Chad McCumbee Earns His Way to Pocono 200 ARCA Victory
By Dino Oberto
(LONG POND, PA) With a slew of developmental teams along with the regular top guns entered, the ARCA RE/MAX Series Pocono 200 was being billed as one of the most competitive in years and indeed that was the case.
Chad McCumbee of Supply, NC raced to a hard fought win in the 80-lap run around the 2.5-mile "Tricky Triangle" as he passed Dexter Bean with five laps to go and became the first ARCA repeat winner this season.
“I knew we had a really good car after practice. At times it was a very nerve racking race. We had over-adjusted a little in qualifying but I’m very tickled to get this win,” said McCumbee.
Starting fifth in the 41-car field, McCumbee was among the early leaders until he got knocked a lap down for a blown tire. He then clawed his way back thanks in part to some yellows and then showing the same strength he had from the get-go, McCumbee motored to the win.
“This was a very different ARCA race then what I’ve ever run before. All the ARCA races have been that way this year, even when we won at Nashville. There’s so much (Nextel) Cup involvement it’s very tough.
“You can’t just jump into an ARCA race anymore and expect to take a Cup car and run really good. They put out an awesome series and this is a great building block that has helped me a ton in progressing with my career.”
McCumbee was driving a Dodge owned by Pennsylvania’s Andy and Jennifer Belmont and also has strong ties to Petty Enterprises. He was sponsored by the Victory Junction Gang. As a matter of fact McCumbee was greeted in Victory Lane by the King himself, Richard Petty.
“When he (Richard Petty) was there it was pretty cool. Everybody at Petty Enterprise has just been unbelievable to me and this is such a great opportunity and hopefully it’s the start of a long relationship,” said McCumbee.
He’s not done with Pocono or the Petty’s either. In Sunday’s Pocono 500 he’ll be piloting Kyle Petty’s #45 which will mark his first NASCAR Nextel Cup start and has been tapped to do so in future events as well.
“Obviously the confidence is up. I want to learn as much as I can and I have a lot to learn going into tomorrow’s race. I just want to run the whole race and finish on the lead lap.”
Bean led the most laps at 19 and had to settle for second, his best effort of the year. Pole sitter Tim Andrews led the first eight laps. He too fought tire issues before rebounding with a solid third. Jeremy Clements and Mario Gosselin completed the top five. Race Results
Michael McDowell was sixth while ARCA’s top two point men, Frank Kimmel and Justin Allgaier slugged it out for seventh with Josh Wise and Lebanon’s Bobby Gerhart rounding out the top ten.
It was a good showing for local ace Kory Rabenold. The 18-year old from Slatington raced a very respectable 12th in his very first ARCA and super speedway race.
Also on the local level was a 15th place showing by Dale Schweikert from Linden in his first start in any type of car this year and Billy Tanner from Newtown finished 27th in the cheapcaribbean.com Chevrolet
Twelve lead changes among nine drives took place. The race was slowed by seven cautions that consumed 34-laps.
ARCA returns to Pocono Raceway on August 4 for the Pennsylvania 200, for tickets go to href="http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?organ_val=269">Poconoraceway.com |
