ARCA drama in the Irish Hills, Crocker style

By Mike Harper

The last time the ARCA RE/MAX Series visited Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR driver David Stremme won the event and did it by lapping the entire field. Driving the No. 61 Rusty Wallace Dodge subbing for Steve Wallace, Stremme powered his way to victory in "ARCAWHACKER" fashion.

Asked about lapping the field, "I used to do that a lot," said Stremme. "But as you move up, there’s more competition. The ARCA series is tough, so this is pretty cool."

On Friday, the ARCA RE/MAX Series revisits the track that left 40 of 41 drivers a lap or more down. But this time Stremme won’t go ARCAWHACKING in Rusty Wallace’s Dodge, instead Steve Wallace will try to match what his substitute driver accomplished back in June. By the way, Wallace won this event in 2005.

Steve Wallace last faced the ARCA regulars at Gateway International Raceway. But while he finished the race in second, after post-race technical inspection the Rusty Wallace No. 61 Dodge was found in violation of the minimum roof height rules per the 2006 ARCA Rulebook. RWI was fined $1500 and team owner Rusty Wallace and driver Steve Wallace were penalized with the loss of 25 championship points.

After dominating performances by RWI at MIS and with a black cloud over the top of this team after Gateway, ARCA competitors and officials will have their eyes glued on this team. RWI is looking to 3-peat at MIS.

Evernham Motorsports development driver Erin Crocker has created a stir in the ARCA garage over the past few weeks. During the Gateway event, Crocker punted championship contender Bobby Gerhart into the outside wall with only a few laps to go in the event. According to Crocker in her weekly column on NASCAR.com, "I accidentally got into the back of him and took him out."

In a SPEED interview the next week prior to the event in Nashville, Gerhart said, "The way I look at it that particular development driver wasn’t brought here [ARCA] to race, it was brought here to learn how to wreck."

Crocker replied in a following interview, "I apologize to him if I wrecked his race car and hurt the points, but at some point I need some respect as a driver too."

The Crocker – Gerhart rivalry is based on one simple component - respect. Crocker wants it because she thinks she deserves it and Gerhart wants it because he’s running for a championship.

Crocker was called to the ARCA hauler after the event and according to her, "Getting called to the hauler isn't something you should be excited about, but it was kind of cool."

Crocker stated, "Honest to God, I didn't mean to take him out," but then she turned around and said, "I have just as much right to be on the track as he does."

I like big talkers. I liked Dale Earnhardt because he could talk the talk and walk the walk. The same is true with Kevin Harvick, Rusty Wallace, Robby Gordon and Tony Stewart to name a few. They’ll wreck you, but they will stand up for themselves and face you when needed.

When I heard Crocker stand up for herself, I was actually proud of her. It’s a tough sport and sometimes when things don’t go smoothly you’ve got to hold your ground and stand noise to noise with your rivals. But I then read, "That wasn't the first time somebody has come after me, so it wasn't intimidating," said Crocker. "With my crew around, I really feel protected, which is great. As I'm pulling off the track they're, "All right. Where are you?" And they meet me wherever I stop."

She added in her column, "not that I want to be the bad girl of stock racing."

Just an honest question – can you really consider someone to be the "bad" anything when they hide behind their crew? It’s just a question.

Crocker isn’t in Michigan this weekend for the ARCA event, but she will be in her Truck at Bristol. FYI - I hear that place is really brings out the tempers.

The ARCA RE/MAX Series race is scheduled to be aired on SPEED at 5pm on Friday. Keep your eye on the rivalry of Billy Venturini and seven-time ARCA champ Frank Kimmel. Venturini, who is currently on probation for an incident involving himself and Brent Sherman earlier in the season, punted Kimmel last week at Nashville. It could get exciting this week too.

Lastly, Kimmel leads Gerhart by 35 points in the championship chase. If you’re a fan of old time NASCAR, then you should take some time to check out ARCA racing. It’s go time for these two competitors and for the first time, in some time, the ARCA championship is up for grabs. Who wants it more?