ARCA coming back to Toledo

It takes 20 events at a diverse lineup of race tracks, spread out over about nine months for the Toledo-based ARCA Racing Series to determine its champion.

The series returns to Toledo Speedway next Sunday, heading down the home stretch of its drive to that 2010 championship.

The half-mile layout on Benore Road will host ARCA for the second time this season, and provide the venue for a critical race, one of just four left on the calendar following tomorrow's event on the dirt at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in Illinois.

The ARCA Series will come to Toledo Speedway with its top drivers engaged in one of the tightest championship battles in ARCA's 57-year history.

Going into the Illinois event, the top seven drivers in the points race are within 155 points of each other, while the top four in the standings are separated by only 25 points.

Craig Goess leads, but has just a five-point margin over nine-time ARCA Series champion Frank Kimmel.

Patrick Sheltra, Tom Hessert, Dakoda Armstrong, Justin Marks and Mikey Kile complete the top seven in the championship standings.

"This is the most amazing season I have ever seen," said Kimmel, who earned his first victory in the ARCA Series at Toledo Speedway in 1993 and has won nine ARCA races at the venue.

"In all reality, we have seven guys who have a good shot at winning this championship. You have to go out every week and race. A seventh or eighth-place finish - which is a good finish - can cost you three or four spots in the standings."

The ARCA Series race at Toledo Speedway on Sunday is the Northwest Ohio Ford Dealers 200. Fans who visit participating Ford dealers in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan and test drive a new Ford vehicle will receive a four-pack of tickets to Saturday's events at the Speedway, which includes ARCA practice and Menards pole qualifying as well as the Ford Focus Midget Series race.

Each person who participates in the test drive promotion will be automatically registered for a chance to win a pair of tickets and hospitality access for Sunday's ARCA race, with one grand prize winner getting the chance to wave the green flag to start the race.

"Even in challenging economic times, the automotive industry's marketing investment in motorsports, and specifically ARCA and Toledo Speedway, has remained significant," ARCA Series president Ron Drager said.

"The automakers built the sport over a century ago, and it's great today to see Ford's strong presence racing on the track as well as participating in the promotion of a signature event here. This is a key example of Ford's viability and strength, and its continued commitment to invest in motorsports to drive sales."

Contact Matt Markey at:

mmarkey@theblade.com

or 419-724-6510.