Darnell Wins ARCA Race
Despite a healthy line-up of top-quality teams in his rear view mirror, Roush Racing’s Erik Darnell drove away from Penske Racing’s Sam Hornish, Jr. to win the ARCA RE/MAX 200 Friday afternoon at Michigan Int’l Speedway. Darnell, in the fuel conservation mode, stretched his advantage to 20 lengths at the final stripe over Hornish, Jr., who finished second in his career-first series start. It was Darnell’s second RE/MAX Series victory of the season.

“We were doing all we could to conserve fuel in the end,” said Darnell, “I saw Hornish coming but fortunately for us he was caught up in a battle with the 31 (Tim McCreadie) and that allowed us to set our pace and save some fuel. Once Hornish cleared the 31, we knew we had to go, so we threw everything we had at it and came out on top. What a great racecar Roush Racing gave me here. It was really good right from the start.”

Hornish, looking for stock car seat-time, had fueling issues and had to make an unscheduled pit stop late in the race, which set the Defiance, Ohio driver well back in the order for the final 20 circuits.

“We couldn’t get any fuel in the car,” said Hornish. “I don’t know if we had a line pinched or what exactly the problem was. I will have to talk to the crew to see exactly what happened. As a racecar driver I would have liked it a lot more for the race to go like the beginning but as a student it was probably good for it to go the way it did. We got a lot of side-by-side racing in today. And I led for awhile so we got a little bit of it all today.”

Erin Crocker, in the Evernham Motorsports MAC Tools-Mac Card Dodge, finished third, becoming the highest finishing female in Michigan Int’l Speedway history.

“We had a little bit of trouble in the pits as well,” said Crocker. “You want to be out leading but it’s fun sometimes to drive up through the field. I like this racetrack. I was enjoying running up by the fence at the beginning of the race. It reminded me of by sprint car days.”

Tim McCreadie, in a Richard Childress Racing Camping World Chevrolet, finished a solid fourth in his career-first RE/MAX Series start. Series regular Jeremy Clements, in the One Stop Convenience Stores Chevrolet, battled back from one lap down to finish fifth.

In all, four drivers exchanged the lead four times while seven cautions slowed the field seven times for 38 laps during the 100-lap, 200-mile race. There were no injuries.

Darnell spent the most time on the point with 58 laps led over Hornish, who led the first 29 circuits. Phillip McGilton, in the Brewco Motorsports SI Performance Ford, finished sixth after leading eight laps, earning the Highest Finishing Rookie of the Race honors. Dexter Bean, who finished 12th, led five laps.

Eddie Sharp Racing teams Toyotas, with Ken Butler III and Michael McDowell driving, finished seventh and eighth respectively. McDowell, who started 22nd, also earned the Hoosier Tire Hard Charger honors for advancing the most positions. Damon Lusk finished ninth in the Dynatak-Ilmore Racing Engines Dodge in front of Brian Keselowski, who finished tenth in the Holloway-Glory Hound Dodge.

Hornish, Jr. also earned the SIM Factory Pole Award on Thursday with a speed of 186.205 mph.

The next event on the 2007 ARCA RE/MAX Series schedule is the Request Foods-GFS 200 at Berlin Raceway on Saturday night, July 7th. Tickets are available by calling (616) 677-5000.

Yeley Picks Up First Pole
J.J. Yeley, driving a Joe Gibbs Racing Chevrolet, picked up his first NASCAR Nextel Cup pole on Friday by turning a lap of the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway -- in 38.399 seconds, tranlating to a speed of 187.500 mph. Yeley is the seventh different pole winner in 2007. This pole qualifyies Yeley automatically to be in the 2008 shootout. It is the fifth pole at Michigan for Joe Gibbs Racing. Jimmie Johnson missed by only .001 second, turning a lap of 38.400 seconds and will start on the outside of Yeley on Sunday in the Citizen's Bank 400. Kyle Busch will roll off in third place and Ryan Newman qualified fourth. Rounding out the top ten are Joe Nemechek, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Jeff Burton and Kurt Busch. Failing to qualify were Dale Jarrett, Ward Burton, Jeremy Mayfield, Mike Bliss, Kevin Lepage and Kenny Wallace.
For Full Starting Lineup...     (Insider Racing News)

Earnhardt Sr. Car On Display
Not only will fans be treated to one of their favorite bi-annual events tomorrow night at Orlando SpeedWorld with the world famous Crash-A-Rama, but they will also have a chance to see a Dale Earnharrdt Sr. car which is being raffled off for charity. Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s 1997 Wheaties car has been donated to be raffled off to benefit Edgewood Children';s Ranch in Orange County and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The raffle tickets are $20.00 each and a winner will be announced September 1, 2007. The car can be seen this Friday night at Orlando SpeedWorld in the granstand area along with a real live panther and a stream of beaufiul girls. Next Friday night, the car will actually be driven around Orlando SpeedWorld for all the fans to see and be filmed for a television commercial for the charity event.(Who Won)

Make a Wish Gifts Stolen
Otterbein's (Indiana) Cody Copas, 13, hopes police find the burglar who stole his Jeff Gordon collectibles. "Why would someone do that?" he said today. "I hope they get him, and he gets in trouble for robbing people."

The boy met the NASCAR driver in November 2003 as part of a Make a Wish Foundation request. The teen, who is in remission with lymphocytic leukemia, visited Homestead, Fla., to meet Gordon and watch a NASCAR race. He spent several hours with Gordon, who signed photos and other memorabilia. Copas is entering eighth grade at Benton Central Junior-Senior High School.

Police said that sometime between Wednesday night and early this morning, a burglar stole items from the residence of the boy's father, Darral Copas. The father recently moved to the 100 block of Candlelight Plaza in West Lafayette. He was working when the burglary took place.(jconline.com)

Aflac Partners with Roush Fenway Racing
With a successful acting career in television commercials and even movies, the Aflac Duck has added yet another role to its already impressive repertoire - race-car driving. Aflac Incorporated today announced that it is partnering with Roush Fenway Racing to sponsor eight NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and Busch Series races in the 2007 season.

Greg Biffle will drive the No. 16 Aflac Ford for its debut at the NEXTEL Cup race on July 1 at New Hampshire International Speedway for a total of four races. Aflac is also sponsoring four Busch Series races with drivers Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray.

"We look forward to working with a world-class team like Roush Fenway Racing to bring the Aflac brand closer to NASCAR fans," said Paul S. Amos II, president, Aflac; COO, U.S. Operations. "In addition to uniting with another great brand and working with these exciting drivers, this sponsorship will be a useful platform to build additional awareness of how our products can help consumers in their quest to balance everyday living expenses with out-of-pocket health care costs not covered by their existing major medical insurance."

Aflac's Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Jeff Herbert added: "We believe the marketing opportunities that will result as a part of our sponsorship with this great motorsports leader will help grow our business and reach our broad consumer base."

"I am extremely excited to work with Aflac, with its reputation as a solid, strong business leader and innovative company," said Jack Roush, Roush Fenway Racing team owner. "Aflac is a welcome addition to our team, and to racing."

"Aflac is certainly a household name, whether people are familiar with their service or just their commercials," added NASCAR Driver Biffle. "I've been fortunate to have several high profile national sponsors - and now Aflac - that the average race fan is familiar with and has likely had a good experience with their service or product. I know Aflac has been involved with the NASCAR broadcasts but I am excited to debut their paint scheme at New Hampshire next month."

The paint scheme was unveiled today at Michigan International Speedway and can be viewed at (aflacracing.com). The Aflac Racing schedule below is also available on the Web site.

Greg Biffle - No. 16 Aflac Ford, NEXTEL Cup Series
* July 1, New Hampshire International Speedway
* July 15, Chicagoland Speedway
* Sept. 2, California Speedway
* Sept. 30, Kansas Speedway

Carl Edwards - No. 60 Aflac Ford, Busch Series
* July 6, Daytona International Speedway

Matt Kenseth - No. 17 Aflac Ford, Busch Series
* Aug. 11, Watkins Glen International

Jamie McMurray - No. 26 Aflac Ford, Busch Series
* Aug. 24, Bristol Motor Speedway
* Sept. 7, Richmond International Raceway