FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Andy Cagle
910-995-2122
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (December 31, 2009) – The rain held back long enough for one practice session Thursday afternoon.
Unfortunately for the rest of the cars entered in Friday’s Frank Kimmel Street Stock Nationals Polar Bear 150 at Rockingham Speedway, Chuck Barnes did not.
Before
the rain set in, Barnes, the Louisville, Ky. native, turned the fastest
practice laps of the 55 cars that took time in preparation of Friday’s
race with a quick lap of 29.774 seconds.
“The
car was pretty good,” said Barnes, the defending champion of the Polar
Bear 150. “It’s basically the same set up that we had last year. It was
pretty stable considering how damp the track was. I think we are
through with practice today, we are close, as close as anyone else.”
China Grove N.C.’s Tab Boyd, whose day job is spotting for Juan Pablo Montoya, was second quick with a lap of 29.814 seconds. Owensboro, Ky.’s Brett Hudson,
winner of the Cherry Bomb 200 at the Rockingham Speedway, was third
fastest with a lap of 29.857 seconds. Rounding out the top-five were
Clint Watkins of Maggie Valley N.C. and Louisville, Ky.’s Tony Conway.
The top four drivers were the only ones to break the 30 second mark
during the limited practice.
“The
car is really driving good today,” said Boyd. “We are just having a
blast here today at Rockingham. I’ve got a bunch of friends and family
here helping us with the car. I want to thank Andy Hillenburg and Frank Kimmel for putting this deal together.”
Hudson
sees some room to inmprove on his times as he looks to make up for last
year’s disappointing Polar Bear finish. Hudson’s car blew a engine with
15 laps to go while running second, denying him a chance to race Barnes
for the win.
“The
car wasn’t as good today as it has been or as I was hoping for,” Hudson
said. “but the track was wet. The car was loose in. I was being pretty
conservative with it and we were still third quick. I think we’ll have
something for them tomorrow.”
Cars
will line up based on their practice speeds for the European-style
qualifying session at 10 AM on Friday. Each 10-car group will make a
five-lap qualifying run with each car’s fast lap determining their
starting position. The green flag drops on the Polar Bear 150 at 12 noon.
For more information, or to order tickets for the Polar Bear 150, contact the Rockingham Speedway at 910.205.8800 or online at www.rockinghamspeedway.com.
General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the
race with tickets for children under 12 $5. Suite packages are also
available by contacting the speedway.
If you can’t make it to the track, then follow the racing action from Rockingham Speedway online at www.pitrowradio.com.
Caption Photo DSC_779
Chuck
Barnes (No. 5) leads Brett Hudson (No. 00) through turns one and two
during Thursday afternoon's practice session for Friday's running of
the Polar Bear 150 at Rockingham Speedway. Barnes turned the fastest
lap of the session with Hudson turning the third fastest. Qualifying
for the Polar Bear 150 gets under way at 10 AM Friday morning with the
green flag waving at noon.
Caption Photo DSC_736
Jimmy
Elledge turns the 18th fastest lap of the 55 cars that took time in
Thursday afternoon's practice session for the Polar Bear 150 at the
Rockingham Speedway. Qualifying for the Polar Bear 150 gets under way
at 10 AM Friday morning with the green flag waving at noon.
Andy Cagle
Director of Public Relations
Rockingham Speedway
910.995.2122
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