Full Throttle

Matt Crafton finished third in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Friday night. Saturday morning, he woke up at Toledo Speedway OH just in time to climb aboard Paul Menard’s ARCA car for practice and qualifying.

Crafton, subbing for the missing Menard who is currently at Lowe’s for Saturday night’s NASCAR Sprint Showdown, will be practicing and qualifying Menard’s car Saturday.

Upon Menard’s arrival to Toledo Speedway Sunday morning, Crafton will shift from Menard’s car to the spotters stand where he will spot for Menard during the Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care Sunday afternoon.

The car that Crafton and Menard will be driving is one from the Kimmel Racing stable, one that Kimmel Racing has named “The Don”. It’s the same machine that Frank Kimmel won with at both mile-dirts in 2008 as well as at his hometown Salem Speedway. Menard will see the car, the no. 98 Johns Manville Ford, for the first time when he arrives Sunday morning for the race, in which he will have to tag the tail-end for the start.

ARCA RE/MAX Series practice is scheduled from 12:30 to 2:00 PM Saturday, May 16 with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell following at 3:30. The ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series K-100 is scheduled to start at 5:00 Saturday afternoon. Pre-race ceremonies for the Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care begin at 1:15 Sunday, May 17 followed by the 200-lap race at 2:15.

NOTE: ARCA Officials have made alterations to scheduled on-track activities for Saturday’s ARCA RE/MAX Series and ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series events at Toledo Speedway due to intermittent rain showers in the area.
Qualifying for both the ARCA RE/MAX Series and the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series has been cancelled. The ARCA RE/MAX Series will practice once the track surface is ready (approximately 3 p.m.) and the K 100 presented by All Sport ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series race will take place at 5 p.m. as originally scheduled.

Tonight’s K 100 presented by All Sport ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series starting line-up will be set based on 2008 final ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series Owners’ Point Standings. Sunday’s Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care starting line-up will be set based on current year Owners’ Points.

Live timing and scoring and audio coverage of the Menards 200 race weekend will be available on arcaracing.com. Race fans who have an ARCA Nation account (free to join at http://www.arcanation.com/) can watch live streaming video coverage of the race.