Michael Lira and Kimmel Racing Gear Up for 2014

Michael Lira has a lot to be excited about in 2014.  In addition to continuing his studies in the International Baccalaureate Program at Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida, and defending his No. 1 state ranking in trombone competition,the talented 16-year-old stock car racer plans to run 14 races in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards with Kimmel Racing.

Lira has been busy in the last month preparing for the upcoming season.  When the ARCA Racing Series held a weekend of testing sessions at Daytona International Speedway, Lira was granted special permission to participate.

“I was very excited to test at Daytona,” Lira said. “I’ve grown up watching my dad run sports cars there, and getting to experience it for myself was an incredible opportunity. I learned so much in just one weekend there, and it has definitely made me a more confident driver.”

Lira has also been busy working to secure additional sponsorship for the upcoming season.   The young racer is looking to “get out the vote” as he seeks a spot on “Team Champion” in Champion Spark Plugs’ “Search for a Champion.”  Internet voting is open at alwaysachampion.com now through February 2 and fans of the Florida driver can help him reach the next level in his career.

“Sponsorship is such an important part of racing,” Lira said.  “The Champion ‘Search for a Champion’ program will award 15 drivers with funding for their 2014 seasons.  Participating in the contest is a lot of fun and I am hoping we can drum up enough support to help us with the funding we need to be successful.”

Lira will drive the No. 69 Ford Fusion for Kimmel Racing for the 2014 season, with Gary Yeomans Ford as the car’s primary sponsor, in addition to Costa and AttorneyatLaw.com.  The team is headed by legendary ARCA crew chief Bill Kimmel, who won eight consecutive championships in the ARCA Racing Series from 2000 – 2007 as the crew chief for his brother, Frank.

“I couldn’t ask for a better mentor than Bill,” Lira said.  “He’s had so much success in his career, and I’m eager to learn as much as I can.  Kimmel Racing is such an established and successful team in ARCA.  It is a championship-caliber organization, as they have proven in the past, and I’m excited to do my part in continuing that tradition.  I want to improve as a driver, and I want to win.  There’s no other team that I would rather be a part of.”

Lira faces a challenging schedule in 2014 and will rely heavily on mentor Bill Kimmel for coaching as he travels to some of the country’s most famous speedways.  Lira will face a variety of tracks including ARCA short-track staples like the famous Berlin Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway.

Lira began his ARCA Racing Series career in 2013, running four races with Kimmel Racing, but 2014 will be his first real test in the series.ARCA rules dictate that, because he is only 16 years old, he is not eligible to race at tracks that measure more than one mile in length. Once he turns 17, Lira will be authorized to run the intermediate tracks as well, which include tracks up to 1.5 miles long. Only once he turns 18 will series rules permit him to run the full range of larger tracks and superspeedways.

“While Michael will not be able to compete on the superspeedways for a few more years, the test sessions at Daytona were an important learning process for him,” crew chief Bill Kimmelsaid. “We’re encouraged by what we’ve seen from Michael so far. He’s still very young, but he’s had a lot of success early on, and we’re confident that will continue in the upcoming season.  We’re very happy to have him as a part of Kimmel Racing.”

Lira will face his first test of the 2014 season March 22, when the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards heads to Mobile International Speedway in Mobile, Alabama, for the ARCA Mobile 200.For up-to-date information on Michael Lira and the No. 69 Kimmel Racing team, go to www.michaelliraracing.com.

Michael Lira’s 2014 ARCA Racing Series Schedule:

March 22: ARCA Mobile 200 @ Mobile Int'l Speedway

April 27: ARCA 200 @ Salem Speedway

May 18: Toledo ARCA 200 @ Toledo Speedway

June 1: New Jersey Motorsports Park 150 @ New Jersey Motorsports Park

June 21: Elko ARCA 250 @ Elko Speedway

July 6: Winchester ARCA 200 @ Winchester Speedway

July 25: ARCA 200 @ Lucas Oil Raceway

August 1: ModSpace 125 @ Pocono Raceway

August 9: Berlin ARCA 200 @ Berlin Raceway

August 17: Allen Crowe Memorial 100 @ Illinois State Fairgrounds

August 24: Madison ARCA 200 @ Madison Int'l Speedway

September 1: Southern Illinois 100 @ DuQuoin State Fairgrounds

September 13: ARCA Fall Classic @ Salem Speedway

September 19: ZLOOP 150 @ Kentucky Speedway

ABOUT Michael Lira Racing

Michael Lira Racing is based on Port Orange, Florida, and fields entries in the ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards in association with Kimmel Racing.  Driver Michael Lira is a 16-year-old standout high school student who regularly competes in Late Model racing series events in and around Florida.  He made his ARCA debut in 2013 and is scheduled to compete in 14 ARCA races in 2014 with support from Gary Yeoman’s Ford, Costa and Attorneyatlaw.com.

Unfortunate Circumstances Hinder Kimmel Racing’s Effort at Daytona

Daytona Beach, FL (February 16, 2013) Discouraging is the key word for the conclusion of the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona presented by MAVTV American Real, for Kimmel Racing. “It’s just upsetting when you go into an event  as a low budget team, and perform equal, if not better as the teams with more resource’s and end the race tore up in the garage,” says Will Kimmel.  Will is the driver of the #68 Ford Fusion for Kimmel Racing. He started the race in the 20^th spot and quickly found his way into the top 15 within a couple laps.  Wills ability to put himself in the right position allowed him to put the Gary Yeomans Ford into the top 5 when the uncontrollable happened. As he entered turn 3, his left rear Hoosier tire exploded, ripping out the left rear window and C-post, sending debris into the cockpit.  “I thought the driveshaft was coming at me, with all that was flying around in the car,” declares Will.  “It was just an unfortunate situation that I had no control over. “

Will Kimmel’s bad luck was not the only low for Kimmel Racing. The other Ford Fusion driven by Steve Kemp was involved in a wreck that he too, had no control over. “I came down pit road to avoid the wreck that was occurring, as I was exiting, a car came down across the track and collected me,” says Kemp.  Steve was settling in, drafting mid-pack, when the caution came out.

Although, Kimmel Racing produced two strong cars that were exceptional in the draft, they wound up finishing 33^rd and 37^th. “There’s nothing you can do when things like this happen, we’ll just pack up and head home and work on the next race,” says Crew Chief and Owner Bill Kimmel. 

Kimmel Racing will enter the next ARCA series race at Mobile International Speedway on March 9^th.  

Kimmel Racing Takes On New Season With Familiar Face

“Father-Son Duo Ready To Shine In ARCA Season Opener”

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (February 13, 2012) - - The original settings of Kimmel Racing have changed but the team lives on and is ready to shine as the ARCA Racing Series opens its 60^thseason of competition when the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 takes the green flag at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Saturday afternoon.

Will Kimmel, the son of Kimmel Racing owner Bill Kimmel will heed the leading role for the Indiana-based race team as the driver of the No. 68 Enterprise Software Development / Clarksville Schwinn Ford Fusion. For the second-time in his ARCA career, the 23-year old will grasp the high banks of the 2.5-mile superspeedway and look to ignite his 26^th career start in stunning fashion.

“We’re blessed to be going to Daytona,” said Kimmel, whose holds a career-best finish of second in ARCA at Salem (Ind.) Speedway last September. “Dad (Bill) and our all-volunteer team have worked ferociously to get our No. 68 Enterprise Software Development / Clarksville Schwinn Ford Fusion ready to go for this weekend and I believe we’re more than ready. We learned a lot from the test in December and I think with the changes since then we can improve on our Daytona debut from 2009.

Despite a 18^th place finish in his restrictor plate debut at “The World Center of Racing” three years ago, the team came prepared with a stout blue oval which boasted an impressive eighth place qualifying run only to be sidelined by a mid-race incident which resulted in the finish. Knowing that restrictor plate racing brings a lot of unknowns, Kimmel also knows that the chance is now for his team to shine and keep their momentum rolling for 2012.

“You cannot predict what happens at these plate races,” offered Kimmel, a former Super Late Model champion at Salem (Ind.) Speedway, his stomping grounds in his home state of Indiana. “Despite that being said, we still have a job to do. We’re going to try our best to run the full season, of course sponsorship pending. A good finish will definitely help in making a championship-run possible. Nonetheless, we’re going to Daytona with a great group of sponsors and it’s our job as a team at Kimmel Racing to put on an electrifying performance.”

With his father and ARCA champion crew chief Bill Kimmel calling the shots; Kimmel doesn’t feel the pressure of performing but rather using the bond as a chance to explode into the limelight with potentially his first career win.

“Daytona, means so much too many of those on our race team,” Kimmel sounded. “It’s a place that is magical and can bring those types of results. But, having Dad atop of the box doesn’t affect the way I drive. He believes in me and I believe in him. It’s a partnership that we both trust each other. We both know though it’s going to be a tough field by looking at the entry list, so timing will be everything and patience will be vital to the eventual outcome. We’re just thankful to be a part of the action.”

In addition to Enterprise Software Development (ESD) and Clarksville Schwinn, Kimmel Racing is thankful for the support of Crosley Radio and Ingersoll Rand who have joined the veteran ARCA organization as additional sponsors for ARCA’s version of the Super Bowl.

“I feel like we are forever indebted to every person and sponsor who is making this trip to Daytona possible,” Kimmel remarked. “We know that without them none of this would be possible.”

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps / 200 miles) is the first of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule.The 49^th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 16 with a four hour practice session planned from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for Friday, February 17 slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. A forty-five minute final practice session is etched in on Saturday, February 18^th from 10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. The event will take the green flag later that day shortly after 4:30 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local. ARCA, celebrating its 60^th season in 2012 is the preamble for the highly anticipated Budweiser Shootout for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) set to ignite under the lights later that night.

For more on Will Kimmel, please visit willkimmel.com.

PHOTO CAPTION: Will Kimmel, driver of the No. 68 Enterprise Software Development / Clarksville Schwinn Ford Fusion in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Kimmel Racing.

MEDIA CONTACT:

NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management  

PHONE: 239.834.9797

EMAIL:  chris@chrisknightpr.com