Frank Kimmel held on to win the ARCA RE/MAX Series Food World 250 at Talladega. Rookie Juan Montoya finished 3rd in his NASCAR debut which saw the race ended early due to darkness.

Juan Montoya was chasing history, a hurrying sundown and Frank Kimmel Friday at Talladega Superspeedway and came up just short on all counts.

The ARCA Food World 250 was halted 13 laps early due to darkness, denying third-place Montoya a shot at Kimmel and one of the biggest upsets in racing history.

The Formula One star was making his first start in a stock car, in a rugged division, on one of the sport’s most treacherous tracks.

“For a rookie he did OK,” quipped Kimmel after his 68th career victory. “I think it speaks well for the ARCA Series that he didn’t come in and completely dominate.”

“It was fun and was freaky,” said Montoya, who was running third behind Kimmel and Steve Wallace when a six-car crash halted the race and prompted officials to call it.

“It’s all about getting experience,” said Montoya, who will race full-time in the Nextel Cup Series next year.

Montoya started on the outside of the front row and led several early laps before getting shuffled back in the field. He gradually worked his way up to third.

“In Formula One if you get in the back you stay in the back,” he said. “It was fun racing back to the front. I haven’t had this much fun in a race in a long time.”

Montoya’s stock car initiation included scraping his way through a two-car crash midway in the race that left the side of his Dodge crumpled.

“It was really exciting,” Montoya said. “You’re always on the edge.”

Said Wallace, son of retired NASCAR star Rusty Wallace: “He’s Juan Montoya from Formula One — one of the best racers in the world. It was great to race against him.”

Kimmel needs only to start next Sunday’s ARCA season finale at Iowa Speedway to clinch his eighth championship.

“It’s very satisfying,” Kimmel said. “I’m proud of my team.”