From Inside Line Promotions
– PARK CITY, Kan. (April 4) – It was a rough, but promising, start to the season for Arnold Motorsports.
Haley and Miranda Arnold kicked off their season last Saturday at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan., for the NCRA season opener. Racing against 47 other sprint cars on a gusty evening, the Arnold’s got the kinks out of the way – and had a little fun in the process.
Miranda drove from seventh to finish third in her heat race, giving the 15-year-old from Sedalia, Mo., enough points to earn the 10th starting position in the feature.
“The car was so awesome and the track was rubber down, so the car stuck,” she said. “In the 360s, that was by far the best heat race I’ve ever had.”
Haley started fifth in her heat race and was battling for third place midway through the race when a caution came out.
“I was thinking about changing my line,” she said. “Sometimes under caution I start thinking too much about what I can do better and sometimes I do the wrong thing.”
On a jumbled restart, Haley lost a couple of positions and eventually finished seventh, which relegated her to a B Main. She started 15th and quickly worked her way into the top 10. However, she was swept up in another driver’s spin in turn three on the second lap, which tipped her car over.
The top and nose wings were banged up, the Jacobs Ladder broke and the right rear tire was crushed. The team was able to piece the car back together and Haley restarted 16th. The 18-year-old then finished 10th – five positions out of a transfer to the feature.
The main event was just as rough and Miranda was the recipient of some damage on a wild start. As the top two drivers banged into each other, the rest of the field scattered. Another driver knocked into Miranda’s left rear tire and the impact broke the shock bolt for the left rear.
“When I’d warm the tires up (under caution) and go into the corner, it was leaning over on the right rear like it wouldn’t stick to the track,” Miranda said. “I knew something was wrong then.”
She stayed on the track for several laps before the tough-handling car forced her to the pits with a 19th-place finish midway through the race.
The Arnold’s next race is Saturday at L A Raceway in La Monte, Mo., for the ASCS Warrior Region opener. Miranda will also be racing in the 305 class.
“We’re extremely excited to be racing around here again,” Haley said of the track located near her home. “We’re ready to go out there and put on a good show.”
QUICK RESULTS –
Haley: April 2 – 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan. – Heat race: 7 (5); B Main: 10 (15).
Miranda: April 2 – 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan. – Heat race: 3 (7); Feature: 19 (10).
SEASON STATS –
Haley: 1 race, 0 features, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 0 top 20s
Miranda: 1 race, 1 feature, 0 wins, 0 top fives, 0 top 10s, 0 top 15s, 1 top 20
UP NEXT –
Haley: Saturday at L A Raceway in La Monte, Mo., with the ASCS Warrior Region
Miranda: Saturday at L A Raceway in La Monte, Mo., with the ASCS Warrior Region
FAVORITE NUMBER –
4: The number of cars Miranda passed in her heat race at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan., on Saturday, which earned her the 10th starting position in the feature.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS –
Haley’s Website: www.haleyarnold.com
Miranda’s Website: www.mirandaarnoldracing.com
Haley’s Twitter: www.twitter.com/haleyarnold165
Haley’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/haleyarnold165
Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Haley-Arnold/#!/pages/Haley-Miranda-Arnold-Motorsports/
Haley’s Drive for Diversity: www.drivefordiversity.ning.com/profile/HaleyArnold165
Miranda’s Drive for Diversity: http://drivefordiversity.ning.com/profile/MirandaArnold
APPAREL –
The Arnolds have graphic and sponsor t-shirts for sale, along with dog tags. For more information, visit www.haleyarnold.com.
WORLD MOTOR SPORTS BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION –
The Arnolds are partnering with the World Motor Sports Breast Cancer Foundation this year. They will be selling the foundation’s shirts in an assortment of sizes for $20 and all of the proceeds go directly to the World Motor Sports Breast Cancer Foundation.
“We are very excited to be working with the World Motor Sports Breast Cancer Foundation and we will do everything we can with our racing to promote this foundation,” Haley and Miranda said. “We plan to sell the World Motor Sports Breast Cancer Foundation shirts at all of our events and we need everyone to help us raise money by purchasing the shirts.”
For more information on the World Motor Sports Breast Cancer Foundation, visit www.worldmotorsportsbcf.org.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Champion Oil
Champion Oil is one of the many aspects of Champion Brands, LLC, which produces and blends more than 300 fuel, oil and lubricant products for vehicles. Located in Clinton, Mo., Champion has been in service more than 50 years. Visit www.championbrands.com and www.championsusechampion.com for more information.
“We are really excited to be running Champion’s high-quality racing lubricants in our engines and plan to be sitting in victory lane many times with them on our side,” Haley and Miranda said. “Like they say, ‘Champions use Champion Oil’ and we’re on our way to being champions.”
The Arnolds would like to thank their sponsors, including Mid-Mo Auto Sales, Cooper Racing Enterprises, Impact Sign & Lighting Co., K&N Performance Filters, Fastenal, APG Fuel Bladders, State Fair Moving & Storage, Butler Built Professional Seat Systems, Ralph’s Sandblasting, Buso’s AA Muffler, Hooker Harness, Xtreme Fuel Stick, Vortex Racing Products and Show-Me Asphalt for their continued support.