ARCA to celebrate 100th milestone race at Salem Speedway in ’16

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No track has appeared more on the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule over the decades than Salem Speedway. The combination of the two is always reason to celebrate and especially so in 2016 when the annual ARCA Fall Classic will mark the 100
th ARCA race at Salem since the tour debuted on the renowned high-banked, half-mile oval in 1955. The monumental event is scheduled to go off under the lights Saturday night, September 10.
 
“We consider it a real privilege to be hosting the 100th ARCA race at Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery,” track owner Owen Thompson said. “There’s a reason ARCA has raced here so much through the years. When it comes to putting racecars on a racetrack, it doesn’t get more exciting.
 
“It’s a monumental accomplishment for both Salem and ARCA. When you stop and look around at how much things change these days, the ARCA races at Salem have been a testament to the stability of these events. We are extremely proud to be hosting the 100th ARCA race at Salem. It’s a great thing.”
 
ARCA President Ron Drager has attended every ARCA race at Salem since 1979.
 
“One-hundred ARCA Racing Series races at Salem Speedway since 1955, that’s a lot to try to capture,” said Drager. “There have been so many great drivers, close finishes, unpredictable moments-and that’s why fans continue to buy tickets and racers want to be part of it. When you drive across Highway 56 and pass the airport and see all the campers, the crowd filing in at race time-ARCA racing at Salem continues, even after some 60 years, to generate great, memorable action.”
 
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Bobby Allison won the ARCA race at Salem Speedway in 1975.
 
“That’s really neat that Salem Speedway will run its 100th ARCA race in 2016,” said Allison. “I remember Salem really well…a nice, fast, high-banked half-mile in southern Indiana with a little airstrip right next to the track. I liked Salem right away…fell right into a nice rhythm. The fast way around was right up against the wall in three and four but a little more toward the center of the track in one and two. It’s probably changed some since I’ve been there, but it might be nice to be able to go back for that 100th race.”
 
Ten-time ARCA Racing Series national champion Frank Kimmel is the all-time ARCA winner at Salem with nine victories.
 
“First of all, it’s absolutely remarkable,” Kimmel said. “To think that ARCA’s been at Salem that long says a lot for both ARCA and Salem. For a short track to still be in business after all these years…all the adversity,..the ups and downs…pretty incredible. Happy for (track owners) Owen and Beverly Thompson. They came in and saved the place 20 years ago and have worked so hard to keep it up and going. To think ARCA’s been there since 1955…the way that ARCA supports Salem, and Salem, in turn, supports ARCA…it’s just really neat. Whenever you hear someone bring up Salem Speedway, ARCA automatically comes up. It’s just part of the culture there. It’s always the best race of the year and next year will be no exception.”
 
Andy Hampton, who turns 87 on December 1, won three times at Salem – in 1966, ’69 and ’72.
 
“You had to be in pretty good shape to run a hundred mile race at Salem back then,” Hampton said. “I never drove a car with power steering…Salem was one of the tougher tracks…bout like Winchester…you never forget those tracks. One-hundred races at Salem…that’s really something. I hope I can be there for that. I’d sure like to be.”
 
Four-time Salem winner and two-time ARCA champion Ramo Stott won the ARCA Fall Classic at Salem in September of 1969. He also won three consecutive 1970 – ’71.
 
“I love the track,” said the 81-year-old Stott. “I had a lot of family and friends out that way who would come watch me race when we went to Salem. I really enjoyed that place…I understood the track pretty well. It’s hard to believe ARCA’s been there a hundred times. It’s a great deal…I hope to be able to get out there for the race. It’d be an honor to be a part of all that.”
 
Ken Schrader’s win at Salem in 2015 etched his name in the record books as the oldest ARCA winner in history.
 
“What a neat deal…ARCA’s 100th race at Salem,” Schrader said. “I’m just such a big fan of the racetrack and the history of it. Owen’s (Thompson) commitment to the facility is really what got ARCA to this monumental event. If you look at all the transitions that Salem has gone through…all the ups and downs, Owen’s commitment to the place has kept all the possibilities alive. When so many other tracks have come and gone, Salem continues to thrive. When he repaved three and four, he somehow managed to widen the groove and keep the track’s character. I think all the ARCA races at Salem are fabulous, especially the last few…so few cautions…just great racing. People go for the passing now, and not the wrecks. This is one event we already have circled on our calendar. We can’t wait.”
 
Prior to the running of the 100th milestone race at Salem, the series will also visit the southern Indiana short track on Sunday, April 24 for its annual spring race event.
 
Former ARCA winners at Salem also include Troy Ruttman, Don White, Nelson Stacy, Jack Bowsher, Benny Parsons, Iggy Katona, Bob Schacht, Bob and Brian Keselowski, Tim Steele, Justin Allgaier, Brennan Poole, Tom Hessert and Grant Enfinger. Enfinger is the most recent winner at Salem, taking the checkers in the Fall Classic in September.
 
The races at Salem mark the 18th and 19th events so far announced on the 2016 ARCA Racing Series schedule.

ARCA Racing PR

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