WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - After enduring some tough times during the month of June, Saturday's ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Watkins Glen International looked like a change of pace for 25-year-old Jason Jarrett and his Warsaw-based ML Motorsports team.

A special paint scheme, the first stop in history for the series at the 2.45-mile road course in upstate New York, but the third-generation Hickory, N.C., driver came away with the same result.

After qualifying fourth and running in the top five all afternoon, Jarrett's engine, built by Performance Technology in Wakarusa, let go with 20 laps remaining. Jarrett completed 43 of the scheduled 62 laps and came away with a 16th-place finish.

"I guess if you look at the bright side, we were running real strong when it happened," said Jarrett, who raced at the track twice in the NASCAR Busch Series. "Once in a blue moon is one thing, three weeks in a row is hard to swallow."

At Pocono, Jarrett ran in the top 10, but a blown engine led to a 29th-place finish. Two weeks ago at Memphis, the North Carolina racer was running second when it happened.

Saturday, in the BetOnUSA.com 150, Jarrett led at the halfway point. Pit strategy had the 25-year-old in position to win, as he pitted with 30 laps to go. The leaders hadn't pitted yet, and the No. 67 Biomet/Damon RV Mary Louise Miller-owned Pontiac would have regained the lead.

"That's the story of us right now," Jarrett said. "It's like we run good and then when it gets to the halfway point, we just wait for something to happen. It's kind of hard for people to understand how hard this team works. It's not a case where we need to work any harder. We're gonna get the engine problem fixed, and then we just need to come back with some confidence."

South Carolina driver and road course veteran John Finger took the checkered flag in first ARCA RE/MAX Series event.

Finger powered by polesitter Blaise Alexander with two laps to go when Alexander's transmission began to fail. The lapped car of Mississippi driver Robert Burroughs then made contact with Alexander and Lyndon Amick, who dominated in the early going.

Both Alexander and Amick received extensive front end damage, leaving Finger the only one to finish on the lead lap as the race ended under caution.

A field of 33 cars started the race, only places second through ninth finished within four laps of the leader.

Alexander limped across the line in second, followed by series points leader Frank Kimmel, Burroughs, Art Cross, Amick, rookie Todd Bowsher, Dale Kreider, Jerry Churchill and Andy Belmont.

Jarrett remains fourth in the season standings with 2,470 points. Kimmel leads with 3,205 points, followed by Tim Steele (2875), who didn't race Saturday, and Belmont (2640). Tennessee driver Ron Cox rounds out the top five with 2,415 points.

The next stop for the ARCA RE/MAX Series is Friday night under the lights at Kentucky Speedway.

ARCA RE/MAX SERIES

BetOnUSA.com 150

Watkins Glen International, July 7

Top 10

1. John Finger (Greenville, S.C.) Ford

2. Blaise Alexander (Montoursville, Penn.) Pontiac

3. Frank Kimmel (Jeffersonville, Ind.) Chevy

4. Robert Burroughs (Laurel, Miss.) Chevy

5. Art Cross (Tampa, Fla.) Chevy

6. Lyndon Amick (Mooresville, N.C.) Chevy

7. Todd Bowsher (Vienna, OH) Ford

8. Dale Kreider (St. Petersburg, Fla.) Chevy

9. Jerry Churchill (Dearborn, Mich.) Chevy

10. Andy Belmont (Penndel, Penn.) Ford

16. Jason Jarrett (Hickory, N.C.) Pontiac

Lap Leaders - Blaise Alexander 1-4, 30-32, 50-55, 60 (14); Lyndon Amick 5-24 (20), John Finger 25-27, 56-59, 61-61 (9); Jason Jarrett 28-29 (2); Damon Lusk 33-49 (17)

Margin of Victory - finished under caution

Cautions - 3 for 9 laps

Season standings - 1. Frank Kimmel 3205, 2. Tim Steele 2875, 3. Andy Belmont 2640, 4. Jason Jarrett 2470, 5. Ron Cox 2415, 6. Todd Bowsher 2165, 7. Norm Benning 2145, 8. Chuck Weber 2120, 9. Donny Morelock 2075, 10. Mike Buckley 1440 [[In-content Ad]]