FROM ARCA PR: Kyle Fowler and the No. 15 Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet lead the speed chart after two hours of ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards practice at Daytona International Speedway.
Fowler's lap of 48.698 seconds (184.813 mph) early in the session holds the advantage over the Toyotas of his Venturini Motorsports teammates Steve Arpin (No. 25) and Hal Martin (No. 55). Kevin Swindell, driving the No. 98 Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota, is fourth. Six-time Daytona ARCA winner Bobby Gerhart stands fifth in his own No. 5 Lucas Oil Chevrolet.
Earlier, Fowler had the chance to speak with ARCA legend Ramo Stott, a visitor to the garage today. Stott ranks seventh all-time in ARCA victories, with 27. The 76-year-old won the ARCA Racing Series championship in 1970 and 1971.
"We talked about the old and the new, as far as whatever he was doing and what it was like to run around this place, and where I'm running around this place, and the similarities," Fowler said. "Over time, it hasn't really changed as much as people think even through different pavements. The core of it is still the same."
This morning, Fowler talked about his plans for the practice session he currently leads.
"We've got a couple things we'd like to try," he said. "I'll just get a few more laps around this place. I'm still learning, for sure, and if they decide to draft today, I definitely need to get out there and get some experience with that.
With four weeks having passed after his car finished in the top 10 in open testing on the 2.5-mile superspeedway, Fowler developed a plan for Saturday's Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200.
"I've been mentally preparing," Fowler said. "Preparing, preparing, preparing. I've been doing a little bit of the iRacing (computer simulation) stuff, because I've got to get familiar with this place more. I've been watching tapes of races and (NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver) David Ragan's been giving me advice."
Ragan, an ARCA Racing Series winner, is a native of Georgia. Fowler, 18, is from Smyrna, Ga.
45 cars have tested in the session, which opened at 1 p.m. and lasts until 5.
