Steve Arpin scored his first career victory Sunday afternoon in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 presented by ApplianceZone.com at Salem Speedway. Arpin dominated much of the race, leading twice for 138 laps en route to his first career ARCA win.
“Our day was pretty good!” Arpin said in victory lane. “This is the place I wanted to win the most. It’s just wild…the fans are right on top of you…it’s just a rush driving around this place! Billy (Venturini) won here, and now I’ve won here!”
Craig Goess brought home his best career ARCA finish, finishing second to his former Eddie Sharp Racing teammate. Arpin now drives for Venturini Motorsports. Justin Marks finished third, Patrick Sheltra fourth and Tom Hessert finished fifth.
Max Gresham, who surprised everyone by winning the Menards Pole Award, finished sixth. He did not lead a lap. Dakoda Armstrong finished seventh, with Frank Kimmel, Alli Owens and Ron Cox rounding out the top-ten and the lead lap. Henryville, Indiana’s Darrell Basham, running an independent operation, finished 15th at his home track in Salem.
Other race leaders included last year’s spring Salem winner Patrick Sheltra and Joey Coulter. The race took a little under two hours to complete, with the average race pace of 62.126 mph.
Attrition was high in the event, 11 cautions slowed the race for 63 laps and only ten cars finished on the lead lap. Only 17 cars, out of a 33 car field, were running at the conclusion of the race.
The ARCA Championship Points Standings picture looks like this after three races: Justin Marks (Palm Beach race winner) and Steve Arpin are tied atop the standings. Patrick Sheltra is third, Tom Hessert is fourth and Brian Silas sits in fifth.
