Rookie gets his dents, but wins

Harold Eaatmon works inside the engine compartment of Jason Jarrett's car in the pits before yesterday's ARCA event.

BROOKLYN, Mich. - Rookie Reed Sorenson won the rough and tumble Flagstar 200 at Michigan International Speedway yesterday, finishing more than 10 seconds ahead of runner-up Matt Hagans.

The ARCA Re/Max Series event had more than its share of dents and contact, including one that sent rookie Chad McCumbee end-over-end down the backstretch.

McCumbee was not injured in the accident in which his car rolled seven times. The race was red-flagged for a total of 18 minutes and 40 seconds to clear the wreckage.

Former Perrysburg resident Jerry Glanville, who had worked his way up from his No. 21 starting position to seventh place late in the race, got spun out by contact from behind and dropped to 23rd.

Sorenson, driving the No. 77 Sherwin Williams Dodge for Chip Ganassi, dominated the race, leading for a total of 42 of the 100 laps, including the final 41. A.J. Henriksen finished third and Brent Sherman was fourth.

"We really wanted to win earlier at Charlotte, so getting it here is great," Sorenson said. "The car was good all day and it was just a matter of letting things play out. Getting through traffic was a little crazy there a couple of times.

"Hopefully, this is the start of more good things for my career."

Sorenson's winning average speed of 112.518 miles per hour was the second-slowest ARCA race average speed ever at MIS. There were six caution periods for a total of 34 laps.