SPARTA KY (5-13-03) ARCA RE/MAX Series third-generation driver Michael Simko had competed on just short tracks prior to last Saturday's Channel 5 205, but with his solid eighth place finish at Kentucky Speedway, the Clarkston Michigan rookie proved he can compete anywhere. |  | "It was a good run for the team, and the car was phenomenal," said Simko. Saturday marked Simko's third appearance on the tour this season, behind Salem Speedway and Toledo Speedway. "We had a good run at Salem, some hard luck at Toledo, but this finish tonight brings the confidence level right back up," added Simko. | Simko was impressive off the trailer. In the first practice session, he posted a speed of 158.684 mph, which racked up 17th on the speed chart. "The car is good, but we're looking to improving the time in qualifying. |  | | And improve he did. In Old Milwaukee Pole Qualifying Simko steered the #56 Mound Steel & Supplies-Michigan Steel Erectors Chevy to a solid 10th place on the starting grid with a speed of 161.551. Simko's new mark had knocked off nearly a full second off his practice speeds. |  | "The car is continuing to improve; the guys made some changes right before we went out and it worked." Simko also remarked, "Kentucky can all be about track position, so starting up front is a big plus for the Auburn Racing Team." Saturday would bring threaten skies early forcing the teams to keep their eye to the sky, as several thunderstorms roared through the track early in the morning, to the early afternoon. | Luckily, the skies would clear up and the sun would begin to shine leaving all the teams thinking positive towards racing at night.
"We knew that rain could be an issue; we weren't sure if it would arrive on Friday, or Saturday. I'm just glad it didn't affect any of the racing activities," noted Simko, who will also compete in several late model features in 2003.
The field took the green flag shortly after 8:00 pm EST, with Simko hovering around the top-ten for the first 15 circuits. On lap 15, the second-generation driver had moved up on the running order to ninth. "There were a lot of good cars up front; it wasn't easy, but we wanted to keep up with as many of them as possible," he said.
For much of the event, Simko would be racing side by side with the No. 51 entry of Joe Cooksey. "It was fun racing with Joe; he's a smart driver and we raced hard, but clean."
Kyle Busch and ARCA RE/MAX Series veteran Frank Kimmel were dominating the field and their pace would trap him a lap down shortly after halfway. "It's a shame that we fell a lap down, but we tried to hang on to the lead lap as long as possible, but there were some really fast machines up front."
Despite dropping off the lead lap, Simko had been clicking off competitive lap times throughout the entire event. "I got into a rhythm, and tried to stay in it for most of the race." It would be on lap 127 with ten laps to go, that he turned a whopping lap of 33.420 seconds, which equaled his qualifying time.
With Kyle Busch taking his second consecutive ARCA victory in only his third start, Simko would cross the line in his Pontiac Grand Prix in the eighth position, completing 136 out of a possible 137 laps.
"It was a good run for the team, we needed this finish and I think we may have impressed some people this weekend." The former Owosso Speedway Rookie of the Year also mentioned, "To come to Kentucky, qualify good, and race as well as we did, I'm not going to complain; and we're definitely looking forward to Michigan."
The ARCA RE/MAX Series rolls into Lowe's Motor Speedway for their seventh event of the season. The series will race on Thursday night with live coverage on SPEED channel starting at 9 pm eastern. |
