2015 JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Rookie of the Year Quinnton Bear, turned heads in the ARCA garage this weekend in his ARCA Racing Series debut at the Berlin Raceway. Bear raced inside the top-five all evening long and came from ninth to third two different times. Unfortunately, Bear was caught up in a five car wreck on lap 112. The No. 98 suffered right side damage and knocked out the toe. The No. 98 lost 34 laps in repairs and was able to soldier on to an 11th place finish.
“We had a rocket ship tonight, it’s unfortunate it ended this way,” a disappointed Bear stated. “I was just riding around 80% and taking care of my equipment. This car was wicked fast on long runs. We drove through the field to difference times after pit-road miscues.”
“I can’t thank my family and everyone at MMM for allowing me to have this opportunity and make my dream come true. I hope we can return to the ARCA Series in the future. “
Earlier in the day in Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell, Bear wheeled the Karl Chevrolet to the third quickest time turning a lap of 16.826 seconds around the Berlin Raceway.
After sliding back to fifth on the initial start Bear worked his way back up to third passing Bret Holmes on lap 46.
After losing six spots on pit-road it only took Bear and the No. 98 25 laps to pass four cars and move back to the top-five on lap 82.
The 20-year-old’s march toward the front continued as he moved around the 05 and the 55 to move back into third at the halfway portion of the event. He continued to click off lap times two and three tenths quicker than the leader.
After making his final pit-stop, Bear lined up 9th. On the lap 112 restart trouble found the No. 98 as a five car wreck ensued and in turn two. The race would be red flagged to clean up the debris on the track.
The No. 98 lost 34 laps for repairs but once the car returned to the track Bear was still turning lap times quicker than the leaders. He brought the No. 98 across the finish line in the 11th position.
The ARCA teams will have a one week break before the first of two dirt races on the 2016 schedule. First up is the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
Practice for the SuperChevyStores.com 100 is scheduled from 9:00-10:00 a.m. with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell following at 11:15. The 54th annual Central Illinois SuperChevyStores.com 100 starts at 1:30 p.m. All times are local.
The SuperChevyStores.com 100 will be live on the American Sports Network and will also stream live at AmericanSportsNet.com. ARCAracing.com will feature live timing and scoring and live chat of all on-track activity and a live chat box throughout the afternoon.
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