ARCA Series Wraps up Three Day Daytona Test



DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (December 20, 2009)-The ARCA Racing Series presented
by RE/MAX and Menards wrapped up a three day test at Daytona Int'l Speedway
on Sunday afternoon where IZOD IndyCar Driver Danica Patrick took the first
step in transitioning to full bodied stock cars.



Under the watchful eyes of race fans and national media, Patrick worked with
crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and the JR Motorsports team in the ARCA Racing
Series garage to prepare for her upcoming stock car racing debut in the
February 6 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. On Sunday afternoon, Patrick posted her
weekend best 49.442 second/182.028 mph lap, placing her fifth among 29
drivers who participated in the Sunday afternoon portion of testing. Patrick
and her team also spent portions of Sunday making simulated pit stops.



The three day test drew drivers from the world over, with Venezuela's Milka
Duno, India's Narain Karthikeyan and China's Darryl O'Young joining US and
Canadian drivers. Most teams used the session to prepare for ARCA's February
6 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 season opener at Daytona Int'l Speedway (live on
SPEED at 4 p.m. Eastern) while others participated primarily to gain
superspeedway racing experience in anticipation of future ARCA speedway
races.



Mikey Kile, who plans to run the full 20-race ARCA Racing Series schedule in
2010, recorded the fastest time of the weekend with a 49.164 second/183.061
mph lap on Saturday afternoon while drafting with Venturini Motorsports
teammates Steve Arpin and Alli Owens.



Owens, a Daytona Beach, Florida native, joined Patrick as one of a record
ten females who participated in Daytona testing, recording the fastest time
by a female driver this weekend (49.192 seconds/182.957 mph) during Saturday
afternoon's draft. Fellow Floridian Patrick Sheltra, who resides in
Indiantown, topped the speed charts during the Sunday afternoon portion of
testing. Robb Brent, in a Mike Allgaier-owned Dodge, concluded Sunday
morning's session leading the speed charts with a 49.250 second/182.741 mph
lap.



The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards will return to
Daytona Int'l Speedway for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on Saturday,
February 6. The race is live on SPEED beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern and is
part of Daytona Speedweeks 2010. Tickets are available online at
www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.



For a complete rundown of Daytona Testing Speeds, visit
http://www.arcaracing.com.