Full Throttle

SALEM, Ind. - ARCA RE/MAX Series Rookie of the Year contender Chad McCumbee, in his first Salem appearance, wowed the party regulars with his career first Pork Pole Award Saturday afternoon at Salem Speedway. McCumbee, aboard Andy Hillenburg’s #11 Fast Track Chevrolet, qualified with a top speed of 113.957 mph for Sunday’s Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 by Federated Auto Parts. It’s the fastest qualifying speed at Salem since Frank Kimmel’s top mark in the spring of 2001.

“Wow; this track’s a blast,” said McCumbee, who played the part of Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the film production “3″. “All I heard was horror stories about this place - how rough it is and all that. It’s rough all right, but I like it. Never been on a track like this.

“It’s more of a testament to our crew, more than anything. They’ve been up working past midnight every night. The guys deserved this; I was more happy for them than anything. I just hope to learn as much as I can tomorrow.”

NASCAR veteran crew chief Tim Kohuth guides the effort for the Supply, North Carolina driver making only his fourth series start.

Ron Hornaday III, also making his first attempt on the historic southern-Indiana oval, qualified second at 113.357 mph in the Hantz Group-Dodge Motorsports Dodge. Hornaday is the son of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday.

Chad Blount, the most recent winner on the tour (Nashville, March 05), qualified third in the Foretravel Motorhomes Chevrolet. It’s Blount’s first Salem appearance since September 2002.

Dallas, Texas driver Ken Weaver, in the 1-800-4-A-Phone Chevrolet, qualified fourth. Weaver, also making his first RE/MAX Series/Salem attempt, raced a late model recently here to familiarize himself with the layout.

Six-time series champ and eight-time Salem winner Frank Kimmel, in the Advance Auto Parts-Pork Ford, completed the top-five qualifiers.

Sunday’s Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 presented by Federated Auto Parts, the 74th ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Salem since 1955, is scheduled to get underway soon after 1 pm central time.

QUALIFING RESULTS

Official starting grid for Sunday’s “Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 by Federated Auto Parts” ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Salem Speedway, showing starting position, car number, driver, hometown, sponsors, manufacturer, qualiying time and speed:

1. 11 Chad McCumbee/Supply, N.C., Fast Track Driving School, Chevrolet, 17.375 seconds, 113.957 mph.
2. 4 Ron Hornaday III, Mooresville, N.C., Hantz Group/Dodge Motorsports, Dodge, 17.467, 113.357.
3. 67 Chad Blount, Walkerton, Ind., Foretravel Motorhomes, Chevrolet, 17.489, 113.214.
4. 20 Ken Weaver, Dallas, Texas, 1-800-4-A-Phone, Chevrolet, 17.623, 112.353.
5. 46 Frank Kimmel, Clarksville, Ind., Advance Auto Parts/Pork, Ford, 17.655, 112.150.
6. 62 Brett Hudson, Owensboro, Ky., Hudson Machine/Bullett Motorsports, Chevrolet, 17.663, 112.099.
7. 86 Justin Allgaier, Springfield, Ill., Hoosier Tire Midwest/USAF/The Trashman, Pontiac, 17.688, 111.940.
8. 41 Josh Clemons, New Albany, Ind., Larry Clemons, Ford, 17.733, 111.656.
9. 25 Jason Jarrett, Hickory, N.C., Central Merchant Services/ReadyHosting.com, Chevrolet, 17.777, 111.380.
10. 78 Justin South, Hueytown, Ala., Alabama Brick, Chevrolet, 17.778, 111.374.
11. 99 Ken Schrader, Fenton, Mo., Federated Auto Parts, Chevrolet, 17.797, 111.255.
12. 23 Joe Cooksey, Centralia, Ill., 1-800-SERVPRO, Chevrolet, 17.871, 110.794.
13. 59 Mark Gibson, Winder, Ga., Williams Bros Lumber, Chevrolet, 17.883, 110.720.
14. 45 Michael Simko, Clarkston, Mich., Mound Steel, Pontiac, 17.883, 110.720.
15. 9 Joey Miller, Farmington, Minn., Country Joe Homes/Eagle Creek Aviation, Dodge, 17.896, 110.639.
16. 64 Josh Allison, Martinsville, Ind., Dave Allison, Dodge, 17.901, 110.608.
17. 48 T.J. Bell, Sparks, Nev., Heathcliff’s Cat Litter/DefiantClothing.com, Chevrolet, 17.973, 110.165.
18. 19 G.R. Smith, Folsom, N.J., Murtco, Chevrolet, 17.976, 110.147.
19. 34 Darrell Basham, Henryville, Ind., Darrell Basham Racing, Chevrolet, 18.011, 109.933.
20. 1 Andy Belmont, Penndel, Pa., Bootie Lager, Ford, 18.104, 109.368.
21. 90 David Ragan, Kannapolis, N.C., 31-W Insulation, Ford, 18.107, 109.350.
22. 5 Randy VanZant, Brookville, Ohio, Devers Truck Bodies/Mike’s Auto Body, Pontiac, 18.140, 109.151.
23. 13 Johnny Leonard, Cape Coral, Fla., Boca Bay Builders/Affordable Roofing, Chevrolet, 18.143, 109.133.
24. 21 Todd Bowsher, Springfield, Ohio, Safe Auto Insurance, Ford, 18.149, 109.097.
25. 96 Brandon Knupp, Sidney, Ohio, Mark Knupp Tire & Muffler/ShowControl, Ford, 18.256, 108.457.
26. 38 Mike Harmon, Birmingport, Ala., Global Pigeon Supply, Pontiac, 18.272, 108.363.
27. 91 Christi Passmore, Pryor, Okla., GAP Roofing/Asphalt & Fuel Supply, Ford, 18.282, 108.303.
28. 7 Jeff Caudell, Austin, Ind., Ferguson Enterprises, Chevrolet, 18.382, 107.714.
29. 44 Billy Leslie, Algonac, Mich., Leslie Tire/Lee Leslie Racing, Ford, provisional.
30. 08 Bill Eversole, Chelsea, Mich., Hardcore Motorsports, Chevrolet, provisional.
31. 84 Norm Benning, Pittsburgh, Pa., Benning Motorsports, Chevrolet, provisional.
32. 75 Robbin Slaughter, Columbus, Ohio, Locke Motorsports, Chevrolet, provisional.
33. 0 Tim Mitchell, Fayetteville, Tenn., Star Wheels Skate Center, Chevrolet, provisional.
34. 6 Ricky Gonzalez, S. Plainfield, N.J., MAB Paints, Chevrolet, provisional.