archives

Scroll down to view past ARCA Racing Series news and rumors.

may 2012

  • Brennan Poole wins the Akona 200 at Elko Full Results
  • Andy Belmont Racing 'taking a break' from ARCA UPDATE:  Andy Belmont Racing is "taking a break" from ARCA Racing Series competition and will miss multiple events this season. The team has fielded cars for Mikey Kile, Brandon Kidd, Thomas Praytor, and Brandon Davis this year. A classfied post on ARCA Racing's website lists that the team is selling cars, engines, and other race equipment and that "everything goes." (05-29-12)
    UPDATE: ModSpace has left Andy Belmont Racing and will sponsor cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series instead. The company is likely to expand its current sponsorship deal with Front Row Motorsports. (05-31-12)
  • Steve Arpin returns to Venturini for three races: Steve Arpin will re-join Venturini Motorsports for three ARCA Racing Series events in 2012. Starting this weekend in the Akona 200, Arpin will return to familiar territory as the ARCA series makes its first ever visit to Elko Speedway. Arpin will make his 2012 ARCA debut driving the No.66 Loenbro Pipeline Solutions and Speed Shop Chevrolet for Venturini. In addition to Elko Speedway, Arpin will drive for Venturini Motorsports at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds later this summer. (Venturini Motorsports PR) (05-31-12)
  • Carter 2 Motorsports signs Lucas Munroe for Elko:  Carter 2 Motorsports has signed 23 year-old Luke Munroe to drive its No. 40 Dodge at Elko Speedway this weekend. Munroe, who will make his ARCA debut, is a veteran dirt track driver from Duanesburg, NY. (05-30-12)
  • Ryan Heavner suspended from ARCA competition:  Ryan Heavner was looking forward to the new challenges of a full season in the ARCA Racing Series this season, piloting a machine out of the Bob Schacht Motorsports stable. However, Heavner’s ARCA program has recently been put on hold. Last year, Heavner competed in his first ARCA Series event at Toledo Speedway in Toledo, OH at 15 1/2 years of age. He went on to finish 13th without much more than a dent on the car, gathering much needed seat time to further progress his racing career. Following the event the team received a letter from the series officials stating they had broken the minimum age regulation for series competition. Ryan Heavner and Bob Schacht Motorsports were fined for the infraction and Heavner was also placed on a series suspension. The team has since appealed the suspension, disappointingly they have recently been informed the suspension will stand throughout the 2012 season. (Ryan Heavner PR) (05-26-12)
  • Turner/Win-Tron and McReynolds penalized after Talladega win: ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards officials announced [on May 8, 2012] a penalty from Friday's race at Talladega Superspeedway. Based on post-race technical inspection after Friday's International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway, the Win-Tron Racing No. 32 team has been fined $6000 and team owner Kevin Cywinski and driver Brandon McReynolds have been penalized with the loss of 100 championship points. The penalties were issued for violation of the minimum rear quarter panel height rule per the 2012 ARCA Rule Book and race event technical bulletin. (ARCARacing.com) (05-26-12)
  • Hixson Motorsports to skip upcoming races? DENIED:  Hixson Motorsports is rumored to be skipping the next two months due to health problems that owner Wayne Hixson is experiencing. The team has not competed at Daytona and Talladega, but has run the short tracks with Levi Youster and Mike Senica. (05-21-12)
    DENIED: We are told that this rumor is untrue and that Hixson Motorsports will continue to compete in the ARCA Racing Series this season. (05-26-12)
  • Joey Miller racing at Elko with volunteer crew:  Joey Miller, a five-time winner in the ARCA Racing Series, will compete in the series' first trip to Elko Speedway on Saturday, June 2. "Elko's a great little track, and it's 10 minutes from my house, so I definitely consider it my home track," said Miller. Miller has 20 top-10 finishes among 31 prior starts in ARCA competition. Miller's crew from that time - including crew chief Mike Chaffee and car chief Mike Resop - will work with the driver at the Akona 200. Miller said the volunteer crew gets together twice a week to prepare the car. (ARCARacing.com) (05-23-12)
  • Aleks Gregory joins Win-Tron Racing for a minimum of fives races: Win-Tron Racing announced today that Aleks Gregory has joined their team for a minimum of five races in addition to the open-test session at Michigan. Gregory will make his first start behind the wheel of the No. 32 The Mosquito Patch Toyota when the series races at Pocono on June 9. “We’re really excited to make this announcement about having Aleks Gregory and his sponsor, The Mosquito Patch join our team,” said Win-Tron Racing co-car owner Nate Thiesse. In addition to Pocono, the duo will also tackle Michigan, Chicagoland Speedway, Pocono (August), and Kansas. (in part from Win-Tron Racing PR) (05-22-12)
  • Bobby Gerhart to run televised events:  Bobby Gerhart and Bobby Gerhart Racing will compete in all the televised ARCA Racing Series events in 2012. Remaining televised events include both Pocono races, Michigan, Iowa, Chicagoland, Lucas Oil Raceway, and Kansas. (05-21-12)
  • Darrell Basham Racing not competing at Elko?:  Darrell Basham and Darrell Basham Racing may not attempt Elko Speedway on June 2nd. Basham recently lost a lot of his equipment in the Henryville, IN tornado and suffered engine problems at Toledo. These engine problems will likely cause the team to skip the event. (05-21-12)
  • Sean Corr and Empire Racing to miss Toledo and Elko:  Sean Corr and Empire Racing will not compete at Toledo Speedway this weekend or Elko Speedway on June 2nd. Empire Racing's Facebook page states that this decision was made due to Corr's injuries that he sustained at Salem, which included a cracked rib and a bruised foot. Corr is currently 13th in the ARCA Racing Series drivers standings. (05-19-12)
  • Korbin Forrister joins Kimmel Racing UPDATE 3: 19 year-old Korbin Forrister has joined Kimmel Racing and will run at least three races this season in the ARCA Racing Series beginning at Toledo Speedway on May 20th. Forrister joined the Lafferty Motorsports driver development program last year and attempted Mobile in the No. 89 Lafferty Motorsports Chevrolet. The Cedartown, Georgia driver has considerable dirt track experience. (05-11-12)
    OFFICIAL: Kimmel Racing announced today that Korbin Forrister has joined the family-owned ARCA Racing Series team for a minimum of four events beginning next weekend at Toledo Speedway. Forrister, 19 has an extensive racing resume hailing both asphalt and dirt experience but next Sunday’s Menards 200 will be his inaugural stock car debut. In addition to Toledo, Forrister will drive for Kimmel Racing in upcoming events at Lucas Oil Raceway Park, Illinois State Fairgrounds and the DuQuoin. For Toledo, Forrister will drive the No. 69 Tilted Kilt Ford. “I’m really excited and proud to be a part of the Kimmel Racing family,” said Forrister, who’s attended the last two ARCA Racing Series races to become familiar with his new surroundings. “Together, we’ve set realistic goals and I think we’ll be able to accomplish them." (Kimmel Racing PR) (05-13-12)
    UPDATE 2: Korbin Forrister will drive the No. 68 Tilted Kilt Ford and Will Kimmel moves to the No. 69 Clarksville Schwinn Ford. Forrister now has the chance to receive a provisional if needed to make the starting lineup. (05-17-12)
    UPDATE 3: Will Kimmel will not race at Toledo Speedway this weekend. His entry has been withdrawn. (05-19-12)
  • Allgaier Motorsports returns at Toledo with Enfinger: Allgaier Motorsports and Grant Enfinger will return to the ARCA Racing Series for the first time in the 2012 season this weekend. “I’m excited to be back at Toledo Speedway, a track I’ve had a good bit of success at,” said Enfinger. “Driving for Allgaier Motorsports is always a great opportunity and we hope to take the Hylant Group to victory lane.” “This is all a very new experience for us at Hylant Group, and I think we made a great decision in partnering with Enfinger and his team,” said Richard Hylant, President of Hylant’s Toledo office. Hylant Group has grown into one of the largest privately held insurance brokerage firms in the nation. [Enfinger will use owner points from the No. 99] (Allgaier Motorsports PR) (05-17-12)
  • Ryan Rust driving for Carter 2 Motorsports at Toledo: 19 year-old Ryan Rust will drive the No. 40 Dodge for Carter 2 Motorsports at Toledo Speedway on May 20th. Rust has one NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Lucas Oil Raceway in 2010 driving for Rick Ware Racing, where he finished 28th. (05-17-12)
  • Cunningham Motorsports drivers still seeking sponsorship: Cunningham Motorsports development drivers Alex Bowman and Ryan Lynch are still seeking sponsorship to compete in the 2012 ARCA Racing Series season. Bowman, who currently sits 8th in points with one win, is only scheduled to compete in the first eight races of the season. The team needs sponsorship to continue after Michigan to keep Bowman behind the wheel. Lynch, who announced in December that he had joined the program, does not have any races scheduled at this time. (05-13-12)
  • Williams Motorsports to make ARCA debut at Toledo UPDATE: Williams Motorsports will field a car for Ronnie Souders Jr. at select events this season beginning at Toledo Speedway next weekend. Souders has been competing in the CARS Pro Cup Series since 2007. He has amassed 46 starts during his career in that series. (05-11-12)
    UPDATE: Williams Motorsports has no relation to Josh Williams Motorsports that currently competes in the ARCA Racing Series. (05-12-12)
  • Andy Belmont Racing signs Brandon Kidd for limited schedule: Andy Belmont Racing announced today the addition of Brandon Kidd who will drive a part-time schedule beginning next weekend at Toledo Speedway. The 20-year old will drive in a minimum of four ARCA Racing Series events including Iowa Speedway (July 13), Lucas Oil Raceway Park (July 27) and a to-be-determined race. “It’s an exciting feeling to be back in the ARCA Racing Series,” said Kidd, a native of Manlius, New York. “I want to thank Andy Belmont and his group for the opportunity to drive the No. 2 Ford Fusion. I’m focused as ever to do a good job and make our sponsors proud. I have a lot of respect for Andy and Mikey (Kile) too, so I just feel like that this is my best opportunity yet in the series.” In addition to the NASCAR Racing Experience, Myrtle Beach Speedway, Romano Auto Dealerships and Pinnacle Investments will join the No. 2 entry as associate sponsors for his tenure at ABR. (Andy Belmont Racing PR) (05-11-12)
  • Cowen Racing and Tim Cowen begin part-time schedule at Toledo:  Cowen Racing and driver Tim Cowen will return for another part time schedule in the ARCA Racing Series in 2012. The team and driver plan to compete in three events this year, which include Toledo, New Jersey, and Iowa. Cowen entered the series in 2010 and has raced in seven events to date. (05-10-12)
  • Brandon McReynolds wins at Talladega Full Results
  • Drivers injured after Salem crash: Milka Duno and Sean Corr sustained minor injuries as a result of a lap 40 crash at Salem Speedway on April 29th. Duno suffered a cracked rib and a cracked tooth. Corr suffered a cracked rib as well, in addition to a bruised foot. Both drivers competed today at Talladega Superspeedway. (05-04-12)
  • Win Tron Racing to skip Talladega? UPDATE 2 Partners with Turner:It appears that Win-Tron Racing will skip Friday's race at Talladega and will allow Turner Motorsports to use its owner points for Brandon McReynolds. Win-Tron has only announced plans for six of the remaining seventeen races left on the 2012 schedule, as the team has signed Mason Mingus for the majority of the short track events. (04-30-12)
    UPDATE: Win-Tron Racing will not skip Talladega and will compete in the event on Friday, according to the public relations representative for the team. The team will compete in all of the remaining races on the ARCA Racing Series schedule this season. (05-01-12)
    UPDATE 2: Sources tell us that Win-Tron Racing partnered with Turner Motorsports for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. Win-Tron Racing prepared and possibly crewed the No. 32 Turner Motorsports owned Chevrolet. (05-04-12)
  • Rain Cancels Qualifying at Talladega; Matt Lofton on Pole Starting Lineup
  • Kevin Swindell joins Venturini for 8 races UPDATE:  23 year-old Kevin Swindell has joined Venturini Motorsports for an eight race schedule in the team's No. 55 entry. Mike Curb and Curb Records are reportedly funding the effort. Swindell has made six ARCA Racing Series starts to date, with his best finish of second coming at Rockingham in 2010 after winning the pole. Swindell was driving for Eddie Sharp Racing at the time. (05-01-12)
    UPDATE: Kevin Swindell has signed on with Venturini Motorsports for eight races beginning with the ARCA Racing Series International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega. “I’m really excited to work with Venturini and finally get an opportunity to compete in the ARCA Series for a good amount of races. Having an eight race deal will give me an opportunity to get comfortable with the team and car instead of just showing up at the track and trying to figure things out as I’ve done in my previous series starts,” stated Swindell. Swindell will drive the No. 55 Venturini-Curb/Aagajanian Motorsports Toyota at Talladega Superspeedway, Michigan Int’l Speedway, Pocono Raceway, Chicagoland Speedway, New Jersey Motorsports Park, Illinois State Fairgrounds, DuQoin State Fairgrounds and Kansas Speedway. (Venturini Motorsports PR) (05-03-12)
  • Fast Track Racing adds Coffey and Speer for Talladega: Fast Track Racing will field cars at Talladega Superspeedway for drivers Bill Coffey and Tyler Speer. Coffey drove for the team at Daytona and Speer has been associated with team since 2010. (05-01-12)