Wallace grabs first career ARCA win

BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP)

Steve Wallace got the first victory of his ARCA career and set a record Friday at Michigan International Speedway.

Photo Gallery... Rusty's son wins ARCA race

The victory came one day after Wallace, son of former NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace, observed his 18th birthday. Making his third ARCA start, Steve became the youngest driver to win a race at Michigan in any series. Wallace dominated the Hantz Group 200, leading 84 of what turned out to be 106 laps on the 2-mile oval. The driver from Mooresville, N.C., appeared to have the race wrapped up late, but it was thrown into jeopardy when an accident behind him with about one lap remaining forced a final restart and a two-lap shootout. Wallace held off Mike Guerity to win by four-tenths of a second. Ken Schrader finished third in the 41-car field. Wallace's main concern on the final few laps was running out of gas. "We were really, really close on gas ... probably half a gallon, something like that," he said. "It was scary." Wallace finished seventh at an ARCA series race in Toledo and 32nd in Milwaukee. At Michigan, he came out on top in a Dodge fielded by Penske Racing. He had coaching assistance from his father and his uncle, Kenny. "I got a lot of Gatorade dumped on me," Wallace said. "I'm real sticky." Guerity, who spent most of the race chasing Wallace, thought he had a shot to grab the lead on the final restart. "We made a run at him," Guerity said. "We had a real good restart. We just didn't have enough for him." Frank Kimmel, the ARCA series season points leader, fell out of contention when he had to pit halfway through the race with tire and handling problems. He finished 19th. Kimmel won the ARCA race at Michigan in June. Kyle Krisiloff, who won the pole for Friday's race and led early, appeared to blow his front right tire and sustain front-end damage early. He completed 19 laps and finished 37th. The race was slowed by seven caution periods covering 46 laps. That lowered the average speed to 109.640 mph.