DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (December 20, 2009)-The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards wrapped up a three day test at Daytona Int'l Speedway on Sunday afternoon where IZOD IndyCar Driver Danica Patrick took the first step in transitioning to full bodied stock cars.
Mikey Kile, pictured in a Venturini Motorsports Toyota, was fastest overall for the weekend
Under the watchful eyes of race fans and national media, Patrick worked with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. and the JR Motorsports team in the ARCA Racing Series garage to prepare for her upcoming stock car racing debut in the February 6 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200. On Sunday afternoon, Patrick posted her weekend best 49.442 second/182.028 mph lap, placing her fifth among 29 drivers who participated in the Sunday afternoon portion of testing. Patrick and her team also spent portions of Sunday making simulated pit stops.
The three day test drew drivers from the world over, with Venezuela's Milka Duno, India's Narain Karthikeyan and China's Darryl O'Young joining US and Canadian drivers. Most teams used the session to prepare for ARCA's February 6 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 season opener at Daytona Int'l Speedway (live on SPEED at 4 p.m. Eastern) while others participated primarily to gain superspeedway racing experience in anticipation of future ARCA speedway races.
Mikey Kile, who plans to run the full 20-race ARCA Racing Series schedule in 2010, recorded the fastest time of the weekend with a 49.164 second/183.061 mph lap on Saturday afternoon while drafting with Venturini Motorsports teammates Steve Arpin and Alli Owens.
Owens, a Daytona Beach, Florida native, joined Patrick as one of a record ten females who participated in Daytona testing, recording the fastest time by a female driver this weekend (49.192 seconds/182.957 mph) during Saturday afternoon's draft. Fellow Floridian Patrick Sheltra, who resides in Indiantown, topped the speed charts during the Sunday afternoon portion of testing. Robb Brent, in a Mike Allgaier-owned Dodge, concluded Sunday morning's session leading the speed charts with a 49.250 second/182.741 mph lap.
The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards will return to Daytona Int'l Speedway for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on Saturday, February 6. The race is live on SPEED beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern and is part of Daytona Speedweeks 2010. Tickets are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/ or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
Sunday Afternoon Test Speeds:
| Pos. | No. | Name | TIME | Speed |
| 1 | 60 | Patrick Sheltra | 49.176 | 183.02 |
| 2 | 36A | Robb Brent | 49.269 | 182.67 |
| 3 | 66 | Mark Thompson | 49.367 | 182.31 |
| 4 | 82 | Sean Corr | 49.438 | 182.05 |
| 5 | 88 | Danica Patrick | 49.443 | 182.03 |
| 6 | 97 | Matt Lofton | 49.474 | 181.91 |
| 7 | 59 | Leilani Munter | 49.512 | 181.77 |
| 8 | 5A | Bobby Gerhart | 49.529 | 181.71 |
| 9 | 16 | Joey Coulter | 49.531 | 181.70 |
| 10 | 83 | Grant Enfinger | 49.57 | 181.56 |
| 11 | 30 | Terry Jones | 49.633 | 181.33 |
| 12 | 22 | Dakoda Armstrong | 49.712 | 181.04 |
| 13 | 55 | Steve Arpin | 49.717 | 181.02 |
| 14 | 43 | Kyle Martel | 49.734 | 180.96 |
| 15 | 21 | Jennifer Jo Cobb | 49.795 | 180.74 |
| 16 | 52K | Josh Richards | 49.855 | 180.52 |
| 17 | 30B | BJ McLeod | 49.864 | 180.49 |
| 18 | 77 | Tom Hessert | 49.865 | 180.49 |
| 19 | 16A | Randy Renfro | 49.905 | 180.34 |
| 20 | 69 | Steve Blackburn | 49.908 | 180.33 |
| 21 | 11 | Bryan Silas | 49.926 | 180.27 |
| 22 | 88A | Danica Patrick | 50.014 | 179.95 |
| 23 | 12A | Russ Dugger | 50.094 | 179.66 |
| 24 | 12 | Derek White | 50.567 | 177.98 |
| 25 | 58 | Chad Hackenbracht | 50.606 | 177.84 |
| 26 | 77A | Tom Hessert | 50.668 | 177.63 |
| 27 | 25A | Mikey Kile | 50.72 | 177.44 |
| 28 | 4 | Ricky Carmichael | 50.799 | 177.17 |
| 29 | 48 | James Hylton | 51.288 | 175.48 |
