Indiana Open Wheel - View Single Post - ARCA SuperChevyStores 100 Aug 21 IL State Fair INFO/UPDATES

Macon Racing · 8/16/16, 9:50 PM

El Paso, Illinois' Unzicker brings local flavor to Springfield

TOLEDO, Ohio (August 14, 2016) – The annual Central Illinois SuperChevyStores.com 100 presented by Jive at the Illinois State Fairgrounds always attracts a good bit of local flavor and this year's 54th running will be no exception.

El Paso, Illinois’ Ryan Unzicker has filed an entry in the No. 24 RJR Transport Toyota for Hendren Motorsports. Unzicker was the 2011 UMP national dirt late model champion.

Unzicker knows full-well that success in a 2300-lb. dirt late model does not necessarily translate over into a 3300-lb. ARCA car.

“There really is no resemblance to be honest with you," Unzicker said.

"The dirt late model has much more chassis movement…the speeds are more…the accelerating is faster…braking…everything is faster.

“You get in an ARCA car and it feels like a steel tank. It takes a mile to slow down. The visibility is not as good with all the bars, padding, mirrors...you’re a lot more enclosed.

“There really is no comparison. The only comparison where it bears some resemblance is the track itself, which gets hard and slick.

“With the ARCA car, you keep it straight and work the pedal and brake a lot. And you’re running on a smaller, harder tire; it feels like there’s no traction; it’s hard to get hooked up.”

Unzicker finished an ARCA career-best sixth at Springfield in 2002, in his first try. He also finished eighth last year, all the way from the 31st starting position after qualifying was washed out.

“I know it’s a tall order…to win it…but we’re going with the idea that we can. It would absolutely be a big, huge deal for me, and certainly for Bill Hendren and his family and fans. It would be so much fun and gratifying to win it for them. There’d be a lot of happy people; I can tell you that.”

Back home in El Paso, Unzicker helps run the family business, RJR Transportation, a longtime sponsor/supporter of Hendren Motorsports.

“It’s a trucking company. We do all 48 states.”

The 54th running of the SuperChevyStores.com 100, one of the capital city’s largest sporting events, takes center stage on the world’s fastest mile dirt track alongside the 164th annual Illinois State Fair, ongoing since 1853.

A look at some of the Springfield Championship Stock Car Winners: Curtis Turner (’63), Don White (’66, ’67, ’72), Al Unser (’72), Jack Bowsher (’73), Roger McCluskey (’74), Ramo Stott (’76, ’77, ’80), AJ Foyt (’79), Joe Ruttman (’80), Dean Roper (’81, ’82, ’83, ’83, ’85, ’86), Bob Keselowski (’87, ’88, ’89, ’93), Bobby Bowsher (’91, ’92), Tim Steele (‘96, ’97), Ken Schrader (’98), Bill Baird (’99, ’04), Justin Allgaier (’06), Parker Kligerman (’09), Frank Kimmel (’00, ’01, ’02. ’03, ’05, ’07, ’08, ‘12), Kevin Swindell ('14) and AJ Fike ('15).

SuperChevyStores.com 100 Schedule
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.

Live on American Sports Network
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.

8/16/16, 9:50 PM	#8 Re: ARCA SuperChevyStores 100 Aug 21 IL State Fair INFO/UPDA
Macon Racing Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 769	El Paso, Illinois' Unzicker brings local flavor to Springfield TOLEDO, Ohio (August 14, 2016) – The annual Central Illinois SuperChevyStores.com 100 presented by Jive at the Illinois State Fairgrounds always attracts a good bit of local flavor and this year's 54th running will be no exception. El Paso, Illinois’ Ryan Unzicker has filed an entry in the No. 24 RJR Transport Toyota for Hendren Motorsports. Unzicker was the 2011 UMP national dirt late model champion. Unzicker knows full-well that success in a 2300-lb. dirt late model does not necessarily translate over into a 3300-lb. ARCA car. “There really is no resemblance to be honest with you," Unzicker said. "The dirt late model has much more chassis movement…the speeds are more…the accelerating is faster…braking…everything is faster. “You get in an ARCA car and it feels like a steel tank. It takes a mile to slow down. The visibility is not as good with all the bars, padding, mirrors...you’re a lot more enclosed. “There really is no comparison. The only comparison where it bears some resemblance is the track itself, which gets hard and slick. “With the ARCA car, you keep it straight and work the pedal and brake a lot. And you’re running on a smaller, harder tire; it feels like there’s no traction; it’s hard to get hooked up.” Unzicker finished an ARCA career-best sixth at Springfield in 2002, in his first try. He also finished eighth last year, all the way from the 31st starting position after qualifying was washed out. “I know it’s a tall order…to win it…but we’re going with the idea that we can. It would absolutely be a big, huge deal for me, and certainly for Bill Hendren and his family and fans. It would be so much fun and gratifying to win it for them. There’d be a lot of happy people; I can tell you that.” Back home in El Paso, Unzicker helps run the family business, RJR Transportation, a longtime sponsor/supporter of Hendren Motorsports. “It’s a trucking company. We do all 48 states.” The 54th running of the SuperChevyStores.com 100, one of the capital city’s largest sporting events, takes center stage on the world’s fastest mile dirt track alongside the 164th annual Illinois State Fair, ongoing since 1853. A look at some of the Springfield Championship Stock Car Winners: Curtis Turner (’63), Don White (’66, ’67, ’72), Al Unser (’72), Jack Bowsher (’73), Roger McCluskey (’74), Ramo Stott (’76, ’77, ’80), AJ Foyt (’79), Joe Ruttman (’80), Dean Roper (’81, ’82, ’83, ’83, ’85, ’86), Bob Keselowski (’87, ’88, ’89, ’93), Bobby Bowsher (’91, ’92), Tim Steele (‘96, ’97), Ken Schrader (’98), Bill Baird (’99, ’04), Justin Allgaier (’06), Parker Kligerman (’09), Frank Kimmel (’00, ’01, ’02. ’03, ’05, ’07, ’08, ‘12), Kevin Swindell ('14) and AJ Fike ('15). SuperChevyStores.com 100 Schedule 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. Live on American Sports Network 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.