Michael Annett Drives Into History With Toyota Victory At Talladega

[PressRoom-GFN]

TALLADEGA, Ala. (Oct. 5, 2007) -- Michael Annett drove his Pilot Travel Centers Toyota into history Friday at Talladega Superspeedway by becoming the first driver in the 55-year history of the ARCA RE/MAX Series to bring the Toyota nameplate to victory lane.

Annett, in the Bill Davis Racing entry, fought off Roush Fenway Racing's Colin Braun on the final lap, then edged eight-time series champion Frank Kimmel at the checkered flag by a half-car length to win the thrilling ARCA RE/MAX 250 in only his fourth series start.

"I knew they were going to try something (on the final lap)," Annett said. "Colin came to the outside of me going through the trioval. We kind of got together. I just kept my left side on the yellow line, and when we got together it slowed down his momentum. Then Frank (Kimmel) decided to go with me, and that really helped. Frank raced me clean. You can't ask for more out of your competitors.

"It was a learning experience throughout the race. We got shuffled back early, but I found out what the car needed to get back up front. And once we got up there, we pretty much stayed there."

Simultaneously, Erin Crocker, who finished 18th, also made history by earning the 2007 Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Championship, becoming the first woman to win the award.

"It's a really big deal for me," Crocker said. "It's a really prestigious award and it's a huge honor to win it. When you look back at some of the drivers who have won ARCA's superspeedway title, from Davey Allison to Frank Kimmel, it makes it even more special.

"I also think it could really help my career. It means something to be the ARCA RE/MAX Series Superspeedway champion. I'm truly honored to hold the title."

Kimmel, in addition to finishing second, clinched the 2007 Bill France Triple Crown Award, which is designed to measure a driver's success on three very different tracks. This year's edition of the award included a dirt track [DuQuoin State Fairgrounds], a short track [Salem Speedway] and a superspeedway [Talladega].

"I think the fastest car won the race," Kimmel said. "Michael (Annett) did a nice job. He was really fast. We just couldn't quite team up enough to pass him. I was able to get by Colin (Braun) right there at the very end, and then almost made it (past Annett), but didn't quite."

Dominick Casola, in Andy Belmont's A. Casola Farms Ford, finished third, marking his career best finish in his first restrictor-plate start. Casola was also the highest-finishing rookie and earned the Hoosier Tire Hard Charger honors for advancing the most positions.

"I'd never drafted with anyone before," Casola said. "So this weekend definitely paid dividends. We started in the middle, fell to the back, and I tried to work my way back up there. My car was real strong all day. I just haven't had a lot of experience on these restrictor-plate tracks."

Richard Johns finished fourth in the BeavEx Ford, while Billy Venturini rounded out the top five in his Hampton Luxury Homes Chevrolet.

Annett was dominant throughout the race, leading 75 of the 94 laps that comprised the 250-mile event. Braun was also a factor most of the way, leading eight laps before getting shuffled back to ninth at the finish.

Dario Franchitti, this year's Indianapolis 500 winner, made his stock car debut in Chip Ganassi's Dodge and finished 17th.

"I gained a huge amount of experience learning from the start of the race," Franchitti said. "The first part of the race I was drafting like an Indy Car. I was getting up behind people and then I figured out it was more important who was pushing you than who is in front of you. Once I figured that out I was getting into side drafting and everything started to come together.

"It was a lot of fun out there. I'm disappointed with the result, but what I've learned, I don't think you can put a price on it. I learned so much today. I'm looking at the long game. I'm looking at next year. From that point of view, I'm very happy. I'm a little disappointed because I think the Target guys deserved a better result than that."

Bryan Clauson earned the SIM Factory Pole Award on Thursday with a lap of 184.840 mph. Clauson also battled back from one lap down to finish 11th.

Next up for the ARCA RE/MAX Series is Championship Weekend at Toledo Speedway. The Hantz Group 200, presented by Belle Tire, is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Oct. 14.

The top-10 ARCA RE/MAX Series Points after the Oct. 5 ARCA RE/MAX 250 at Talladega Superspeedway:

1.Frank Kimmel 5,250; 2. Michael McDowell 4,955; 3. Dexter Bean 4,580; 4. Justin Allgaier 4,500; 5. Justin Marks 4,350; 6. Phillip McGilton 4,315; 7. Patrick Sheltra 4,175; 8. Justin South 4,035; 9. Bryan Silas 3,795; 10. Josh Krug 3,750.

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