ARPIN SWEEPS NORTH FLORIDA WINTERNATIONALS
by: Jeff Nun

LAKE CITY, Fla. (Feb.6) -- So far, so good for Steve Arpin .After a 21-hour, 1,400-mile haul to Lake City, Fla., from his residence in Rochester, Minn., Arpin got his 2007 season off to a perfect start as he swept both nights of the inaugural North Florida Winternationals at the North Florida Speedway. For his efforts, the 23-year-old Modified racer from Fort Frances, Ont., Canada, pocketed $2,500 behind the wheel of his familiar No. 00 Larry Shaw Modified powered by Action Engineering.

Arpin earned the outside front row starting spot for Friday's main event by virtue of coming from the third row to win his heat race. Missouri's Gary Clark paced the first three circuits from the pole before relinquishing the lead to the hard-charging Arpin. Arpin went unchallenged for the remaining 22 laps to pocket the $800 top prize, while fellow O'Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Series competitors Mike Wedelstadt and Julie McDermid finished second and third.

On Saturday, Arpin had his work cut out for him with a third-row start for the 25-lap finale at the 3/8-mile clay oval. He was up to the task, however, as he picked his way through the field and grabbed the lead on lap 10. From there, Arpin was never headed as he led Dave McWilliams, Wedelstadt and Wisconsin's Buzzy Adams to the checkered flag and a $1,000 payday.

With the sweep of the North Florida Winternationals, Arpin earned a $700 bonus to bring his weekend take to $2,500.

Arpin's fourth straight year of chasing checkered flags in Florida will continue at the Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla., as the Modifieds will battle for eight consecutive nights from Feb. 6-13. The first seven evenings will be topped by 20-lap features, with a 30-lap Championship event bringing the meet to an end on Tues., Feb. 13. The Speedweeks saga continues Feb. 14-17 at the East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Fla., where big money is the lure for Arpin and dozens of other Modified racers from across the United States. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the main event winner will pocket $1,500 while Saturday's victor will pocket a cool $8,000.

Arpin has tasted success during past Speedweeks events, including numerous feature wins at Volusia. Last season, Arpin claimed a Carolina Clash Series win at Brunswick, Ga., as well as topping the Young Guns Shootout in Savannah, Ga.

Upon his return home, Arpin will get ready for 1st Annual Race Wise Chassis Seminar with Mark Bush in Rochester, Minn., March 2-4.

For 2007, Arpin is piloting a pair of brand new Modifieds on a Larry Shaw chassis as he seeks to pad his ever-glowing resumé. Both Modifieds will adorn the familiar No. 00 with power provided by Action Engineering of Rochester, Minn. Other sponsors helping to put Arpin into victory lane in 2007 include New Vision Graphics, BSB Manufacturing, Bassett Racing Wheels, Fast Shafts, Cornwell Tools (dealer Tyler Rubin of Rochester, Minn.), Hess Technology, Pinewood Sports and Reich Concrete. Arpin is also welcoming aboard new sponsors for this year's campaign, including Comp Cams, Valvoline, Dyers Rods and Schoenfeld Headers.

Beginning March 9-10 at the Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., Arpin will begin his quest for the O'Reilly USMTS national championship. More than 60 dates are expected on this year's O'Reilly USMTS calendar. In September, 2006, Arpin captured his career-first O'Reilly USMTS main event win with a thrilling victory at the 8th Annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree at the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minn.

For more information about Steve Arpin, visit his website at www.stevearpinracing.com .