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September 26, 2020

Memphis International Speedway


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Springfield


October 16, 2020

Kansas Speedway

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ARCA Menards Series News and Rumors

  • Ty Gibbs wins at Winchester Speedway: Ty Gibbs was nearly as perfect Saturday as he’s been all season, and that’s saying something. The 17-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, driver made his debut at Winchester Speedway and was unfazed by "The World’s Fastest 1/2 Mile." He put the No. 18 Monster Energy / Terrible Herbst Toyota atop the practice charts, won the General Tire Pole Award, and then drove away from the field on the high-speed, high-banked half-mile. It was Gibbs’ fifth ARCA Menards Series win of the season, plus his ARCA Menards Series East victory, in 16 starts over the two series. Michael Self finished second, one spot ahead of championship rival Bret Holmes. Self was able to nose in front of Gibbs on the Lap 79 restart to lead one lap and gained the valuable bonus point. Self leads Holmes by three points with three races remaining in the season. Jesse Love finished fourth in his series’ debut. The 15-year-old is the ARCA Menards Series West points leader with three races remaining in that series. Fellow 15-year-old Taylor Gray rounded out the top five. Drew Dollar finished sixth, followed by Mike Basham, Eric Caudell, Brad Smith and Con Nicolopoulos. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-19-20)
  • Sam Mayer scores Bristol Motor Speedway victory: Sam Mayer climbed into the No. 21 Starr Children’s Fund Chevrolet and drove to his fourth straight ARCA Menards Series win in the Bush’s Beans 200. The Bush’s Beans 200 also counted toward the ARCA Menards Series East — where Mayer has won four of the five races to move closer to back-to-back East crowns; and the Sioux Chief Showdown, where Mayer extended his lead heading into the finale in two weeks at Memphis International Raceway. He led four times for a race-high 116 laps Thursday, passing Bret Holmes on Lap 156 to take the lead for the final time and crossing the line 2.572 seconds ahead of Ty Gibbs. Gibbs led 53 laps and came home with his third runner-up finish; his 10th top five in 15 starts that includes four wins. Max McLaughlin started 20th and charged to the front — leading 19 laps — before settling for a third, while Mason Diaz finished fourth. Michael Self rebounded from late race damage to rally for a fifth-place finish — his 10th top five in 16 races. Combined with Bret Holmes’ eighth-place run, Self retook the ARCA Menards Series lead by one point with four races remaining. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-18-20)
  • Jesse Love to drive for Venturini Motorsports at Winchester: Jesse Love has had an impressive rookie campaign in the ARCA Menards Series West for Bill McAnally Racing. The 15-year-old from Menlo Park, California, has three wins and seven top fives in seven starts and holds a seven-point lead over Blaine Perkins heading into next weekend’s return to The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Before he gets there, though, Love will run the Toyota 200 presented by Crosley Brands at Winchester for Venturini Motorsports. "I really to believe we’ll have a shot," Love told SPEED SPORT earlier this week. "I’ve worked hard to get to this point and I’ve prepared really well for this race. That process isn’t done; I’ll continue to prepare even more before Saturday, but I think that we can put ourselves in position to end up in Victory Lane, for sure." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-16-20)
  • Derek Griffith back at Bristol with Chad Bryant Racing: It’s been nearly seven weeks since Derek Griffith has been behind the wheel of a race car in the ARCA Menards Series. The 23-year-old from Hudson, New Hampshire, has been staying busy racing — and winning with his Late Model in his home state. Griffith won the Freedom 300 at Lee USA Speedway in Lee, New Hampshire, over the weekend, and has wins at neighboring Claremont Motorsports Park. Griffith will look to keep rolling as he returns to ARCA Thursday back behind the wheel of the No. 22 Original Gourmet Lollipops Ford for Chad Bryant Racing at Bristol Motor Speedway. "I am super excited for Bristol Motor Speedway this week," said Griffith. "First time there, but definitely a bucket list deal. I feel like I have a ton of momentum right now and hope we can capitalize on it Thursday night." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-16-20)
  • Sam Mayer wins again at Toledo Speedway: Sam Mayer posted a near perfect day Saturday en route to winning the Royal Truck & Trailer 200 at the half-mile track. It’s the third straight win at Toledo for Mayer. The race was part of the ARCA Menards Series championship schedule as well as the ARCA Menards Series East. Mayer, the defending East champion, extended his lead in that series with his third win in four races.  Mayer was fastest in practice in his No. 21 Lynn Family Foundation Chevrolet, won his first General Tire Pole Award in the ARCA Menards Series, and then led 165 laps to win by 3.071 seconds over Chandler Smith. Ty Gibbs, who won that June race at Toledo, finished third Saturday, followed by Bret Holmes and Taylor Gray. Hailie Deegan, Michael Self, Parker Retzlaff, Mason Diaz and Nick Sanchez completed the top 10. By virtue of Holmes’ finish, he took over the ARCA Menards Series championship points lead for the first time in his career. He has a two-point advantage over Self with five races remaining on the schedule. Self had led the points since winning the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in February. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-12-20)
  • The 2020 ARCA Menards Series awards banquet goes virtual: The 2020 ARCA Menards Series awards will be virtual. The season-ending event, which will reward the champions and special awards winners from the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West, as well as the Sioux Chief Showdown, will be celebrated in a virtual setting.
    STATEMENT: "With the uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus and the impact on the industry, the 2020 NASCAR Awards ceremony and the ARCA Menards Series Awards will be celebrated virtually at the end of the season wiht more details to come. We look forward to celebrating the top achievements of the NASCAR Whelen Modified TOur, NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series and the ARCA Menards Series in this most challenging year." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-11-20)
  • ARCA officials finalize 2020 race schedule: ARCA has finalized the remainder of the 2020 schedule, with 11 events spread out over the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, and ARCA Menards Series West over the next seven weeks. There are six events on the ARCA Menards Series calendar, two of which are combination races with the ARCA Menards Series East, four ARCA Menards Series West races, and a single stand-alone race for the ARCA Menards East. Races include:
    • September 12th - Toledo Speedway (5 pm ET, MAVTV)
    • September 17th - Bristol Motor Speedway (9:30 pm ET, FS1)
    • September 19th - Winchester Speedway (3 pm ET, live, TrackPass; 6 pm same day delay, MAVTV)
    • September 26th - Memphis International Raceway (6 pm ET, MAVTV)
    • October 4th - Illinois State Fairgrounds (3 pm ET, MAVTV)
    • October 16th -Kansas Speedway (10 pm ET, FS2) (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-11-20)
  • ARCA returning to the Springfield Mile in October: Just when it looked like all hope was gone to see race cars at either of the Illinois fairgrounds mile dirt tracks in 2020, Track Enterprises officials are thrilled to announce that auto racing will indeed take place at the Springfield Mile. The ARCA Menards Series will race on Sunday, Oct. 4. The [race was] originally scheduled for the final weekend of the Illinois State Fair, however, with COVID-19 cancelling the fair, the race also fell off the schedule. Continued talks between Track Enterprises and officials from the Illinois State Fair have made the rescheduled dates a reality. "We really feel fortunate to have events this year at one of our Illinois miles. The month of October should be really fun with these historic events," stated Bob Sargent, president of Track Enterprises, promoter of both events. The Sunday, Oct. 4 event will feature the ARCA Menards Series in the Illinois Truck & Equipment Allen Crowe 100 in addition to the DIRTcar Sportsman in their edition of the Fall Nationals. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-11-20)
  • Toledo, Winchester announce race sponsorship: Two races added to the 2020 ARCA Menards Series schedule have announced entitlement sponsorships.
    TOLEDO: The race at Toledo Speedway, which replaces an ARCA Menards Series race at Salem and an ARCA Menards Series East race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, has been named the Royal Truck & Trailer 200. A long-time car sponsor at ARCA-sanctioned Flat Rock and Toledo Speedways, Royal Truck & Trailer has sponsored several big events at Toledo over the last two decades including the track’s famous "Night of Destruction" featuring a wild School Bus Figure 8 race. "We are happy our long-standing relationship with Royal Truck & Trailer has continued on into 2020 despite the challenges we’ve all faced," said Toledo Speedway general manager Scott Schultz. "They’ve been supporters of short track racing for a quarter of a century and we’re proud to see them getting some national attention with their name on the ARCA Menards Series race at Toledo Speedway this Saturday night."
    WINCHESTER: The recently added race at Indiana’s Winchester Speedway, which replaces the ARCA Menards Series race at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in Illinois, will be called the Toyota 200 presented by Crosley Brands. "We are all working hard to put on races for our fans so they can have some normalcy in these difficult times," said Track Enterprises’ Bob Sargent. "We couldn’t do it without the great support of our sponsors. We’re grateful for the support from both Toyota and Crosley Brands and we are looking forward to getting back to Winchester with fans in the stands watching a great race at one of America’s great short tracks." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-10-20)
  • Fans will be allowed at Toledo Speedway: One race. Twice as much on the line. When ARCA returns to its home track Saturday for the Royal Truck & Trailer 200, the race will serve not only as the next round of the ARCA Menards Series championship, but it will also factor into the ARCA Menards Series East. And fans will get a chance to watch in person for the first time in 2020 at the half-mile track. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-08-20)
  • Sam Mayer wins at Lebanon I-44 Speedway: Sam Mayer, the 17-year-old from Franklin, Wisconsin, proved how quick a study he was at Lebanon I-44 Speedway. He timed his Lap 155 restart perfectly to take the top spot away from Hailie Deegan and rocketed to win in the Zinsser SmartCoat 200. That restart, coming out of the race’s second break, turned out to be the final one of the night and Mayer’s No. 21 Pat Connaughton With Us Foundation Chevrolet crossed the finish 2.977 seconds ahead of second-place Bret Holmes. The win was Mayer’s third of the season and he hasn’t finished worse than fourth in his past nine series starts. More importantly, it allowed him to take over the Sioux Chief Showdown championship standings after eight of 10 races. Mayer leads Ty Gibbs and Chandler Smith each by five points. Holmes still managed his third runner-up finish of the season and closed to within one point of ARCA Menards Series championship leader Michael Self. Self was involved in two seperate racing incidents and limped home with a sixth-place, one lap down. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-06-20)
  • Winchester Speedway picks up race date from DuQuoin: The ARCA Menards Series schedule has once again been reconfigured, this time with the announcement by the DuQuoin State Fair that there will be no large-scale spectator events at the Fairgrounds in the near-term future based on guidance from local healthcare authorities. That directive has prompted ARCA and Track Enterprises to relocate the ARCA Menards Series race scheduled for DuQuoin on September 19 to Winchester Speedway in Indiana, where fans will be allowed in the grandstands under local and state healthcare directives. "Through the cooperative efforts of Bob Sargent and Track Enterprises and our teams we were able to relocate the DuQuoin race to Winchester Speedway," said ARCA president Ron Drager. "We look forward to welcoming race fans to the legendary high banks of Winchester Speedway, and returning to DuQuoin in 2021 to carry on a tradition of racing stock cars dating back to 1950." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-06-20)
  • Kris Wright returning to Chad Bryant Racing at Lebanon, Bristol, and Memphis: ARCA Menards Series rookie Kris Wright and Chad Bryant Racing have paired together again for Saturday night’s Zinsser SmartCoat 200. The sports car standout and Chad Bryant Racing, led by NASCAR championship crew chief Paul Andrews, plan to bounce back from transmission problems last weekend at at Gateway that hindered Wright the opportunity to net his first career ARCA top-10 finish. "Looking forward to this chance and getting back into an ARCA car for a second consecutive week," said Wright. "Of course, we didn’t have the finish we were hoping for at Gateway, but it was a situation that was out of everyone’s hands. "We’ll go to I-44 Speedway this weekend and look for an impressive rebound." The 25-year-old will drive a Chad Bryant Racing car in the upcoming ARCA Menards Series races at Tennesse’s Bristol Motor Speedway and Memphis International Raceway, and the season-finale at Kansas. He will also compete in the last race of the ARCA Menards Series West season at Arizona’s Phoenix Raceway in November. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-03-20)
  • Former driver Tony Schiller passes away: Tony Schiller, drove to eight top-10 finishes in 104 starts in his ARCA Racing Series career in the 1960s & 1970s, and finished a career best 15th in ARCA final point standings in 1973, passed away Saturday, August 29, 2020 in his hometown of Frankfort, Kentucky at age 93. A native of Frankfort, Schiller owned and operated a number of service stations throughout Franklin County Kentucky for 30 years. His driving career spanned 27 years, and his top-10 finishes in the ARCA Series came at a wide variety of tracks including Nashville, Salem, Louisville Fairgrounds, Winchester and Talladega. He was inducted into the Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame in October of 2014. Tony Schiller was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Ann J. Schiller and his youngest daughter, Toni Sanderson. He is survived by children Darlene Martin (Jim) and Patti Schiller. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-03-20)
  • Memphis International Raceway announces race sponsor; Sioux Chief: Memphis International Raceway (MIR) and Sioux Chief Manufacturing, one of America’s leading rough plumbing components manufacturers have announced a partnership that will see the Sept. 26 ARCA Menards Series championship race for the Sioux Chief Showdown named the Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200. The Memphis Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200 will see top teams from the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East and West battle it out to determine the inaugural champion of the 10-race ARCA Sioux Chief Showdown Series on MIR’s paved 3/4-mile oval. "We are thrilled to partner with Sioux Chief for this must-see championship event at MIR," said Memphis International Raceway General Manager Justin Kamm. "Sioux Chief is a big supporter of motorsports and we are excited they will help us crown a champion at the Sioux Chief PowerPEX 200." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (09-01-20)
  • Lebanon I-44 Speedway secures race sponsorship: Rust-Oleum, Track Enterprises and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) announced that the "SmartCoat" brand of Zinsser Paint will sponsor the newly announced ARCA Menards Series event at Lebanon I-44 Speedway in Missouri. The race has been relocated from its original location and date at Madison International Speedway. The Zinsser SmartCoat 200 is scheduled for Saturday, September 5 at 9 pm ET/8 pm CT. ARCA practice and General Tire Pole Qualifying will precede the 200-lap/100-mile feature event. The race is set for live flag-to-flag broadcast on MAVTV and will be streamed live on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold. "We’re excited and honored to sponsor this exciting day of racing," said Don Muench, Senior Vice President of Sales, at Rust-Oleum. "What a great way to celebrate our longstanding and valuable partnership with Menards. We wish all the drivers good luck!" (In part from ARCARacing.com) (08-30-20)
  • Ty Gibbs wins the Dutch Boy 150 at Gateway: Ty Gibbs didn’t wait until the last lap this time. Returning a year later to the site of his first career ARCA Menards Series victory, the 17-year-old North Carolina driver put on an impressively dominating display Saturday night in the Dutch Boy 150 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. Despite a late-race restart, Gibbs pulled away from the field easily and drove his No. 18 Monster Energy Toyota across the finish line 1.716 seconds ahead of runner-up Chandler Smith. Gibbs has now won four of nine series starts this year, and picked up his Sioux Chief Showdown victory. Mayer finished third at Gateway for the second consecutive year, while Max McLaughlin and ARCA Menards Series West points leader Jesse Love were fourth and fifth, respectively. Bret Holmes finishes sixth and cut back into Self’s ARCA Menards lead. The latter spin out of a top 10 spot in the final third of the race and limped to a 15th-place finish, five laps off the pace. Holmes now trails by just seven after 13 races. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (08-30-20)
  • ARCA returning to Toledo Speedway on September 12th: Once again, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the ARCA Menards Series to be nimble in its 2020 scheduling. Events at Michigan’s Berlin Raceway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway have been removed from the 2020 ARCA Menards Series East slate, as has the ARCA Menards Series race at Indiana’s Salem Speedway. In place of these events, a new ARCA Menards Series/ARCA Menards Series East race at Toledo Speedway has been added to the schedule on Saturday, Sept. 12. "The logistical challenges created by COVID-19 forced us to make some difficult decisions," ARCA President Ron Drager said. "We are disappointed that we won’t be visiting Berlin Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Salem Speedway this year, but we look forward to bringing the excitement of ARCA Menards Series racing back to those great facilities in the future." The Sept. 12 event at Toledo, which will be broadcast live at 5 p.m. ET on MAVTV and TrackPass on NBC Gold, will be open to a limited number of fans – the first Toledo Speedway event to feature fans this year. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (08-25-20)
  • Gateway secures race sponsorship from Dutch Boy Paints: Sherwin-Williams Company, Track Enterprises, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway and the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) announced today that Dutch Boy Paints will sponsor the rescheduled 2020 ARCA Menards Series visit to WWT Raceway in Madison, Ill. The Dutch Boy 150 is now scheduled for Saturday, August 29 at 6 pm ET/5 pm CT. ARCA practice will precede the 120-lap/150-mile event, which is scheduled for live broadcast coverage on MAVTV. The Saturday ARCA race day schedule will also include an NTT Data IndyCar race event prior to the Dutch Boy 150. "Auto racing is part of the fabric of America, and so is the Dutch Boy brand," said Michelle Bangs, brand manager for Dutch Boy Paints. "It’s fitting that we come together for the ARCA Menards Series Dutch Boy 150. We’re proud to support ARCA and our exclusive retail partner, Menards, to bring this race to the fans." The Dutch Boy 150, originally scheduled for August 2, will be race No. 13 of the 20-race ARCA Menards Series schedule. In addition, the event will mark the seventh round of the Sioux Chief Showdown, ARCA’s short-track super series that brings drivers and teams from the ARCA Menards Series East and West together with AMS series regulars in a 10-race "series within a series." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (08-20-20)
  • ARCA adds Lebanon I-44 Speedway event for Labor Day weekend: The Automobile Racing Club of America has adjusted its Labor Day weekend schedule for both the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, which now includes a unique ARCA weekend doubleheader at Lebanon I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, Missouri. The weekend opens with the ARCA Menards Series on Saturday night and closes with the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS on Sunday, an event relocated from Winchester Speedway in Indiana. The adjustment moves the race originally scheduled for August 7 at Wisconsin’s Madison International Speedway to Saturday, September 5 at Lebanon I-44 Speedway. The race at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, which was originally slated for Labor Day weekend, has been postponed. ARCA and event promoters Track Enterprises are working with state and local officials to reschedule races at both the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield and DuQuoin mile dirt tracks. In addition to the changes to Labor Day weekend, the September 17 Bush’s Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway will now pay championship points for the ARCA Menards Series, Sioux Chief Showdown, and ARCA Menards Series East. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (08-18-20)
  • Michael Self wins the General Tire 100 at the Daytona road course:  Michael Self completed a unique season sweep in the General Tire 100 at the Daytona Road Course, conquering the 14-turn, 3.61-mile configuration in the ARCA Menards Series’ inaugural foray. It marked the ninth career series win for the 29-year-old from Park City, Utah, who extended his championship points lead in the process. He also took over the Sioux Chief Showdown championship lead. Self started second by virtue of the starting field being set by owners points in the Sioux Chief Showdown standings. [Ty] Gibbs used a slick move in the backstretch chicane to take the lead on Lap 1 and held it until Self overtook him right before the halfway break. Gibbs would wrestle in back with 10 to go in the 28-lap event, but Self would not relent. He retook the point in the infield turns with six to go and pulled away for the win. Self’s No. 25 Sinclair Lubricants Toyota finished 6.993 seconds ahead of runner-up Gibbs. Colin Braun, the former Rolex 24 winner and NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series driver, crossed the line third as a substitute driver for Sam Mayer. Mayer, who suffered a hand injury in a sports car wreck last week in Wisconsin, started the race and was relieved by Braun at the halfway break. Taylor Gray finished fourth and Will Rodgers, who was fastest in practice, was fifth. Hailie Deegan was sixth, followed by Max McLaughlin, Bret Holmes, Chandler Smith and Parker Chase. Smith entered the race as the Sioux Chief Showdown points leader and overcame an early off-course run and a spin later in the race to salvage a top 10. Self leads Holmes by 15 points in the ARCA Menards Series. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (08-15-20)
  • Parker Chase to make ARCA debut at Daytona road course for Chad Bryant Racing: Chad Bryant Racing announced that development driver Parker Chase will drive the team’s No. 22 Ford in his ARCA Menards Series debut in this Friday’s General Tire 100 at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course. Chase, 19, will look to put on a show in his series debut as the New Braunfels, Tex. native is an experienced road course veteran and hopes to display his talent of turning lefts and rights in the 29-lap event. Veteran crew chief Paul Andrews will oversee the effort for Chase’s ARCA debut. "I’m really excited about my ARCA debut at the Daytona Road Couse this week," said Chase. "When this race was added to the schedule, we knew we had to put the components in place to go out there and compete. I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to put the program together for this race and the relentless effort from the Chad Bryant Racing team should give us great direction in the series’ debut at the Daytona Road Course.” Chase joined the Mooresville, N.C.-based Chad Bryant Racing team earlier this summer and has competed in select Late Model Stock races in the N.C.-region where he has impressed with speed and finishes inside the top-10. VerticalBridge, Enertech Resources, NXTLVL Marine and Tige Boats will serve as the partners on Chase’s No. 22 Ford Fusion in the 12th race of the season. (In part from ChadBryantRacing.com) (08-11-20)
  • Riley Herbst wins the VizCom 200 at Michigan: It had been a while since Riley Herbst had been to victory lane. The 21-year-old from Las Vegas felt it was way too long, and Sunday he was able to rectify that. Herbst’s No 18 Monster Energy Toyota led the final 33 laps in winning the VizCom 200 at Michigan International Speedway. It was Herbst second career ARCA Menards Series win, but first at any level of NASCAR national series, or ARCA Menards, East or West since that victory at Pocono Raceway on June 9, 2017. Herbst powered his way alongside Bret Holmes, who led a race-high 61 laps. After the two swapped the lead, Herbst was able to move to the front and stay there. He finished 1.456 seconds ahead of Holmes. Championship points leader Michael Self finished third, his eighth top five and 11th top 10 in 11 races. However, it was the ninth straight race he finished behind Holmes, and the gap between the two has now shrunk to just four points. Drew Dollar finished fourth, followed by Anthony Alfredo. Hailie Deegan, Ryan Repko, Jason Kitzmiller, Thad Moffitt and Armani Williams rounded out the top 10. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (08-09-20)
  • Kris Wright joins GMS Racing for Michigan: GMS Racing announced that Kris Wright will run a select schedule with the team in 2020. Wright will pilot the No. 21 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series at Michigan International Speedway on August 9. Wright made his ARCA West debut at the Utah Motorsports Campus double header in June where he finished second and third in the two events. Wright finished second in the LMP2 class in the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Wexford, PA native claimed the IMSA Prototype Challenge Championship (LMP3) in 2018 and was the IMSA Prototype Challenge Rookie of the year in 2017. "I'm really excited to be making my first ARCA and NASCAR starts with GMS and Chevrolet," said Wright. "You always want to be doing it with the best team. I'm a Chevy guy from birth so it's a dream come true." The VizCom 200 from Michigan International Speedway will air live Sunday August 9 at 1pm ET on MAVTV and NBC Sports Gold TrackPass. Sponsorship for will be announced at a later date. (In part from GMSRacing.net) (08-03-20)
  • Sam Mayer sweeps Toledo Speedway races with second victory: It took an extra day, and one last restart, but Sam Mayer completed the weekend sweep at Toledo Speedway. Mayer took the lead on a late race restart just past halfway in the Menards 200 presented by Crosley Brands, and then hoisted his second winner’s trophy in three days when the ARCA Menards Series race was called on Lap 127 because of rain. The 17-year-old from Franklin, Wisconsin, picked up his first series win Friday night. After weather pushed Saturday’s scheduled event to Sunday, Mayer started third. He got by Chandler Smith, who led briefly, and chased after General Tire Pole Award winner Ty Gibbs, who paced most of the first 100 laps. The caution came out briefly at Lap 103 for precipitation. The cars stayed on the track and kept the track dry; when they went back to green on Lap 117, Mayer’s No. 21 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet grabbed the top spot. Three laps later, Gibbs spun in Turn 4 trying to take the lead and brought out the caution. Rain returned shortly thereafter and series officials were forced to end the race. Smith, the Sioux Chief Showdown points leader, wound up taking the runner-up spot, followed by Bret Holmes, ARCA Menards Series points leader Michael Self and Derek Griffith. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (08-02-20)
  • Rain postpones Menards 200 event at Toledo: The ARCA Menards Series Menards 200 presented by Crosley Brands has been postponed due to persistent rain. After a late morning shower, track officials were able to dry the track and get the race started, but the showers moved back in after six laps were completed. Ty Gibbs is scored as the race leader. Chandler Smith is second, followed by Friday’s Toledo winner Sam Mayer, Drew Dollar and Bret Holmes. The race will resume on Sunday with 194 laps remaining. Due to the postponement, the race will not be televised or available via online streaming. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (08-01-20)
  • Sam Mayer earns first career ARCA victory at Toledo: Sam Mayer has accomplished so much so soon into his stock car racing career, it’s hard to believe there was still something he hadn’t done. There was, but he checked those off Friday night at Toledo Speedway. The 17-year-old from Franklin, Wisconsin, dominated the Menards.com 200 presented by SPxE. It was Mayer’s first win in the ARCA Menards Series – and his first victory in the the Sioux Chief Showdown. Mayer’s No. 21 Chevrolet led the last 97 laps and crossed the finish line 1.607 seconds ahead of Ty Gibbs. Taylor Gray finished third, followed by Bret Holmes and championship points leader Michael Self. Holmes shaved one more point off Self’s lead, which is now eight. Drew Dollar, Derek Griffith, Hailie Deegan, Tim Richmon and Rick Clifton rounded out the top 10. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (07-31-20)
  • Bill Kimmel Sr. passes away at 91: Bill Kimmel Sr., a three-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series in the 1970s, father of series veterans and champions Bill and Frank Kimmel and grandfather of current drivers Will and Frankie Kimmel, passed away July 30 at his home of natural causes at the age of 91. Bill Kimmel Sr. drove his first race in 1949 at Sportsdrome Speedway in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and raced for a living from the 1950s through the 1980s, winning more than 500 feature races and 12 track championships throughout the Midwest. In addition to driving in MARC/ARCA Series races for four decades, he was a consistent winner in the rough and tumble open wheel sprint cars of that time period. All three of his sons, Thom, Bill and Frank, became successful race drivers. Frank and Bill Jr. both won multiple championships driving locally at tracks including Charlestown Speedway, Sportsdrome Speedway and Louisville Motor Speedway. Frank moved to the ARCA Menards Series in 1992, earning Rookie of the Year honors and after winning four consecutive track championship at Louisville, in 1999 Bill joined the ARCA team Frank drove for owned by Larry Clement. Bill Kimmel Sr.’s grandsons Will and Frankie are also both ARCA Menards Series drivers and champions local tracks including Salem Speedway and Sportsdrome Speedway. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (07-31-20)
  • Anthony Alfredo returns to DGR-Crosley for Michigan: DGR-Crosley announced today NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Anthony Alfredo will rejoin the team for the upcoming ARCA Menards Series race at Michigan International Speedway in the No. 17 Ford Fusion on Sunday, Aug. 9. Blake Bainbridge will be Alfredo’s crew chief for the race. Alfredo raced for DGR-Crosley in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series for 13 races in 2019. "Since I have a few weeks off from the NASCAR Xfinity Series, I am very excited to strap into an ARCA Menards Series car for DGR-Crosley at Michigan as I make just my third start in the series," Alfredo said. "It will be a pleasure to work with the men and women at DGR-Crosley again. I am very thankful for David Gilliland and everyone on the team for giving me the opportunity to compete in this race. I know they are working hard to bring me a great car so we can have a shot to win. I plan on making everyone proud by having a successful weekend and ultimately taking home the checkered flag." (In part from DGR Crosley PR) (07-30-20)
  • Bret Holmes scores first career victory at Kansas Speedway: Bret Holmes finally got to experience the emotions of standing in victory lane with a dominating performance Friday night in the Dawn 150 at Kansas Speedway. The 23-year-old Munford, Alabama, driver put the family-owned No. 23 Holmes II Excavation Chevrolet out front for 82 laps and crossed the finish line 14.458 seconds ahead of runner-up Ryan Repko. It was the first career win in his 69th career start for Holmes, who began racing in the series as a 19-year-old in 2016. "We’ve been working so hard for this," said Holmes, who had led 42 laps in his career and just 17 before this season. "I’ve been working my whole life for this. My team did this for me. It’s been a long tough road. I just thank my family and my friends. They believed in me when I didn’t." Riley Herbst, who started on the pole because the starting lineup was set by owner’s points, finished third. Corey Heim was fourth and Tanner Gray overcame an early penalty to take fifth. Championship points leader Michael Self was sixth. It was his eighth straight top 10 to start the season but also represented back-to-back finishes outside the top five. That has allowed Holmes to chop Self’s points lead down to nine. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (07-25-20)
  • Drew Dollar picks up primary sponsorship from Sunbelt Rentals: Venturini Motorsports and Drew Dollar are pleased to welcome Sunbelt Rentals to the team as the primary sponsor on the No. 15 Toyota Camry for the duration of the 2020 ARCA Menards Series season. With a passionate team of 15,000 rental experts, a growing network of over 900 locations and an extensive equipment fleet that exceeds $10 billion, Sunbelt Rentals helps professionals and do-it-yourselfers get things done. With a highly diversified offering of equipment, solutions and services available, [Sunbelt Rentals assists] customers throughout North America extend their capabilities, complete projects on-time and handle times of crisis. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (07-24-20)
  • Tanner Gray secures new sponsor for Kansas: [Tanner] Gray’s No. 17 Ford Fusion will have a new look. Pneumatech will be the primary sponsor for the race. Since 1966, Pneumatech has provided industry-leading compressed air and gas treatment solutions to production facilities across the globe. Its innovative machines and accessories provide clean, dry air and gas to industries such as automotive, textile, power generation, oil & gas, food & beverage, and electronics. They design equipment that is easy to configure, transport, use and maintain, and they provide responsive service globally to ensure you get the most out of your equipment over its long lifetime. Furthermore, they have the capability to engineer products to fit your specific applications. (In part from DGR-Crosley PR) (07-24-20)
  • 18 cars on Kansas entry list: Eighteen cars are entered for Friday's Dawn 150 at Kansas Speedway. Notable entries include #01 Mike Basham, #06 Con Nicolopoulos, #8 Russ Lane, #11 Tyler Hill, #12 Corey Heim, #18 Riley Herbst, #20 Ryan Repko, #22 Derek Griffith, #69 Eric Caudell, and #97 Jason Kitzmiller. Full Entry List (07-23-20)
  • Ty Gibbs wins the Shore Lunch 150 at Iowa Speedway: Ty Gibbs dominated the Shore Lunch 150 in yet another impressive performance. Gibbs led 140 laps en route to his second straight win and the third in his last four starts. Throw in an ARCA Menards Series East win earlier this summer and the West finale to close out 2019, and Gibbs has won five of his last eight starts across all three. While he fended off challenges from Chandler Smith, Hailie Deegan and Sam Mayer at various points of the race, his No. 18 Monster / Terrible Herbst Toyota finished 1.410 seconds ahead of Mayer. Mayer appeared to be closing fast in the final laps but scrapped the wall and was unable to complete the final charge. Bret Holmes finished third, followed by Chandler Smith and Taylor Gray. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (07-19-20)
  • Kody Swanson to drive for Chad Bryant Racing at Iowa: USAC Silver Crown Series champion Kody Swanson will make his ARCA Menards Series debut for Chad Bryant Racing in Saturday afternoon’s Shore Lunch 150 at Iowa Speedway. A three-time and reigning Little 500 winner, Swanson will drive the No. 22 Fatheadz Eyewear Ford. Following his first USAC Silver Crown Series championship in 2014, Swanson had the opportunity to test an ARCA car at Daytona International Speedway in preseason testing, but Saturday’s race will be the first in the series’ composite-style race car. "This is an unbelievable opportunity for me," said Swanson. "I’m excited to take this next leap in my racing career and compete in the ARCA Menards Series at Iowa Speedway with a winning-race team." Longtime marketing partner Fatheadz Eyewear has expanded its relationship with Swanson for his ARCA debut in a primary role. "We are excited to extend and grow our relationship with Kody this year as he embarks on this next opportunity in the ARCA Menards Series," said Rico Elmore, Founder and CEO of Fatheadz Inc. "Kody has been a great ambassador of our brands for the past few years and we’re excited to be associated again with him as he transitions into stock car racing with Chad Bryant Racing." (In part from ChadBryantRacing.com) (07-15-20)
  • ARCA adds more 2020 race dates: The Automobile Racing Club of America has solidified the balance of its schedule through August for the ARCA Menards Series following NASCAR's recent schedule update for the top three national tours. The ARCA Menards Series will run a doubleheader at the sanctioning body’s hometown track in Toledo, Ohio, on July 31 and August 1. The Friday night/Saturday night doubleheader at Toledo Speedway will mark the first time since 1956 that the series has run a pair of races on the same weekend in Toledo. And it is also the series’ first weekend doubleheader since 2003 when weather forced the June race at Pocono Raceway to be moved to back-to-back days during the track’s July race weekend. The ARCA Menards Series will also be part of a doubleheader with the NASCAR Gander Trucks on Friday, July 24 at Kansas Speedway and a NASCAR Cup Series doubleheader on Sunday, August 9 at Michigan International Speedway. That sets the table for a historic weekend at Daytona International Speedway August 14-16. The ARCA Menards Series will join the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander Trucks for their first races on the storied 3.56-mile Daytona road course. The ARCA Menards Series race on August 14 replaces ARCA’s first scheduled visit to Watkins Glen since 2001. The ARCA Menards Series will close out the month of August at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, which was originally slated for August 2. The ARCA Menards Series will compete on Saturday evening, August 29, with the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES running on Sunday, August 30. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (07-14-20)
  • Ty Gibbs wins at Kentucky: Ty Gibbs kept his race car off the wall and, in the end, put it in Victory Lane. The Charlotte, North Carolina, managed to avoid spinning into the wall while battling for the lead with just under 40 laps to go, and then charged back to the front to win the General Tire 150 Saturday afternoon at Kentucky Speedway. [Bret] Holmes, who was chasing his first career win in 67 starts, instead had to settle for a career-best second-place. [Michael] Self wound up making his way back through as well to salvage a third-place run. It was his sixth straight top 10 to start the season. Sam Mayer and Drew Dollar were fourth and fifth, respectively. Ryan Repko finished sixth, followed by Derek Griffith, Ryan Huff, Tanner Gray and Jason Kitzmiller. Hailie Deegan, who entered the race second in points behind Self, was involved in an accident on Lap 77 after contact with Dollar while running fourth and finished 14th. That moved Holmes and Dollar to second in points, each 22 back of Self, and dropped Deegan to fourth. She is 24 points out of the lead. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (07-11-20)
  • 17 cars entered for the General Tire 150 at Kentucky: Seventeen cars are entered for Saturday night's General Tire 150 at Kentucky Speedway. Entries include #06 Don Thompson, #11 Willie Mullins, #12 Dick Doheny, #17 Tanner Gray, #18 Ty Gibbs, #20 Ryan Repko, #21 Sam Mayer, #22 Derek Griffith, #69 Scott Melton, and #97 Jason Kitzmiller. All cars will make the event that will air on FOX Sports 1 at 2:30 PM ET. Full Entry List (07-09-20)
  • Thad Moffitt secures primary sponsorship for Memphis: DGR-Crosley [has] announced that CleanPacs brand by Aqua ChemPacs will be the primary sponsor of Thad Moffitt’s No. 46 Ford in the ARCA Menards Series race at Memphis International Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 26, as well as an associate sponsor for his remaining ARCA races in 2020. Aqua ChemPacs is the industry leader in 100 percent dissolvable concentrated liquid chemical packs. Moffitt, the 19-year-old grandson of NASCAR legend Richard Petty, is scheduled to compete in most of the ARCA Menards Series races this season in his first year with DGR-Crosley. “I’m thrilled Aqua ChemPacs decided to join our team,” Moffitt said. “They are committed to producing environmentally-friendly products. Every time an Aqua ChemPac bottle is reused that is one less bottle that is reaching a landfill, or ending up in our oceans and lakes. I’m proud to represent a company which believes in protecting our environment and has high-quality cleaning products for commercial and residential use." (In part from DGR-Crosley PR) (07-09-20)
  • ARCA announces additional race dates: NASCAR today announced its schedule of events through August for all three national series and the ARCA Menards Series, which includes two additional NASCAR Cup Series doubleheaders and two separate stops – on two different courses – at Daytona International Speedway. The ARCA Menards Series will feature three combination event weekends with the NASCAR national series: at Michigan International Speedway, the Daytona International Speedway road course, and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. In addition, the ARCA Menards Series East will race at Dover International Speedway. ARCA Racing officials are working on additional stand-alone dates for the ARCA Menards, East and West series. The latest installment of the 2020 schedule is as follows:
    • Sunday, Aug. 9: Michigan (1:00 PM on MAVTV)
    • Friday, Aug. 14: Daytona Road Course (5:00 PM on MAVTV)
    • Friday, Aug. 21: Dover *ARCA East* (2:00 PM on TrackPass)
    • Saturday, Aug. 29: WWT Raceway (6:00 PM on MAVTV)
    Schedule locations, dates, times and networks are subject to change. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (07-09-20)
  • Chandler Smith wins at Lucas Oil Raceway: Chandler Smith drove away from the field en route to his ninth win in 23 career starts with a dominating performance in Friday night’s Calypso Lemonade 200. After finishing second to Gibbs last week at Pocono Raceway, Smith — who won the General Tire Pole Award earlier in the day — retook the lead in the No. 20 JBL Audio Toyota from Gibbs on Lap 39 and never relinquished it. Sam Mayer closed on his back bumper with under 10 laps remaining, but after they cleared the car of seventh-place Bret Holmes, Smith was able to stretch the lead back out again and win by .899 seconds on the .686-mile oval. Mayer settled for second, followed by Hailie Deegan. Tayor Gray, 15, finished fourth in his ARCA Menards Series debut, and Thad Moffitt was fifth. Max McLaughlin was sixth, the last car on the lead lap, followed by Holmes. Championship points leader Michael Self finished seventh. He had to pit late in the race for a flat tire after giving up third to Deegan, and lost two laps. Howie DiSavino III and Kyle Sieg rounded out the top 10. Self maintained his points lead of 12 over Hailie Deegan. Drew Dollar, who experienced mechanical issues at the second break and finished 14th, dropped to third – 19 behind Self. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (07-03-20)
  • 20 cars entered for Lucas Oil: Twenty cars are entered for Friday night's race at Lucas Oil Raceway. Entries include #06 Tim Richmond, #1 Max McLaughlin, #21 Sam Mayer, #22 Derek Griffith, #32 Howie DiSavino III, #42 Kyle Sieg, #46 Thad Moffitt, #69 Brian Finney, and #91 Justin Carroll. Full Entry List (07-01-20)
  • Kyle Sieg to race at Lucas Oil with Bruce Cook / RSS Racing: RSS Racing has announced that Kyle Sieg will race in the Calypso Lemonade 200 at Lucas Oil Raceway. The team has purchased ARCA cars and it will be led by Bruce Cook, who took over majority ownership of Finley Racing this year. RSS Racing is seeking sponsorship for Friday night's race. (In part from RSS Racing Twitter) (07-01-20)