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ARCA: Everyone Is Chasing Gerhart at Daytona
Written by: Mike Harper
RaceTalkRadio.com   http://www.racetalkradio.com
02/08/2008
Daytona Beach, Fla.
 
Bobby Gerhart returns to Daytona looking for his sixth career ARCA 200 Victory. (Dennis Michelsen, RaceTalkRadio.com Photo) ยป More Photos

Teams Ganassi and Earnhardt Jr. join ARCA regulars in chasing Gerhart

The 45th running of the ARCA 200 at Daytona is set for Saturday and while we find ourselves recovering from the events of Tuesday’s presidential primaries, ARCA has established a frontrunner at Daytona in five-time Daytona winner Bobby Gerhart.

Gerhart, who has won the last three events at Daytona dating back to 2005, heads to the “World Center of Racing” fully recovered from an injury sustained last season at Pocono Raceway. But while his past injury may give some competitors the false perception that the current Daytona champion is down and out, veteran drivers and those of us who’ve covered Gerhart over the years know better to think that way.

“I don’t think his injuries from last year will play a part at all, I think he’s 100% race ready,” said Don Radebaugh, PR/Media Director for ARCA. “He’s an amazing story, an ARCA regular, the Pennsylvania Posse, to come down here and beat up on the people he does each and every year, he’s been an incredible piece of our history down here.”

ARCA does have a rich history at Daytona and at times it’s been overshadowed by the pure excitement of the events surrounding the Daytona 500. The list of past winners from the ARCA event is just as impressive as those are on the NASCAR-side of the fence. Benny Parsons, Jack Bowsher, Kyle Petty, Jeff Purvis, Mike Wallace, Andy Hillenburg, Kenny Irwin and Ryan Newman are some of the names etched in the ARCA history book from Daytona.

2004 was the last year that someone other than Gerhart won the ARCA Daytona event and young-gun Kyle Busch took that honor before moving over to NASCAR.

Over the years the ARCA event at Daytona has proven to play a significant role in a driver’s career or in the case of Dario Franchitti and Scott Speed, the development of their stock car racing careers.

Franchitti, who’ll be driving for Chip Ganassi Racing will qualify for the ARCA 200 at Daytona this week and with over 70 cars entered, each qualifier including
those ARCA regulars will be fighting for every spot on the track.

Included in the fight will be more than just past open-wheelers, Bill Davis Racing, Rusty Wallace Incorporated, Roush Fenway Racing and a car owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. will hit the track looking to qualify for the event.

For JR Motorsports, Landon Cassell will take the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet in the official debut of a partnership formed by Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Needless to say the eyes of the racing community will be on ARCA this weekend. Unfortunately, some will go home by not qualifying for the event and others will work hard to just survive the event against better funded teams. But for those ARCA regulars and the fans of the ARCA RE/MAX Series looking for that one hope against the powerhouses of stock car racing, Gerhart continues to be the man.

Over the past three seasons Gerhart has beaten the best that NASCAR has thrown at him. David Ragan tried last season for Roush Fenway Racing and failed. Burney Lamar for Richard Childress Racing and Kevin Harvick Incorporated couldn’t get it done in 2006. When Joe Gibbs Racing tossed JJ Yeley at Gerhart in 2005, a third place finish was all they could accomplish.

In a way, the ARCA 200 at Daytona is more than just a race. It’s a series against a series - ARCA versus NASCAR. While ARCA regulars fight it out on the track for points and positions, NASCAR hopefuls look to impress owners and sponsors. And as the miles and laps count down on Saturday, some may forget a comeback is underway. For Bobby Gerhart, this is an opportunity to get back to racing and if he captures a sixth Daytona win this weekend, it could end up being the sweetest win of his ARCA career.

Mike Harper is an ARCA RE/MAX Series contributor for SPEEDtv.com, and radio show host of ARCA Thunder presented by Rockingham Speedway on RaceTalkRadio.com.

On the web: www.RaceTalkRadio.com

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or SPEED Channel.
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