Rabenold Racing

Slatington, PA

Media Contact:

Pat Rabenold

(610) 767-0813

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Date:  June 11, 2007

For Immediate Release

RABENOLD FINISHES A STRONG 12^TH IN SATURDAY'S POCONO 200

After a disappointingtrip to Toledo, Ohio in May for the Hantz Group 200, Rabenold set his sights on a new venue; Pocono Raceway.  Although he showed enough speed to make the field in Toledo, provisionals for other drivers made it unable for him to race.

Rabenold took a day trip up to Pocono on May 25^th for the Pocono Driving Experience, to get some seat time and to learn the layout of the track.    He did a ride along with one of the instructors and then he took over the wheel.  Although he did not get the car up to the speed he would drive in the race, it definitely gave him a little more experience to time trial and race.  Rabenold also prepared for the race by playing a Pocono simulated game on the computer everyday, many times a day.

After receiving a call from the Roulo Brothers Race Team, Kory agreed to change the number 63 on his car to a 39 to aid their team with owner's points.  After countless hours in the garage this week and after a problem with the motor, the crew loaded up the red 39 and made the short trip from Slatington to Long Pond in hopes on making the field for Saturday's Pocono 200.

With temperatures soaring into the 90's the day of qualifying, Rabenold kept his hopes high.  There was an entire section of Rabenold fans sweating bullets from both the heat and anxieties of Rabenold making the field.  Finally Rabenold pulled out of the garage area to get some seat time in his own machine.

In the early laps of practice, Rabenold was turning laps of 59.5 seconds.  After timing the competition, the crew knew these times were not good enough to make the field.  After having a problem with the car being tight, the crew brought Rabenold to the garage area for a track bar adjustment.  The crew sent him out onto the speedway.  Rabenold radioed to the crew that the problem had gotten worse.  Rabenold was turning lap times of 1:01.  Once again the crew brought him back in.  After taking out some wedge they sent him back out.  After 30 laps of practice, Rabenold ran out of fuel.  It was a good opportunity to find out just how many laps he could run on a full tank of fuel and a good way to figure out Saturday's pit strategy.  At the beginning of practice Rabenold was in the 18^th position.  By the end of practice he had dropped back to 24^th.  The crew found out that 32 cars would qualify on time leaving nine cars to qualify with provisionals.  There were 44 cars registered and Rabenold was set to roll out 41^st on the time trial grid.

Rabenold took the green and qualified in the 22^nd position with a speed of 156.893 mph.  Rabenold made it to Saturday's main event, his first race of his ARCA career.

Saturday was a much cooler day at Pocono.  The crew was on edge wondering if the car would work considering the drastic change in temperatures.  At 12:30 driver introductions began.  As Rabenold made his debut the fans went wild for "the local boy".  At 1:00 those famous words were said and the green flag flew.  On lap 16, the crew brought him in for a fuel only stop.  Rabenold was up in the 9^th position when the crew brought him in for fuel and two new right sides.  The last pit stop was at lap 58 where the crew made a track bar adjustment, fuel, and two new left sides.  Rabenold went onto pit road 22^nd and came out 15^th.  It was an awesome stop by his crew.  The crew did their job now it was all up to Rabenold.  As the laps ticked down so did the cars he was passing.  Rabenold finished the race in a strong 12^th position.

After the race, Rabenold was interviewed for a local newspaper.  "It feels real good," said Rabenold.  "The car was working so good.  My main goal was to get in the race.  I accomplished that and then I just wanted to stay out of trouble.  When the car was working really good my goal was to place top 15.  Just to drive this track is incredible."

Rabenold' next ARCA race will be the Pennsylvania 200 at Pocono Raceway, unless there are other offers from other teams.  We hope to see you there!

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