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April 19, 2020

Salem Speedway


April 24, 2020

Talladega Superspeedway


May 22, 2020

Charlotte Speedway

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ARCA Menards Series News and Rumors

  • Brad Smith unable to compete at Phoenix due to engine compatibility issues: Veteran driver Brad Smith was unable to race in the General Tire 150 at Phoenix due to engine compatibility issues after losing his only Ilmor 396 motor at Daytona. Smith took to Twitter to explain why the team withdrew from the event.
    Smith:     "We're very disappointed in having to miss @phoenixraceway. After losing the Ilmor in Daytona we had to revert to a used Legacy motor we had. Although swapping engines is routine in racing, changing from an Ilmor to a Legacy is not. They're architecturally different. Different fuel systems different oiling systems different ignition systems, and different wiring. Although we overcame all the obstacles as we encounterd them we simply ran out of time. It took more a analyzation in what needed to be changed in the underdash wiring & we simply ran out of time. Thanks to everyone for your help and support! See you at @Salem_Speedway!" (In part from Twitter.com) (03-09-20)
  • Chandler Smith wins the General Tire 150 at Phoenix: [Chandler Smith] used pit strategy to get his No. 20 JBL Toyota out front of the ARCA Menards Series field, and he held off Ty Gibbs and Michael Self in a two-lap sprint to the finish to win Friday night’s General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway. The race was also the first of 10 races in the Sioux Chief Showdown. On the last pit stop, Smith’s team elected to change just two tires, which allowed him to start at the front. The victory was Smith’s eighth in 21 ARCA Menards Series starts. He is running the full Sioux Chief Showdown schedule, as well as the ARCA Menards Series races at Kansas, Pocono and Springfield. Michael Self, the Daytona winner, overcame early electrical issues to nip Gibbs at the line by .022 seconds for second. Gibbs, who was fastest in practice and won the General Tire Pole Award, settled for a disappointing third-place finish. “I kicked their butts all day, the car was just so good,” said Gibbs, who led two times for a race-high 22 laps. “We drove away from them and at the end there, we just got jacked. I was happy with how we ran. It just sucks what happend at the end.” (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-09-20)
  • Thad Moffitt returns to DGR-Crolsey for Phoenix: Thad Moffitt is excited to head to Phoenix Raceway for Friday’s General Tire 150 after earning his best career ARCA Menards Series finish at Daytona International Speedway last month. Moffitt drove his No. 46 Richard Petty Performance Plus Motor Oil Ford Fusion to a fifth-place finish in his first start with DGR-Crosley and only his second start at Daytona. This race will be a new experience for Moffitt since he has never raced at Phoenix Raceway. To prepare, he has spent many hours watching film of past races, practicing on the simulator and talking to his teammates and co-owner, David Gilliland, about what to expect at the one-mile oval. Moffitt will also be sporting a new look at Phoenix after getting his long red locks cut off last week for a good cause. Moffitt donated his hair to “Children With Hair Loss” last Tuesday while at Victory Junction. Six-time Victory Junction camper Kaylin Allison had the honor of cutting off 10 inches of his curly red hair for the donation. (In part from DGR-Crosley PR) (03-05-20)
  • MRN To Broadcast Select ARCA races: Race fans will have even more ways to follow all the action from the ARCA Menards Series. MRN will broadcast 10 more races, including Friday’s General Tire 150 from Phoenix Raceway, from the 2020 schedule. The season kicked off with flag-to-flag coverage of the season-opening Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire from Daytona International Speedway in February, and will include four races that are part of the Sioux Chief Showdown. Fans will be able to listen on MRN.com, through the Race Center page on ARCARacing.com, and NASCAR.com. The MRN broadcasts will also air on SiriusXM on their play-by-play channel, 385, and online/app at 985. [Races include Phoenix, Talladega, Charlotte, Mid-Ohio, Michigan, Chicagoland, Pocono, Watkins Glen, Bristol, and Kansas]. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-05-20)
  • ARCA Daytona Season Opener Moves to February 13th in 2021: Daytona International Speedway has announced adjustments to the traditional 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening race week – changing the course of the popular Busch Clash race and condensing the schedule of Daytona Speedweeks. Among the changes, the traditional ARCA Menards Series season opener will become a double-header with the NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener on Saturday, Feb. 13, with the “The Great American Race,” the Daytona 500, will take place Feb. 14, putting an exclamation point on the week of speed. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-05-20)
  • Hailie Deegan picks up sponsorship for Phoenix and Charlotte: Hailie Deegan will carry Toter colors on her No.4 Ford Fusion for the ARCA Menard’s Series races at Phoenix (March 6) and Charlotte (May 22), and carry the brand as an associate sponsor throughout the season. “I’m really excited to partner with [parent company] Wastequip and glad they are supporting me in the most crucial time of my career, helping me develop and further my skill set to break down barriers as we stay focused on winning,” said the 18-year-old, who joined Ford’s driver development program at the end of last year. Toter manufactures two-wheeled curbside waste and recycling collection bins. “I’ve seen Hailie race, and I’ve been very impressed with her drive, toughness and entrepreneurship,” said Marty Bryant, CEO of Wastequip. “Further, her winning spirit and dedication to her sport align perfectly with Toter’s ‘Built for Extremes’ commitment — she’s a tough fighter in a crowded space who won’t settle for anything short of leading the field.” (In part from Racer.com) (02-13-20)
  • Michael Self wins the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona: Michael Self’s 2019 season ended one spot short of a championship. In the 2020 season opener, he made sure to put the field on notice, dominating from the pole to win the Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire for the second time in the last three years. “It’s unbelievable. I can tell you the second time is every bit as sweet as the first,” he said. “And to do it with this group of people around me. Sinclair Oil, Toyota, my family here, a bunch of my friends here. It’s no secret, it’s a little extra special to come to Daytona. And to do it here with these guys makes it more special on top of that. Just a truly amazing day for us a little bit surreal.” The victory is the third straight Daytona win for Venturini Motorsports (Self in 2018, Harrison Burton in 2019) and fourth overall for the organization. In her DGR-Crosley and Ford debut, Hailie Deegan drove her way to a runner-up finish, her best career result and tying the best result for a female in the ARCA Menards Series. Self’s Venturini teammate, Drew Dollar, finished third in his first career series start, with Sean Corr and Thad Moffitt rounding out the top five. Jason White scored a career-best finish of sixth, with Riley Herbst, Willie Mullins, Bret Holmes and Scott Melton completing the top 10. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (02-08-20)
  • Dominique Van Wieringen running partial schedule with Rette Jones Racing: Rette Jones Racing announced today that siblings Dominique and Tristan Van Wieringen will double down and compete in ARCA Menards Series competition beginning with Saturday afternoon’s Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire. Dominique Van Wieringen will drive the team’s No. 30 DuroByte Ford Fusion in this weekend’s ARCA Menards Series season-opener, while brother Tristan will take the wheel two days later on Monday night at New Smyrna Speedway for the ARCA Menards Series East season-opener. Overall, Dominique Van Wieringen is planning to compete in a number of ARCA Menards Series races, while Tristan is set to return to the East Series and run for the series’ championship in 2020. Other races slated for Dominique Van Wieringen include Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Kansas Speedway. As for Daytona, Dominique Van Wieringen returns to the 2.5-mile superspeedway after setting the fastest time in preseason testing last month. Saturday’s 80-lap race will mark her ARCA Menards Series debut. “I’m really excited about getting this opportunity to compete at Daytona for Rette Jones Racing,” said Dominique Van Wieringen, a veteran of ARCA East competition. “As we proved last month, we have a really fast race car and I can’t wait to get on the track and showcase that speed once again and have the opportunity to race for a win in my ARCA debut. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” (In part from RetteJonesRacing.com) (02-06-20)
  • Willie Mullins racing at Daytona & New Smyrna: Willie Mullins and Mullins Racing are going to mix a little bit of old with a little bit of new this year in Florida. Mullins and the No. 3 Crow Wing Recycling Ford team will open the ARCA Menards Series season on Saturday, Feb. 8 by competing in the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire at Daytona International Speedway. Following the race at Daytona, Mullins Racing will travel to New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., on Feb. 10 to compete in the Skips Western Outfitters 175, the season opener for the ARCA Menards Series East. "We’re going to do the double I guess you could call it," Mullins said. "That’s our plan. We’re going to try and stick to it and see what happens." Mullins returns to Daytona this year in search of redemption. One year ago Mullins qualified a career-best fourth for the ARCA Menards Series opener, but a crash on the third lap of competition brought a premature end to his day. "We’re cautiously optimistic again," said Mullins, who finished second in the ARCA opener at Daytona in 2018. "We just need to not make any mistakes. I, as a driver, I can’t make mistakes like I did last year. We have a good car and we were solid in the test down there a few weeks ago, we just need to carry that into the race. We want to come out of there with a top-10." Typically Mullins Racing would return home to Fredericksburg, Va., following the race at Daytona. However, thanks to the unification of the rulebooks between the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East and West, the opportunity presented itself for the team to compete at New Smyrna Speedway. (In part from Mullins Racing PR) (02-04-20)
  • Max Force Racing extends UNOH partnership: For the eighth consecutive season, Thomas "Moose" Praytor is partnering with the University of Northwestern Ohio, (UNOH) utilizing students from their High Performance Motorsports Program. UNOH students Collin Peterson, Christopher Wolford, Kai Campbell and Tim Winecoff will begin working with Praytor in the ARCA Season Opener at Daytona International Speedway next week. "Over the years we’ve had a lot of UNOH students work with our race team. We take a lot of pride in the guys we’ve trained that have moved on to NASCAR after finishing their school," offered Praytor. "UNOH’s Adam Lowe was my crew chief when we finished 5th in the point standings and former UNOH Intern Tevin Bair returned to our team this year after spending 2 seasons in NASCAR Xfinity Series." Located in Lima, Ohio, UNOH’s High Performance Motorsports program was created in 1992 and has been training students with the latest technology available in the industry since. (In part from Max Force Racing PR) (02-01-20)
  • Bret Holmes Racing announces ARCA plans; 14 races this year: Bret Holmes Racing announced today they will field a part-time entry in the ARCA Menards Series for the 2020 season with driver Bret Holmes. The Mooresville, N.C., -based team is scheduled to compete in 14 events this season with Shane Huffman returning as crew chief. The Holmes-Huffman duo finished third in the 2019 ARCA Menards Series driver championship point standings on the strength of eight top-five and 18 top-10 finishes. "I’m excited to work Bret (Holmes) and the team again this season," said Huffman. "We made a lot of progress as a group last year, and I know that will help us this season. We have worked hard over the off season and have a strong foundation to build on when we get to Daytona (International Speedway). We have one goal this year, to win races. We’re going to go out there and do just that." The No. 23 team is currently confirmed for the ARCA Menards Series events at Daytona International Speedway, Five Flags Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Iowa Speedway and Kansas Speedway. Additional races will be announced on a later date. The No. 23 Chevrolet will take on a new look for the 2020 season. With a blue and white scheme, Holmes will represent Holmes ll Excavation and Southern States Bank for most of the scheduled races. (In part from Bret Holmes Racing PR) (01-31-20)
  • Venturini Motorsports partners with Champion Power: Venturini Motorsports is pleased to announce a new partnership with Champion Power Equipment as the teams official and exclusive power generation equipment supplier for the 2020 ARCA Menards Series season. Champion will be a full-season, associate partner on every VMS car competing across all three ARCA Series (ARCA, East, West) during the year. "Champion is very excited to return to the ARCA Menards Series in partnering with another champion," commented Champion Power Equipment VP Business Development, Todd Welzbacher. "After a successful 2019 season, winning the drivers and owners championship, we look forward to a great 2020 race season with Venturini Motorsports and continuing to support and power our great fans." Champion Power Equipment is a market leader in power generation equipment, having years of experience providing dependable and durable power products designed and engineered in the USA for the North American and world markets. For home, work or play, Champion products are the standard of performance excellence. Champion makes the power that makes your life easier. "I am proud to welcome Champion (Power Equipment) into the Venturini Motorsports family of partners," said Venturini Motorsports team owner, Billy Venturini. "We look forward to Champion powering all of our teams, on and off the track during the 2020 ARCA season and forging a longstanding relationship together." (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (01-31-20)
  • Thomas Praytor and Max Force Racing to race at Daytona: Just a year ago, the collective Praytor Clan was waiting on the arrival of Hugh Thomas Praytor the Fifth and opted to miss the Daytona race in 2019. No waiting around in 2020, Five is here and ready to race in 2020! Thomas “Moose” Praytor has become one of the ARCA Menards Series most prolific restrictor plate racers. Over the last decade, Praytor has logged over a 1,000 laps and 2,700 miles, more than any other active ARCA driver during the same period. “It hurt just a little not to be in Daytona last year but I wasn’t going to miss Hugh being born for anything. Hugh got here in time for us to go to Talladega and he made his first race at Talladega, I’m looking forward to him making his first trip to Daytona this year.” Praytor’s Mobile, Alabama based team has been preparing his favorite Super Speedway chassis for the 2020 edition of the Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire. (In part from Max Force Racing PR) (01-29-20)
  • Venturini Motorsports suing Frank Kimmel & Griffin Rider: Venturini Motorsports is suing two of its former employees, including former crew chief Frank Kimmel. Kimmel, along with former VMS crew member Griffin Rider, are accused of stealing team secrets, according to the lawsuit filed in North Carolina Business Court. “Just before terminating their employment with VMS, both defendants engaged in a scheme designed to steal VMS’ most sensitive intellectual property,” alleges the complaint. Kimmel is accused of taking photographs of VMS cars when senior management was offsite, while Rider is accused of copying sensitive information from a shop computer. “Upon information and belief, Kimmel was documenting the unique suspension components and setup developed by VMS through wind tunnel and pull down machine testing for aerodynamic and handling advantages,” alleges the complaint. On Friday, a judge issued a court order requiring Kimmel to return any photographs or video of VMS cars to his former employer by Monday. He is also required to submit his phone for a forensic analysis. In December, Kimmel left VMS to serve as the general manager for KBR Development, another team in the ARCA Series and a direct competitor of VMS. The complaint alleges that Kimmel took photos to use at KBR. VMS has asked the court to enter a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, and is seeking to recover damages in excess of $25,000. Read the Full Lawsuit (In part from CharlotteObserver.com) (01-25-20)
  • ARCA announces new championship point structure: The ARCA Menards Series has announced a change to its championship points format, aligning the series point structure with those in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series, and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series as well as the ARCA Menards Series East and West, formerly known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Previously, the ARCA Menards Series used a format that awarded 235 points to a race winner, 220 points for second, and then a five-point interval per position throughout the field. Five bonus points were available for winning the General Tire Pole via qualifying, for leading a lap, and leading the most laps, meaning a driver could earn a maximum of 250 points per race. Under the new system, a race winner will earn 43 points plus a three-point bonus for winning the race for a total of 46 points, second would earn 42 points with a one-point per position interval through the remainder of the field. There will be a one-point bonus for winning the General Tire Pole via qualifying, and one-point bonuses for leading a lap and leading the most laps, meaning the maximum a driver could score by sweeping an event is 49 points. As it has been in the past, ARCA will award teams points for competing in each five-race segment within its 20-race season. In 2020, those segments are scheduled to end at Charlotte, Lucas Oil Raceway, Watkins Glen International, and at the season finale at Kansas Speedway. Any driver or owner attempting to compete in each of the five races per segment will earn a 50-point bonus, with any driver or owner entering and competing in all twenty races earning the maximum 200 bonus points. The same system will apply, for the first time, in the ARCA Menards Series East and West as well. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-24-20)
  • Michael Self back full time with Venturini Motorsports and Sinclair: Officials from Venturini Motorsports and Sinclair Oil Corporation have announced that Michael Self will once again pilot the No. 25 Toyota Camry full-time during the 2020 ARCA Menards Series season. Veteran crew chief Kevin Reed will be moving over to the DINO crew to call the shots throughout the year. "I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to return to Venturini Motorsports with Sinclair backing for another season, and a shot at championship redemption," says Self. "Despite last season ending in heartbreak for me, I had an absolute blast competing full time in the ARCA Menards Series, building a relationship with the Venturini family and the entire VMS crew, and proving that I can win and compete on any different style track. With some changes in the schedule including the addition of Mid Ohio, Watkins Glen and Phoenix, all tracks I’m extremely familiar with, I couldn’t be more excited to know that I’ll be back behind the wheel of the No. 25 Toyota for the entire 20-race slate." Sinclair Oil Corporation enters their fourth year of sponsoring Self and looks to bring more exposure to their iconic mascot, DINO as they will return as the primary sponsor in 18 races of the 2020 season. They will retain associate branding on the other two events to round out the year. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (01-23-20)
  • Natalie Decker joins Ken Schrader Racing for Daytona: Natalie Decker has added an additional race to her schedule, teaming with Ken Schrader Racing, and FURY Race Cars to wheel the No. 52 machine in the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire at Daytona International Speedway for the ARCA season opener. In her two career starts at Daytona in the ARCA series, she scored finishes in the top six. Additionally, in 2018 Decker won the pole for the race, becoming the third female to do so at Daytona in ARCA. She would finish that race in 5th place and in 2019, finished in 6th. "We are obviously very excited to have Natalie in the seat for the Daytona race! With her previous ARCA experience, we are pulling in with one of the more experienced drivers in the field," says Ken Schrader. It will be a chance for Natalie to get out on the track before her first NASCAR Trucks series start of the year, which will come a week later on, Feb. 14th, when she begins her journey with Niece Motorsports. Ken Schrader Racing and partner, Fury Race Cars, adds to a strong core of teams Decker will race with during 2020. Tony Eury Jr. will serve as Natalie’s crew chief for the race. (In part from NatalieDecker.com) (01-23-20)
  • RFMS Racing not returning; Don Fike selling team and stepping away: RFMS Racing owner, Don Fike, recently announced that he will not continue to race in the ARCA Menards Series in the 2020 season. Fike has decided to sell his race team and step away from ownership. Fike, who has been involved in racing for over 50 years, says that it has been a very difficult decision for him. “I almost sold the team after the 2017 season. I had a bicycle accident that year, which ultimately made my Parkinson’s symptoms worsen. My doctor and I talked about reducing my stress, so I decided to stop racing. My wife and some of my closest friends could tell how miserable I was with my decision to sell, so they talked me into doing it another year. But it’s time now. As much as I love racing, I just don’t need the extra responsibility anymore.” Fike made a great run of his racing career. For 52 years, he has either raced, worked on, sponsored or owned race cars. He developed his life-long passion during his college years, when he put together his first stock car. He completed in a six cylinder at local tracks in Illinois such as the Mazon Speedbowl, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010. (In part from RFMS Racing PR) (01-22-20)
  • Howie DiSavino III back with Win-Tron Racing for partial schedule: It’s about to get busy for Howie DiSavino, III, in 2020. After several starts with Mooresville, N.C. - based Win-Tron Racing in 2019, the team is announcing DiSavino is signing on to pilot the team’s NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS) entry. DiSavino’s truck series debut will be at Richmond Raceway, his home track, on Saturday, April 18, 2020, as well as, other select NGOTS and ARCA Menards Series races. The deal will also feature two new Virginia-based partners for DiSavino, KEES Travel™ and Bud’s Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electric. "Everyone at Win-Tron Racing is very excited to have Howie back behind the wheel. From the time he first jumped in the #32 ARCA car at Elko, MN, we could see that Howie is a smart and intelligent driver. He is a quick learner and a respectful young man with a huge future in front of him. We are proud to be a part of that future. Howie is a rising star, and we are truly looking forward to working with him and his partners again!” said Kevin Cywinsky, owner of Win-Tron Racing and former American Speed Association Champion. On the ARCA front, DiSavino has set a goal of top-10 finishes and sees the truck starts as a way to hone his skills and continue to learn about racing in NASCAR’s higher-level series. He knows that working with a team he already has a relationship with will help him in his transition, “I love the guys at Win-Tron and the way we work together. It will be a great year running with them on the ARCA side and the truck side. Working with PMG and Win-Tron, I have learned so much, and I want to continue to keep learning with them behind me.” (In part from WinTronRacing.com) (01-22-20)
  • Josh White parts ways with Vizion Motorsports due to breach of contract UPDATES: Josh White recently posted the following statement on his Instagram page. White has parted ways with Vizion Motorsports due to breach of contract.
    STATEMENT: "Josh White Racing and it's partners have parted ways with Vizion Motorsports, effective immediately. "I wish things would have turned our differently, however, Vizion Motorsports mission does not align with ours. We regrettably say this, with great discomfort. We did not learn that Vizion Motorsports had a different goal or mission than us until the Daytona test." White said. 'I wish Vizion Motorsports nothing but success in all their future endeavors.' JWR and Vizion Motorsports did not get to turn a lap together with Josh Williams Motorsports at the ARCA Daytona test session held on January 10th-11th at Daytona International Speedway. As a result of Vizion Motorsports breaching its contract with Josh White Racing and its partners, Josh White stands to lose sponsors as a result. JWR is currently looking to partner with another team for the 2020 racing season. More details to come in the future on what happened, Josh White Racing declines to comment at this time." (In part from Instagram) (01-19-20)
    UPDATE: Vizion Motorsports, which is now owned by J.D. Cole, has denied that it breached a contract with Josh White. The team plans to release a statement soon. (01-19-20)
    UPDATE 2: VIZION STATEMENT: Vizion Motorsports has released a statement concerning why the team has released Josh White. Vizion states that White was not professional, could not meet the crash clause agreement, did not have the needed funds for ARCA licensing requirements, and that the team did not receive funds from sponsors. Full Statement (In part from Vizion Motorsports PR) (01-19-20)
    UPDATE 3: Josh White recently posted the following message on Twitter in response to Vizion's statement: "Only one way to find out... Revenge is a dish best served cold, at least that's what they say. I'm going to let karma do its work. No need for me to say anything, God will show who's a white liar. The truth shall set you free!" (In part from Twitter) (01-20-20)
  • Eric Caudell planning on a partial schedule; looking at two cars: Oklahoma driver Eric Caudell is planning on returning to the ARCA Menards Series for a partial ten (10) race schedule. Caudell will begin the year at Daytona, with events at Talladega, Chicagoland, Lucas Oil, Elko, Iowa, Springfield, DuQuoin, Bristol, Memphis, and Kansas following. The owner-driver will have Jeremy Petty as his crew chief again, and the CCM Racing team is looking at expanding to two cars when a funded driver becomes available. Petty, who has expanded his race shop in Kansas, is working on acquiring a pull-down machine and is currently coaching a driver for upcoming ARCA seasons. (01-18-20)
  • Scott Melton entering Daytona with Kimmel Racing; scaling back: Scott Melton will compete in the season opening race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 8th for Kimmel Racing. Melton drove in ten races for the team last season, earning top 10 finishes at Michigan and Chicagoland. The Michigan native only has Daytona on his ARCA schedule. Melton plans on racing in Super Late Model competition at Berlin Raceway on a regular basis and then racing larger events after gaining experience. The 58 year-old successful insurance agent self-funds his racing career and has placed the majority of his ARCA equipment for sale on RacingJunk.com. (01-18-20)
  • Corey Heim joins Venturini Motorsports for partial schedule: Venturini Motorsports officials announced today that ARCA Menards Series standout, Corey Heim, has joined the storied team for a partial schedule throughout the 2020 season. Heim, will pilot the teams Toyota Camry’s in seven starts, covering all three of the ARCA Menards Series; National, East and West. "I am really looking forward to getting into one of Venturini Motorsports Toyotas and hitting the track this season," commented Heim. "Last year was a step in the right direction for me and I think with everything I learned and Venturini’s amazing track record in ARCA, we will be a threat each and every week we show up. It’s going to be a lot of fun running in all three ARCA Series and I’m looking forward to racing on short tracks, dirt tracks and road-courses." Kicking off the year, Heim will see ARCA East action at the famed New Smyrna Speedway, before heading to Five Flags Speedway as the Series second stop. He will make one more East start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, along with two West Series starts at Sonoma Raceway and Phoenix International Raceway. Rounding out his busy schedule will be two ARCA starts at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds and Kansas Speedway. Venturini Motorsports will make a formal announcement regarding sponsor, car number and crew chief for Heim at a later date. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (01-16-20)
  • General Tire extends agreement with ARCA: General Tire has extended its exclusive tire supplier agreement with the ARCA Menards Series in a multi-year agreement that will also see the company become the official tire supplier of the ARCA Menards Series East and West. ARCA’s relationship with General Tire was announced at the season finale at Kansas in 2015, and as it has over its initial four seasons, will include race entitlements, at-track activation and billboards, broadcast activation, and at-track service for teams at each of the races in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East and West. With a long history of producing passenger vehicle and light truck tires that make “anywhere possible”, General Tire’s racing roots began by developing tires for off-road racing, showcasing industry-leading tire technologies. That “born in competition” tradition continues with their line of ultra-high performance passenger tires. After four years of experience in the ARCA Menards Series, the company has found the same success in stock car racing, putting the 103-year-old brand in front of millions of loyal fans via live broadcasts on FOX Sports and MAVTV, tape-delayed broadcasts on NBCSC, and live streams on NBC Sports Gold. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-14-20)
  • Travis Braden not returning to RFMS Racing: Travis Braden recently announced on Twitter that he will not be returing to RFMS Racing this season. Braden joined the team in 2017 and raced two full seasons for the organization.
    Braden:     "I feel like I've done a bad job making this known - I left my duties at RFMS after the completion of the 2019 finale. No plans to return in 2020 with the team, nor in the ARCA Menards Series." (In part from Twitter) (01-14-20)
  • Dominique Van Wieringen fastest in Daytona test: After two days of track activity, Amherstburg, Ontario native Dominique Van Wieringen led the combined speeds in the ARCA Menards Series test for the season-opening Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire. Van Wieringen (No. 30 Rette Jones Racing Ford) turned a lap in the draft on Saturday afternoon at 49.615 seconds/181/.397 miles per hour. Her time was just 0.044 seconds quicker than World of Outlaws sprint car star David Gravel (No. 28 KBR Development Chevrolet), who times in at 49.659 seconds/181.236 miles per hour. Neither Van Wieringen and Gravel had ever made laps at Daytona prior to the open test and both were making their Daytona debuts in preparation for the Lucas Oil 200, which both are expected to enter. Former Daytona General Tire Pole Award winner Sean Corr timed in third overall, his fast time also coming in Saturday afternoon drafting practice. Corr (No. 8A Empire Racing Chevrolet) was just 0.061 seconds off Van Wieringen’s fastest lap, coming it at 49.676 seconds. The top seven speeds were set in Saturday afternoon drafting practice. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-14-20)
  • David Gravel racing at Daytona for KBR Development: Veteran World of Outlaws Sprint Cars competitor David Gravel will make his stock car racing debut with KBR Development, at Daytona International Speedway. Gravel will pilot the #28 Chevrolet at the World Center of Racing, Saturday, February 8 in the ARCA Menards Series 200. The highly accomplished racer, from Watertown, Connecticut, has 51 career victories, with 12 coming in 2019 while driving the Jason Johnson Racing #41. Gravel drove the Axalta sponsored 410 sprinter to victory lane in last season’s Knoxville Nationals, and finished third in series points for the fourth consecutive year. "It's a dream come true to be able to race at Daytona International Speedway," commented Gravel. "I can’t thank everyone at KBR and GMS Racing enough for making this happen. I’m really excited for the next step in my career." Gravel will participate with KBR Development in the ARCA Menards Series open test at Daytona, January 10 and 11, in advance of next month’s ARCA season opener. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-10-20)
  • Chad Bryant Racing fielding cars for Connor Hall & Jacob Haefner at Daytona: Chad Bryant Racing will participate in the Daytona test session tomorrow with three cars. Tom Hessert, Connor Hall, and Jacob Haefner will take laps in the team's equipment. Connor Hall and Jacob Haefner will return for the race in February.
    Connor Hall:     Returning to Chad Bryant Racing at Daytona is Hampton, Va. native Connor Hall. An exceptional short track racer – Hall burst onto the ARCA Menards Series scene last February with an impressive showing in his ARCA debut driving the No. 22 Ford Fusion for CBR. Recovering from a mid-race spin to finish a strong 11 th in his first superspeedway race last February, the 22-year-old is thrilled to reunite with Andrews and improve on what they started nearly 12 months ago. LetLoveLive Animal Rescue will support Hall in his third career ARCA Menards Series start, while Breeden Concrete, Knot Done Yet Sportfishing and Structural Steel Products will serve as associate partners for Daytona. “I’m extremely happy and fortunate to be back with Chad Bryant Racing,” said Hall. “As always, I’m looking forward to working with Chad (Bryant), Paul (Andrews) and the No. 22 team. The test and next month’s race wouldn’t be possible without LetLoveLive and their initiative, as well as Breeden Concrete, Knot Done Yet Sportfishing and Structural Steel Products. I’m ready to get to work but have some fun too.”
    Jacob Heafner:     Newcomer Jacob Heafner will round out the trio of cars this weekend at Daytona for CBR. Heafner, a native of Dallas, N.C. will turn his first laps in an ARCA Menards Series car this weekend and return to the facility to partake in his series’ debut aboard the No. 77 Ford Fusion in February. Heafner, 20, efforts will be supported by PowerHouse Recycling, a marker leader in certified electronics recycling and IT asset management services. The veteran Late Model Stock racer and 2018 Hickory Motor Speedway Late Model champion is eager for his first laps around the historic Daytona high banks. “I’m so blessed to have this incredible opportunity to drive for Chad Bryant Racing at Daytona,” sounded Heafner. “While I’m very eager to get on track, I understand the magnitude of this race and I’ll be incredibly focused on working with Chad (Bryant) and the rest of my Chad Bryant Racing team to take in as much knowledge as I can, while following the advice and guidance of my teammates. “Looking forward to a strong weekend of testing and gaining some momentum for the actual race.” (In part from Chad Bryant Racing PR) (01-09-20)
  • Thad Moffitt joins DGR-Crosley for Daytona: DGR-Crosley announced today that Thaddeus "Thad" Moffitt will join the team for the ARCA Menards Series season-opener at the Daytona International Speedway. Moffitt, the grandson of NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, will carry the iconic Petty Blue, the hue made famous by the Petty family, with Performance Plus Richard Petty Signature Series adorning the sides of his Ford Fusion. Moffitt joins the David Gilliland-led Ford Development team after a part-time ARCA Menards Series schedule in 2019, where he racked-up four top-10 finishes in seven starts. The 19-year-old Trinity, N.C.,-native looks to carry on his family's legacy when he takes to the historic two-and-a-half-mile superspeedway for the second time in his career. "Daytona is a very special place for my family,” Moffitt said. “I had the opportunity to race there last year in the ARCA Menards Series, and can’t wait to go back. Between the experience I've gained throughout the course of the season, and the talent within the DGR-Crosley organization, I feel confident that we will have a strong showing.” Performance Plus, a high-quality lubricant that is used by race teams across the country, will continue their support of Moffitt as he takes the next step in his racing career. (In part from DGR-Crosley PR) (01-09-20)
  • Our Motorsports testing at Daytona with several drivers: Our Motorsports is set to head to Daytona International Speedway for the ARCA Menards Series test session next week. The team will be bringing down a two car fleet for the test, with Andy Seuss, Sebastian Arias, Keith McGee and Ronnie Osmer behind the wheels. “We are looking forward to having a great test session at Daytona International Speedway,” commented Team Manager, Andy Seuss. “We’ve had a lot of success over the past couple years, including expanding into the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2020. We have some great guys that are going to be testing with us, and hopefully we’ll be able to come back to Daytona in February strong for the season opener.” Our Motorsports has shown great strength in Superspeedway racing, posting six Top 10’s and two Top 5’s in the last seven starts. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-08-20)
  • ARCA Menards Series West schedule announced for 2020: The ARCA Menards Series West will continue the history of one of the longest-running stock car series in the United States with a 10-race championship schedule in 2020. The slate will include visits to seven western states and include stops at some of the most iconic venues in the region. In its first season under the ARCA banner, the West Series will continue the lineage of crowning series champions that dates back to Lloyd Dane’s Pacific Coast Late Model Division title in 1954. The slate brings the total ARCA Menards Series calendar to 38 races over 34 weekends, covering the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East and the inaugural Sioux Chief Showdown. The showdown is a 10-race super series within the 20-race ARCA Menards Series bringing the best drivers from all three series together. “Equally important as we move forward with the ARCA Menards Series was ensuring that we maintained the traditions of each of the series,” said ARCA Series president Ron Drager. “We’re very pleased to be able to build a schedule that will not only bring out the best in the drivers over a variety of venues, we were also committed to continuing our relationships with the tracks that have helped build the West series.” The 67th season will take the green flag at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Thursday, Feb. 20, with the Star Nursery 150 kicking off the Pennzoil 400 weekend at LVMS. The ARCA Menards Series West championship will culminate at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, Nov. 7, as part of the NASCAR championship weekend. Full Schedule (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-06-20)
  • Chad Bryant Racing seeking drivers for this season: Chad Bryant Racing has immediate openings for their race program next season that includes competing in the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series Showdown and the newly rebranded ARCA Menards Series East and West divisions. The Mooresville, N.C.-based team fielded two full-time entries this season with drivers Joe Graf Jr., Connor Hall, Corey Heim and Ty Majeski respectively. Between the two entries, the team scored three wins (Majeski), 15 top-five and 31 top-10 finishes in 40 races collectively this season. Additionally, the team made starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East at Bristol Motor Speedway and in the season-finale NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at ISM Raceway respectively. CBR’s immediate openings include pre-season testing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway from January 10 – 11, 2020 in preparation for the Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire series’ season-opener on Sat. February 8, 2020. "2019 was a good season for Chad Bryant Racing, but we are focused on making 2020 even better," said team principal Chad Bryant. "Between all the drivers at Chad Bryant Racing, we were able to win races, maintain a constant presence at the front of the field and cap off the year with Joe Graf Jr. finishing top-five in points and Corey Heim inside the top-10, despite not running the entire season. "I feel that with the leadership of our team, including former Cup Series championship winning crew chief Paul Andrews – Chad Bryant Racing has the ability to bring in the next wave of talent and immediately continue our winning ways." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-04-20)
  • Bobby Gerhart not racing at Daytona; looking for drivers: [Bobby] Gerhart himself isn’t planning on being behind the wheel [at Daytona]. “I guess you could say I got the greatest Christmas gift of all,” Gerhart said in a recent phone interview. “I was at home and wasn’t feeling well and drove myself to the doctor. When I got there they said I had a pretty serious heart attack. It could have been a matter of five minutes or five hours, but had I waited, it’s pretty likely it would not have ended up as well as it did. I still have a very long road to go but I have been given a second chance here and for that I am very lucky and very grateful.” The 1988 Bounty Rookie of the Year plans on staying involved in the sport as a team owner and driver coach. With the change in his status coming so late in the off-season, he is hoping something will fall into place to allow the BGR team to make another run at Daytona victory. “It’s awfully late in the going, we know that,” he said. “But we have really great equipment ready to go. All we need is a driver to plug in and we can go win Daytona. We’ve done programs like this in the past with drivers like Kyle Krisiloff and Blake Feese. We have a great record of success at Daytona and working with other drivers so we’re hoping even with just a few weeks to go we can find someone who wants to go race. We’ll look at any opportunity, from one-race deals to partial season deals to a full season deal. We know we can be an asset to someone who is looking to go and run up front at Daytona. We are going to work hard to keep these race team going.” (From ARCARacing.com) (01-02-20)