ARCA Federated Auto Parts 200 at Salem Preview

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The ARCA Racing Series heads to the .555 mile Salem Speedway in Indiana. Salem has a rough surface and has been compared to the likes of Darlington Raceway and vice versa. ARCA has visited Salem and its high banks since 1955.

Grant Enfinger has started the season off with a bang, winning the first two races of the season at Daytona and Mobile.  He became the first driver to do so since Jimmy Horton in 1990.

Last fall’s Salem winner, Kyle Benjamin is entered in the #17 for the Roulo Brothers.  The 16-year-old wheeled the car to a second-place finish in his début for the team at Mobile. Another 16-year-old will join Benjamin as a teammate this weekend.  Kyle Weatherman will drive the #99 Ford in his Roulo Brothers début. It was the Kyle and Kyle show last fall at Salem, with Benjamin and Weatherman finishing 1-2 in the race.

Another driver to keep an eye on is Justin Boston, who is coming off two bad races to start his sophomore season.  Boston is still looking for first win in ARCA.

Cody Coughlin makes his second ARCA start for Venturini Motorsports, after a 13th-place showing at Mobile.

Never count out ten-time and defending champ Frank Kimmel.  The veteran driver has nine wins at Salem, including five straight (Sept. 2000-Sept. 2002). Kimmel hasn’t won at the track since Sept. 2008.

Last year’s race came down to a last lap duel between Spencer Gallagher and Tom Hessert.

Hessert passed Gallagher on the backstretch on the final lap to make it two straight wins at the Indiana track.

ARCARacing.com will have live radio coverage of the race from announcers Charlie Krall and Tim Clagg.  Green flag is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday.