Grant placed the BeasleyAllen.com ARCA car on the outside of the 4th row for this afternoon’s Talladega 250 race. Grant’s qualifying lap speed was slightly more than 185 miles per hour. That speed was reached despite the fact that all the race cars must use “restrictor plates” which limit the amount of fuel which is sent to the engine. Without that restriction, the ARCA cars would likely exceed 200 miles per hour.

Grant feels the car is good enough to run up front, but recognizes that luck plays a bigger role at Talladega that at most other tracks. Because the cars will be running in packs, one driver’s error or a tire failure can cause “the big one” which is a crash involving multiple cars. When something bad happens at 190 miles per hour (the cars’ speeds will increase during drafting) there is no time or room for evasive action and the drivers are just along for the ride.

“Racing at Talladega is a dream come true and I am going to do my best to get to the front of the field. Whatever happens, I appreciate the chance to come race at stock car racing’s biggest track and to be the only Alabama native to race here this weekend. The entire team is going to do its best for Beasley Allen.”

The 250 mile race will begin at 4 pm CDT this afternoon and be televised live on Speed TV. It will broadcast by internet streaming “radio” through www.arcaracing.com .