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17-year-old
Chad Finley wins the pole at Rockingham, finishes 15th in the ARCA
RE/MAX Series season finale and looks ahead to 2010.
 When 17-year-old Chad
Finley looked around the famed one-mile oval of Rockingham Speedway
in Rockingham, North Carolina, for the first time, he never dreamed
that he would be the one leading the field to the green flag for
the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series season finale, the ARCA American 200.
Finley, whose part of the Brad Keselowski Racing (BKR) Driver Development
program, was just looking to close out his limited 2009 ARCA schedule
with a solid finish on Sunday, October 12th. Little did he know that
the day before would turn out to be pivotal and career changing for
the DeWitt, Michigan teenager.
Finley's Rockingham weekend couldn't have started any better as he
won his first career Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell on Saturday
afternoon, October 11th on Qualifying Day for the ARCA American 200
over the 46-car field as he posted a new track record of a 24.494
around the one-mile oval, which measured out to 146.975 mph.
 As Finley was preparing to head out for one more practice session,
Mother Nature intervened and forced cancellation of the rest of Practice. "Before
the rains hit, Wayne just kept fine tuning it and we were getting
ready to make a sticker run to see what we had and the rain came
in, so to sit on the pole was huge for us and just shows what everyone
at BKR is capable of." Finley remarked.
In his three previous ARCA appearances in 2009, his last start prior
to Rockingham, was way back on July 25th at the famed Berlin Raceway,
located West of Grand Rapids in Marne, Michigan for the Wolverine
Power Systems 200 Presented by Generac, Finley proved he belonged
with an impressive third place finish.
His podium finish came on the heels of a sixth place showing in his
ARCA debut at Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio back on May 17th and
a ninth place showing at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa on July
11th. Now he was going to be leading the field to the green in only
his fourth career start and at Rockingham no less!
 Finley started on the pole next to 2009 ARCA title contender, Parker
Kligerman, who's been the man to beat this season in ARCA competition
and was in a fight of his own for the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series Championship
with Justin Lofton, who was scheduled to start second, but went to
the rear of the field at the start due to an engine change.
After Kligerman paced the field for the first two laps, Finley drove
around the eight-time race winner on the outside coming out of turn
four to complete lap three and retook the point. From their, Finley
set a torrid pace around the Tar Heel State oval and would lead the
next 42 laps until Steve Arpin took the lead using lapped traffic
on lap 45.
Throughout the afternoon and even after pit stops, Finley maintained
a top five standing during the first 3/4s of the 200-lap feature.
Then a chain reaction incident on a late restart forced Finley into
the back of eight-time ARCA Series Champion, Frank Kimmel, who was
trying to avoid a slowing Arpin, who broke a transmission on lap
161.
 Finley fought an ill handling race car the rest of the day and finished
15th. "To lead that many laps and run as well as we did all
day is great. That last restart something happened up front that
caused a chain reaction and wegot into the back of Kimmel and hurt
the front down force on the car." Finley explained.
" The car just wouldn't turn those last 25 laps or so, so we were just
hanging on there to get to the end of the race. I honestly thought
we had a chance at it or at least a Top Three finish. I am not disappointed
though just heart broken for every one at BKR."
As for the race itself, Kligerman won the ARCA American 200, his
ninth victory of the year, but it would be Lofton who would clinch
the 2009 ARCA RE/MAX Series Championships after starting 41st and
finishing in third!
Finley's impressive showing throughout the weekend didn't go unnoticed
as Car Owner, Brad Keselowski himself made the trip to North Carolina
after finishing fifth the night before in the NASCAR Nationwide Series
race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. "It was great
to have him here and have him talk to me a little bit on the radio." The
appreciative Great Lakes State driver added. "It meant a lot
to me.
Throughout the 2009 racing season, all of Finley's cars carried sponsorship
from Auto Value / Bumper to Bumper Parts Stores and Certified Service
Centers as well as AutoParts2020.com on his #29 Chevrolet in the
ARCA RE/MAX Series as well as his #42 Outlaw Bodied Super Late Model.
In addition, more sponsorship comes from; NorthsideTowing.net, PassTimeUSA.com,
Neal's Truck Parts of Grand Rapids Michigan, Bayside Inn of Key Largo
Florida, Nalett Trucking, Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil, Velocity Graphix,
M.P.H. Promotions, and Howe Racing Enterprises
To learn more about Chad Finley and to inquire about sponsorship
opportunities for the 2010 racing season, log onto the teams website
at: www.chadfinleyracing.com
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"I
didn't think we had enough to get the pole, but it was definitely
a pleasant surprise. I finished ninth
in an ARCA race at Iowa earlier this year and that is the biggest
track I've been too so far other than Rockingham in ARCA. I ran
the Milwaukee Mile and Bristol Motor Speedway last season though
in an ASA Late Model Series race."
What
a weekend. Never been here before or even seen this place. We unloaded
and got on the track and this place is real slippery. Made a few
adjustments and got a ton better. (Crew
Chief) Wayne Setterington is just awesome, we made a long run in
practice and he talked me through the car just getting so loose
because this place just eats up your tires."
"I'm
very grateful for the opportunity presented to me this year with
these guys. Hopefully we can find some sponsorship to carry on
next year. I believe
we have showed that we can do it with this race team, we just need some financial
backing to make it happen." Finley ended. |
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