32 is overheating but still running.
Newman just caught a nice sized fish in Lake Lloyd. Him unhooking the fish was the video bump to commercial.
Caution is out. Kody Weisner (33) has spun out. Austin Dillon is his crew chief.
The President of ARCA says it is a feeder series so he wants the drivers to get experience in the things they’ll experience in the top three series. Some of the guys in this race are trying to get the experience and permission to qualify for the Nationwide and Truck series. NASCAR apparently said to several of them, you need more big track experience before you can attempt to qualify for Trucks or Nationwide.
Th 06 of Ed Pompa is smoking. The driver dropped the window net. The restart has been put off since he’s not far off the track stopped.
Grant Enfinger got the win. Frank Kimmel came in second. Bobby Gerhart pulled out to try to get a run, but lost momentum and couldn’t really advance. Frank probably would’ve jumped in front of him if the push would’ve worked.
Howard Bixman, the owner, was crying as Ray was talking to him about the win. Howard said his father went into the hospital yesterday so this was for him. Then he walked away wiping a tear.
Frank said, “ARCA has to do something with those engine rules they’re really hurting us.” He said he backed up to Clay Campbell, but couldn’t get anything going. Clay is driving for Kenny Schrader. When Jim mentions Clay running another race Clay said I’ve got a day job.
Chase saw the replay and said it was really really close, but he didn’t hit Buster. He said it was an air thing. He hoped to get Hendrick power in victory lane. Sounds like Earl Barban may have been spotting for him. He called his spotter Earl and since he has a deal with Hendrick I’m thinking Earl might be moonlighting with him.