Owens Scores Second-Consecutive Top-10 Finish

Long Pond, Penn. (June 6, 2009) – In only her second try at Pocono Raceway, Alli Owens scored a tenth place finish.  Although the “Tricky Triangle” has a reputation for admonishing up-and-coming drivers, Owens quickly adapted to its three unique turns to score her second-consecutive top-10.  Her performance in the Pocono 200 made her the eighth female driver in ARCA RE/MAX Series history to finish inside the top-10 more than once.

Rain showers in the Long Pond, Pennsylvania, area forced the ARCA RE/MAX Series to cancel the Pocono 200 qualifying session.  The starting grid was set according to current car owner point standings, which put the ElectrifyingCareers.com Toyota 28th for the start of the race.

When the green flag dropped, Owens wasted no time charging through the field. She flashed by 11 competitors on the first lap to claim 17th place.  Owens piloted her ElectrifyingCareers.com Toyota into the 12th position before the caution waved on lap 32 and halted the action.  Owens car was “a little loose through Turn 1, and a little snug in Turn 3, but overall, really good,” so crew chief Jerry Pitts elected to change four tires and top off the fuel cell, without making any adjustments.  Following service, Owens returned to the track in 11th place.

The race went back to green on lap 38.  Owens cracked into the top-10 on lap 40 and took over ninth place before a caution flag slowed the action on lap 56.  Owens reported the Tricky Triangle was still making the ElectrifyingCareers.com Toyota break loose in Turn 1 and push up the track in Turn 3, but “pretty good for the most part.”  Pitts opted to service the car with fresh tires and fuel, without any chassis adjustments.  The crew made quick work of the pit stop and gained Owens four positions, putting her in fifth place for the restart.

Green flag action resumed on lap 61 with 19 laps left.  Owens held her position in the top-10 for the remainder.  She took the checkered flag in tenth place, scoring her second consecutive top-10.

“This was a great day for the ElectrifyingCareers.com team,” said Owens after the race.  “As soon as the race started, I knew we had a rocket ship. My car just blew by everyone in front of me. This is a tough track to figure out, but Eddie (D’Hondt, team owner) did a great job coaching me from the spotting stand and helping me with my line. I learned a ton and I can’t wait to get back here later this season.   This is the second top-10 in a row for my team and I know we can keep up the momentum next week in Michigan.”