Frank Kimmel
Encyclopedia
Franklin James Kimmel is an American
stock car driver/owner. He drives the #44 Ansell Gloves
/Menards
Ford in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
. Kimmel has won the ARCA championship nine times, including eight consecutive. He won the championship in 1998 and also won the 2000 through 2007 championships.
on April 30, 1962. His father Bill Kimmel Sr. was 3 time ARCA race winner. Frank resides in Borden, Indiana
with his wife Donna. He has 2 children Holly, Frank Jr. He also has 2 years of college education. Frank likes to be involved in the community he participates in school events and he coaches youth sports.
He is the only nine-time champion in the Re/Max Series and the only driver to win eight championships in a row (2000–2007). As of the end of the 2008 season, he is second on the all-time win list with 74 victories. None of those victories have come at Daytona. He also has 207 top-5 finishes and 258 top-ten finishes in 349 starts. Kimmel became the first ever ARCA Re/Max Series driver to be assigned a seat in the IROC
(International Race of Champions) Series in 2006.
As of 2006, the crew chief
on Frank Kimmel's team is his brother, Bill Kimmel Jr.
For 2008, the Kimmel brothers will leave Tri-Star Motorsports to form their own team, known as Kimmel Racing. The team initially ran a Dodge with the support of Cunningham Motorsport and sponsorship from Riverside Auto at Daytona
before joining forces with Ford Racing
for the remainder of 2008.
On August 2, 2008 Kimmel was seriously injured in a 3 car crash on lap 68 at Pocono Raceway
, suffering a partially torn sphincter and pulled groin; he was taken to the hospital for observation overnight.http://www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=6958 Though lacking a title sponsor for the entire year of 2008, Frank and team were able to pull out a 2nd place finish in points by a margin of 50. The loss of the championship was not the surprising part of that year but rather the surprise was how close Kimmel Racing was to winning a tenth title.
Following the 2011 ARCA Racing Series season, Kimmel left the Kimmel Racing team, and will drive for ThorSport Racing
in the ARCA Racing Series in 2012.
Winston Cup (now NASCAR
Sprint Cup) Series, six of these starts with Travis Carter Motorsports
in 2002. He so far found little success in the series. His best finish to date was a 26th place finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway
. He had one Busch Series
start. Through 2010 he had had two Top-10 finishes from twelve Craftsman Truck Series
starts. and will be running the 2011 Camping World Truck Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway
for ThorSport Racing
.
, IROC XXX
. Kimmel was the first ever ARCA Re/Max Series driver to be assigned a seat in IROC.
That season, he placed seventh in points with a best finish of third in the first race of the four-race IROC season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stock car driver/owner. He drives the #44 Ansell Gloves
Ansell
-Other:*Ansell's Shrew*Ansell's Mole Rat - rodent*Ansell's Epauletted Fruit Bat - megabat*Ansell Limited - medical gloves and condom manufacturer...
/Menards
Menards
Menards is a chain of home improvement stores in the Midwestern United States.The privately held company headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin has 262 stores in 13 states: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, and...
Ford in the ARCA RE/MAX Series
ARCA RE/MAX Series
-History:The series started as a local touring group. Led by John Marcum, the Midwest Association for Race Cars was formed with drivers like Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy being early drivers.The series became a part of the Daytona Speedweeks in 1964...
. Kimmel has won the ARCA championship nine times, including eight consecutive. He won the championship in 1998 and also won the 2000 through 2007 championships.
Personal
Frank Kimmel was born in Clarksville, IndianaClarksville, Indiana
Clarksville is a town in Clark County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River as a part of the Louisville Metropolitan area. The population was 21,724 at the 2010 census. The town, once a home site to George Rogers Clark, was founded in 1783 and is the oldest American town in the Northwest...
on April 30, 1962. His father Bill Kimmel Sr. was 3 time ARCA race winner. Frank resides in Borden, Indiana
Borden, Indiana
Borden is a town in Wood Township, Clark County, Indiana, United States. The population was 808 at the 2010 census. The town's official name was New Providence until December 29, 1994.-History:...
with his wife Donna. He has 2 children Holly, Frank Jr. He also has 2 years of college education. Frank likes to be involved in the community he participates in school events and he coaches youth sports.
Early career
Kimmel made his first career start racing street stock at the age of 15. Seven years later he moved to late models Before racing in ARCA, Kimmel won three championships racing Late Models.ARCA
Frank's first ARCA race came in 1990. His first full season was 1992, driving the #02 Indiana Steel Co. Pontiac. Kimmel was consistent and was able to claim Rookie of the Year honors. Frank won his first race at Toledo Speedway in 1994.He is the only nine-time champion in the Re/Max Series and the only driver to win eight championships in a row (2000–2007). As of the end of the 2008 season, he is second on the all-time win list with 74 victories. None of those victories have come at Daytona. He also has 207 top-5 finishes and 258 top-ten finishes in 349 starts. Kimmel became the first ever ARCA Re/Max Series driver to be assigned a seat in the IROC
International Race of Champions
International Race of Champions, better known as IROC, was a North American auto racing competition, promoted as an equivalent of an American All-Star Game or The Masters...
(International Race of Champions) Series in 2006.
As of 2006, the crew chief
Pit stop
In motorsports, a pit stop is where a racing vehicle stops in the pits during a race for refuelling, new tires, repairs, mechanical adjustments, a driver change, or any combination of the above...
on Frank Kimmel's team is his brother, Bill Kimmel Jr.
For 2008, the Kimmel brothers will leave Tri-Star Motorsports to form their own team, known as Kimmel Racing. The team initially ran a Dodge with the support of Cunningham Motorsport and sponsorship from Riverside Auto at Daytona
Daytona
Daytona may refer to:* Daytona Beach, Florida* Daytona Beach Shores, Florida* South Daytona, Florida-Motor racing:* Daytona Beach Road Course* Daytona International Speedway, a NASCAR speedway, which hosts:** the Daytona 500 NASCAR race...
before joining forces with Ford Racing
Ford Racing
Ford Racing is the Ford Motor Company's racing division and the multinational name used for its motorsport activity.-History:* 1896 - Henry Ford reached a top speed of 20 mph in his first car, Quadricycle....
for the remainder of 2008.
On August 2, 2008 Kimmel was seriously injured in a 3 car crash on lap 68 at Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway also known as the Tricky Triangle, is a superspeedway located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania at Long Pond...
, suffering a partially torn sphincter and pulled groin; he was taken to the hospital for observation overnight.http://www.arcaracing.com/news.cfm?contentid=6958 Though lacking a title sponsor for the entire year of 2008, Frank and team were able to pull out a 2nd place finish in points by a margin of 50. The loss of the championship was not the surprising part of that year but rather the surprise was how close Kimmel Racing was to winning a tenth title.
Following the 2011 ARCA Racing Series season, Kimmel left the Kimmel Racing team, and will drive for ThorSport Racing
ThorSport Racing
ThorSport Racing is a Sandusky, Ohio based NASCAR racing team that competes in the Camping World Truck Series. Owned by Duke Thorson and his wife Rhonda, the team currently fields the #13 Safe Auto Insurance Company/Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Johnny Sauter through an alliance with Mike...
in the ARCA Racing Series in 2012.
NASCAR
He has made seven starts in the NASCARNASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Winston Cup (now NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup) Series, six of these starts with Travis Carter Motorsports
Travis Carter Motorsports
Haas-Carter Motorsports is a former NASCAR and USAR Pro Cup team. It was mostly owned by former crew chief Travis Carter and Carl Haas. The team previously fielded entries in the Winston Cup Series before closing...
in 2002. He so far found little success in the series. His best finish to date was a 26th place finish at Lowe's Motor Speedway
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway is a motorsports complex located in Concord, North Carolina, United States 13 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and the Sprint All-Star Race...
. He had one Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...
start. Through 2010 he had had two Top-10 finishes from twelve Craftsman Truck Series
Craftsman Truck Series
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is a pickup truck racing series owned and operated by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing...
starts. and will be running the 2011 Camping World Truck Series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway
Homestead-Miami Speedway is a race track in Homestead, Florida southwest of Miami.Since 2002 Homestead has hosted the final races of the season in all three of NASCAR's series: the Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and the Camping World Truck Series...
for ThorSport Racing
ThorSport Racing
ThorSport Racing is a Sandusky, Ohio based NASCAR racing team that competes in the Camping World Truck Series. Owned by Duke Thorson and his wife Rhonda, the team currently fields the #13 Safe Auto Insurance Company/Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Johnny Sauter through an alliance with Mike...
.
IROC
Kimmel was invited to participate in the 2006 edition of the International Race of ChampionsInternational Race of Champions
International Race of Champions, better known as IROC, was a North American auto racing competition, promoted as an equivalent of an American All-Star Game or The Masters...
, IROC XXX
IROC XXX
The 30th and final season of the Crown Royal International Race of Champions began on Friday, February 17, 2006 at Daytona International Speedway. The all-star roster included thirteen drivers from seven premier racing series. Tony Stewart consistently ran up front and won two races and finished...
. Kimmel was the first ever ARCA Re/Max Series driver to be assigned a seat in IROC.
That season, he placed seventh in points with a best finish of third in the first race of the four-race IROC season.