Full Throttle

Erin Crocker was less than six laps from being the first female winner in ARCA RE/MAX Series history. But it was not to be, compliments of a hard-charging Erik Darnell, who passed Crocker on the 95th circuit of the 100-lap race to win the Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 Saturday night at Kentucky Speedway.

Darnell, in the Roush Racing Simply Wow Ford, pitted for fuel and tires with twelve laps remaining and then made some bold maneuvers to work his way from ninth to first in very short order.

“We knew we were going to be close on fuel inside 20 to go so when we saw that last caution we decided to come in for fuel and tires,” said Darnell. “When Erin got the green with twelve to go she got a very good start and I wasn’t sure whether or not I would be able to catch her. Jeff Campey, my crew chief, and Shane the car chief, did an excellent job.”

Darnell’s victory marked the seventh different winner in seven events so far in 2007. The series record was set in 2006 with 17 different winners in 23 races.

Crocker, in the Mac Tools-Mac Card Dodge, finished second about five lengths away from the winner.

“I feel good,” said Crocker. “Obviously I’m a little bit disappointed but I know it was close and I thank the guys; I thank Mac Tools and the whole team. It’s a great opportunity and we’re so close to a win. It can happen. Darnell was fast all day. Fast in practice, fast in qualifying, but yeah, he pitted on that last stop. He came from ninth. He made his way through traffic real fast and I was hoping that he wouldn’t have enough time to catch up to me but it didn’t work out that way.”

Crocker’s runner-up run tied her career-best giving the Wilbraham, Massachusetts driver her third career ARCA RE/MAX Series second place finish.

Bobby Santos III finished third in the Bill Davis Trucking Toyota, marking the highest finish by the Toyota nameplate in ARCA RE/MAX Series history.

Eight-time and defending ARCA RE/MAX champion Frank Kimmel finished eighth. Michelle Theriault finished 22nd 2 laps doen to the leader in her Glock sponsored Chevrolet. The third female in the starting line-up, Gabi DiCarlo, retired her Great Clips Ford after a lap 77 accident.

ARCA RE/MAX, Kentucky Speedway, Sports, Erin Crocker, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle