By KEVIN HARRIS
kevin.harris@newsandtribune.com
BORDEN —
Frank Kimmel has had a lot of memorable races in his ARCA Racing Series career.
On July 27 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, the Clarksville native and nine-time ARCA series champion added another great memory to that collection.
Kimmel led the final 43 laps to collect the checkered flag in the Messina Wildlife Animal Stopper 200. The victory was the 75th in Kimmel’s illustrious career and it snapped a 76-race winless streak. Prior to that race, Kimmel’s last win came in September of 2008 at Salem Speedway.
The 50-year-old Kimmel just needs five more victories to pass ARCA legend Iggy Katona as the all-time winningest driver in series history.
The win also was Kimmel’s first with his new team, ThorSport Racing in Sandusky, Ohio. ThorSport, which fields trucks in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton and Dakoda Armstrong, started an ARCA team this season and hired Kimmel as its driver. Kimmel and ThorSport are currently third in the ARCA point standings, 80 points behind point leader Brennan Poole.
On Monday, the News and Tribune sports department contacted Kimmel at his home near Borden to talk about his latest victory, his chances of winning a 10th series championship, among other topics.
• QUESTION: Describe your emotions after breaking that long winless streak at Lucas Oil Raceway on July 27.
• KIMMEL: “It was a huge deal. I didn’t realize it had been four years since we had won a race until that victory. It was a very emotional night for me and my family. It was great to get that off my shoulders.”
• Q: Were you more happy or more relieved after winning that race?
• KIMMEL: “It was probably 50-50. There was a lot of happiness because we put a lot into it. But we were relieved as well because you hear that you are 50 years old, it’s tough for you to win anymore and these young guys are pretty tough. After a while, you start thinking about that stuff.”
• Q: You need five more wins to set ARCA’s all-time wins record. Do you think you are still capable of doing that?
• KIMMEL: “Absolutely — now more so than ever after the [Lucas Oil Raceway] race. When we go to the race track, we feel we have a chance to win. We’ll keep chipping away at it.”
• Q: You are 80 points out of first place with six races to go in the season. Assess your chances of winning a 10th series championship.
• KIMMEL: “I think they are really good. We have made up a lot of points the last few races. I think we’ve got as good of a chance as anyone to win it right now.”
• Q: How much have you enjoyed racing for ThorSport Racing?
• KIMMEL: “It’s been such a change for me, but it’s probably the most rewarding atmosphere that I’ve ever been in. It’s just been a good time. It’s a really, really cool deal.”
• Q: For the first time in several years, you are not working on your own race cars. How difficult of an adjustment has that been for you?
• KIMMEL: “In some ways, I miss being at the shop. But in other ways, I don’t think it has been a big adjustment. It has not been difficult at all. [Kimmel’s wife] Donna keeps me busy around the house. But in all reality, it’s been a good time.”
• Q: Have you been able to keep tabs on Clarksville-based Kimmel Racing, the team you once owned with your brother and former crew chief Bill Kimmel Jr.?
• KIMMEL: “I haven’t really kept up with what they are doing. I haven’t really been able to go to their shop. But at Daytona [International Speedway] and Talladega [Superspeedway], I know they ran well and I think [Kimmel Racing driver and his nephew Will Kimmel] will be strong on the dirt tracks coming up on the schedule.”
• Q: How tough of a decision was it to leave Kimmel Racing at the end of last season?
• KIMMEL: “That was without a doubt the toughest thing I had to do in my career. [Bill and I] had been together for a long time and it was tough. It took a lot of thought to do that. It was a tough deal.”
• Q: Give us an update on your son, Frankie, and his racing endeavors. (Frankie Kimmel is about ready to enter his senior year at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.)
• KIMMEL: “We went to Rockingham [N.C.] Speedway in a street stock and won that race. Then he came back and ran the Firecracker 200 at Salem Speedway. He had the top time at Salem and was leading the race, but he broke a rear [wheel] hub that ended his night. He’s been driving for the Richard Petty Driving Experience during the summer.”
• Q: You turned 50 earlier this year. Have you given any thought on how many more years you are going to race?
• KIMMEL: “Our sponsors [Menards home improvement stores and Ansell gloves] are real happy with the way we’re running right now. We are already talking with Menards and Ansell on a two- or three-year contract extension. I want to run another year and a half, get those records taken care of and then help get Frankie’s career going.”
FRANK KIMMEL
• AGE: 50
• RESIDENCE: Borden
• HOMETOWN: Clarksville
• FIRST FULL ARCA SEASON: 1991
• CAREER ARCA VICTORIES: 75
• CAREER ARCA CHAMPIONSHIPS: Nine (series record)
• CHAMPIONSHIP YEARS: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
