ARCA: Venturini Motorsports sweeps Talladega test ... Canadian Arpin 4th fastest

TALLADEGA, AL - (3-23-10) - There has been nary a test in 2010 during which the Venturini Motorsports team did not top the speed charts. Tuesday's ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards open test at Talladega Superspeedway was no exception.

In fact, Venturini Motorsports, with five teams in the line-up, took the top four positions with Westlake, Louisiana's Mikey Kile leading the charge. Kile, in the no. 25 Venturini Motorsports Toyota, circled the 2.66-mile superspeedway in 50.836 seconds, an average speed of 188.370 mph. Kile's teammates John Wes Townley, Mark Thompson and Steve Arpin followed on the chart giving Toyota the top four spots.

Fairhope, Alabama favorite Grant Enfinger (RAB Racing Ford) was fifth overall ahead of Alex Kennedy (Capital City Motorsports), Kyle Martel (Bill Martel Racing), Alli Owens (Venturini Motorsports), Frank Kimmel (Kimmel Racing) and Dakoda Armstrong (Cunningham Motorsports). Martel, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, made the most laps during the test, circling the track 55 times.

ARCA/NASCAR Camping World Truck Series veteran Chad McCumbee, who was 12th fastest overall, subbed for the absent Nick Igdalsky in the Andy Belmont Racing no. 1 Ford.

Today's test, originally scheduled to get underway at 9:00 AM local time Tuesday morning, was delayed until early afternoon because of overnight and early morning rain showers.

In all, 24 drivers posted time and speed in today's session in preparation for the 250-mile ARCA race at Talladega on Friday, April 23rd.

With weather forecasters predicting clear, sunny skies with temperatures in the mid-70s, the ARCA Racing Series will resume with a full day of open testing Wednesday with on-track time scheduled from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards     
Talladega Superspeedway Open Test (3/23-24/10)         
Results, Day 1 (3-23-10)                               
                                               
        NO       DRIVER/HOMETOWN         MAKE    TIME    SPEED 
1        25      Mikey Kile/Westlake LA  Toyota  50.836  188.370       
2        35      John Wes Townley/Watkinsville GA        Toyota  50.944  187.971       
3        66      Mark Thompson/Cartersville GA   Toyota  51.151  187.210       
4        55      Steve Arpin/Fort Frances ON     Toyota  51.241  186.882       
5        09      Grant Enfinger/Fairhope AL      Ford    51.325  186.576       
6        38      Alex Kennedy/Aztec NM   Dodge   51.338  186.528       
7        43      Kyle Martel/Lebanon PA  Chevy   51.345  186.503       
8        15      Alli Owens/Daytona Beach FL     Chevy   51.457  186.061       
9        44      Frank Kimmel/Clarksville IN     Ford    51.551  185.758       
10       22      Dakoda Armstrong/New Castle IN  Dodge   51.554  185.747       
11       16a     Joey Coulter/Miami Springs FL   Chevy   51.742  185.072       
12       1       Chad McCumbee/Supply NC         Ford    51.752  185.036       
13       77      Tom Hessert/Cherry Hill NJ      Dodge   51.767  184.983       
14       5       Bobby Gerhart/Lebanon PA        Chevy   51.834  184.744       
15       60a     Patrick Sheltra/Indiantown FL   Dodge   52.064  183.928       
16       0       Butch Jarvis/Blountville TN     Dodge   52.224  183.364       
17       01      Bill Baird/Sturgis KY   Dodge   52.257  183.248       
18       31      Tim George Jr./New York NY      Chevy   52.263  183.227       
19       32a     Justin Marks/Rocklin CA         Toyota  52.270  183.203       
20       42      Scott Stenzel/Orlando FL        Ford    52.411  182.710       
21       06      Brett Hudson/Owensboro KY       Chevy   53.001  180.676       
22       48a     James Hylton/Inman SC   Ford    53.243  179.855       
23       75      Benny Chastain/Tallahassee FL   Chevy   53.406  179.306       
24       131     Brent Brevak/Eau Claire WI      Dodge   55.650  172.076       
       
From Don Radebaugh, ARCA PR/Communications