Sparta will rumble to life once again as the Indy Racing League and the Auto Racing Club of America take center stage at Kentucky Speedway. During the weekends, IRL drivers will be testing while drivers on the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde circuit look to get back into action following the death of driver Scott Baker, who died in an accident at Toledo Speedway on June 23.There are 43 people preparing for the chance to be the first series driver to visit victory lane in cars similar to their NASCAR counterparts. The only exceptions are they race on Hoosier Tires with a tread width of 60 1/2 to 60 inches and are allowed to race V-6 or V-8 engines and have body styles ranging from 1995-2000 cars manufactured by Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford and Pontiac. Leading the pack of drivers are 1998 ARCA Champion Frank Kimmel of Jeffersonville, Ind., who is second in ARCA points. He is trailing points leader Bob Strait by 65 points (2,000-1,935). Three-time series champion Tim Steele, who is returning to ARCA after a series of head injuries dating back to a Winston Cup testing crash in Atlanta in 1994, has limited his racing appearances. The new track is incredible, Steele said of the 1.5-mile facility. The day we tested there several weeks back, I told all the track workers that I was impressed with the place more than any place weve been. The facility is first-class all the way around. There is no better garage area in racing. Steele, who has won as many as 12 events in a season (1997), recorded his first win this year in Michigan on June 12.Were bringing the same car that we won with at Michigan (from a 6th-place start) and set the new Pocono qualifying record with, Steele said. Well be looking to get the best of the results from both of those races all wrapped into one at Kentucky this weekend. Steeles Ford was second fastest in an ARCA test June 22 with a lap of 165.609 mph behind Cavin Councilors fast lap of 165.945 mph. Rounding out the top five were Kimmel at 164.489 mph, A.J. Henriksen (164.219 mph) and Mark Brenner (163.810.Leading the second group of five is rookie-of-the-year contender Shawna Robinson, who posted a fast lap of 163.765 mph. I am looking forward to this weekend and Sundays race, said Robinson, a veteran of the NASCAR Busch and Goodys Dash Series. We didnt run a full-fledged test session due to my injuries from the race in Pocono. But we did get laps on the track and were real pleased with everything so far. Robinson, who is the only woman in history to win in a NASCAR touring series event, is fifth in series points and trails Brian Ross in the rookie points chase by only eight (236-228).We are disappointed overall with the first part of the season, Robinson said. But our goal is to make a gain in the points in the second half of the season and get in the top three. Both Robinson and Ross have been caught up in mishaps of late while faring well late in the race. Ross, who is the defending Kendall Indiana Late Model Series champion after being runner-up in 1997 and 1998, has thus far been pleased with his season. We have had a couple of disappointing finishes with a 22nd at Charlotte and a 32nd at Pocono, Ross said. But I am real happy for how things are going as a rookie driver in the ARCA Series. Last year, we ran a couple of superspeedway events for experience and realized we could run on them. This years battle could be a tale of two teams. Robinson is driving for former ARCA driver and current Winston Cup driver Jeremy Mayfield and his NASCAR owner Richard Kranrfuss; Ross is on a much smaller team. She is running with Penske engines and has a really good team, Ross said of Robinson. It will be a very tight battle for the rookie title, but we are looking for more than a rookie title.