Lucas Punkari
Despite being involved in two late-race incidents, Fort Frances native Steve Arpin still drove to a 12th-place finish last night in his second start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Starting the UNOH 225 at the Kentucky Speedway in Sparta in 13th position, Arpin was running just inside the top 10 when he looped his truck around exiting Turn 4 with nine laps to go.
He nearly hit the stationary vehicle of Charlie Vest, who had spun and stopped near the entrance of pit road to bring out the caution flag.
Vest was able to get his truck re-fired just in time to avoid Arpin’s sliding #32 Mike’s Hard Lemonade Chevrolet.
Then on the ensuing restart, Arpin was involved in another incident, slapping the wall in Turn 3 as Brazilian drivers Nelson Piquet Jr. and Miguel Paludo wrecked in front of him.
Timothy Peters and Ryan Sieg also were caught up in the mishap.
Even though the right side of his truck suffered some damage in the multi-truck tangle, Arpin was able to continue and finished the 152-lap affair with a career-best showing.
He also was the final truck on the lead lap.
The race was won by Sprint Cup series star Kyle Busch, who was forced to start at the rear of the field after missing the mandatory pre-race drivers’ meeting.
Busch, who currently sits fourth in the Sprint Cup point standings, has won five of the 10 races run this season in the Truck Series.
Arpin, meanwhile, will get back behind the wheel of his Turner Motorsports-owned truck next Saturday night (July 16) in the Coca-Cola 200 at the Iowa Speedway.
The start time is slated for 7 p.m. (CDT).
