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

April 2013

  • 39 entries for Talladega:  39 cars are entered for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway, which is one car short of full field (40). Notable entries include #08 Clay Campbell, #3 Drew Charlson, #5 Bobby Gerhart, #6 Ricky Ehrgott, #10 Cody McMahan, #19 Donnie Neuenberger, #30 Terry Jones, #54 Matt Kurzejewski, #55 Caleb Armstrong, #69 John Ferrier, #82 Sean Corr, and #92 Brennan Newberry. Wes Gonder Racing and Cody McMahan will be using owner points from Fast Track Racing (No. 10) , John Ferrier will be using Kimmel Racing owner points (No. 69), while Barry Fitzgerald will be using owner points from Darrell Basham (No. 94). Full Entry List (04-30-13)
  • Mason Mitchell secures sponsorship: Mason Mitchell has been working hard to secure a full-time sponsor for the 2013 ARCA campaign and today Mitchell can sleep a bit easier. The up and coming driver has secured sponsorship with “Happy Cheeks” beginning with the May 3rd race at the Talladega. I am very fortunate to secure this partnership with Happy Cheeks. Happy Cheeks is a toilet seat cleaner. It comes in a spray bottle the size of a Chap Stick tube, you spray it on the toilet seat and it kills all of the bacteria on the seat. It’s great, especially for travel and in public restrooms. I can’t wait to put the Happy Cheeks Ford in victory lane.” Along with debuting new sponsor Happy Cheeks at Talladega, Mitchell will debut a new driving suit for the remainder of the 2013 season. (In part from Mason Mitchell Motorsports PR) (04-30-13)
  • Anderson Bowen released from hospital: Anderson Bowen was treated and released from a Salem hospital Sunday evening, following a hard crash in Sunday’s Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200. Bowen, 15, finished 20th in the race. He and the 02 car driven by Josh Williams were involved in a hard crash on lap 107. Bowen walked to an ambulance on the infield of the Salem Speedway and was later transported for tests and observation to a nearby hospital. “CT scans are clear,” Bowen Tweeted tonight. “X-Rays are good as well. We should be going home shortly.” Team public relations personnel confirmed that Bowen was released. (ARCARacing.com) (04-29-13)
  • ARCA official passes away UPDATE: ARCA Racing Series official John Cissell, of Belleville, Illinois, died Thursday of a heart attack. He was 64. Cissell was scheduled to work the event this weekend at Salem Speedway. Funeral arrangements are pending. (ARCARacing.com) (04-27-13)
    UPDATE: Funeral services have been set for former ARCA Racing Series official John H. Cissell, who died Thursday in Belleville, Ill. Cissell was scheduled to work the ARCA race in Salem, Ind. this weekend. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, Ill., where funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Burial with military honors will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. (ARCARacing.com) (04-29-13)
  • Tom Hessert wins at Salem Speedway: #77 Tom Hessert made a last lap pass on #23 Spencer Gallagher to win the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200.  Hessert came from 16th starting position to earn his 3rd career ARCA Racing Series victory. Gallagher finished second, while #68 Will Kimmel, #11 Kyle Weatherman, and #69 Travis Swaim rounded out the top five. #44 Frank Kimmel becomes the point leader after finishing sixth. Full Results (04-28-13)
  • 29 cars entered for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 at Salem UPDATE:  29 cars are currently entered for this Sunday's race at Salem Speedway. The entry list includes Daytona winner John Wes Townley, who will drive the No. 55 Zaxby's Toyota for Venturini Motorsports. #10 Blake Hillard, #15 Kyle Benjamin, #34 Darrell Basham, #52 Brett Hudson, #69 Travis Swaim, #70 Mark Meunier, and #80 Brian Finney are other notable entries.  (Full Entry List on ARCARacing.com) (04-23-13)
    UPDATE:  Kyle Weatherman and his Weatherman Motorsports team has been added to the entry list, which increases the car count to 30. Weatherman will drive the No. 11 Dodge in Sunday's race. (04-24-13)
  • Ricky Ehrgott to join Eddie Sharp Racing at Talladega: Eddie Sharp will partner with rookie driver Ricky Ehrgott for the ARCA race at Talladega. Ehrgott, who finished third in the Daytona opener driving for Coulter Motorsports, is set to drive the No. 6 Chevrolet for Eddie Sharp Racing at Talladega with primary sponsorship from Platinum Partners Plus. Veteran crew chief Jamie Jones will serve as the team’s crew chief. (ARCA Racing Series PR) (04-27-13)
  • Mike Affarano returning for eight races:  Mike Affarano will return to ARCA Racing Series competition in 2013 for at least eight events. Affarano made his ARCA debut at Talladega last year, where his car flipped several times in a violent crash. The Shorewood, IL driver made four other starts last season and had a career high finish of 16th at Springfield. (04-24-13) 
  • Weatherman Motorsports and Kyle Weatherman begin partial schedule:  15-year old Kyle Weatherman of Wentzville, MO will make his ARCA Racing Series debut this weekend in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem Speedway. Weatherman has been waiting to make his ARCA Racing Series debut since last summer and will compete in at least seven events this season [for his family owned team]. "I'm really excited about racing in the ARCA Racing Series this year," Kyle Weatherman said. "Testing has gone really well and I cannot wait for this weekend to get here. The team is prepared and has worked really hard to make this happen. I am looking forward to competing against the best drivers out there and I know the race at Salem will be a great event." Other ARCA races include stops this season include events at Toledo, Elko, Winchester, Berlin, Madison, and a second trip Salem in the fall. Sponsorship and strategic marketing partnership opportunities are currently available. (Weatherman Motorsports PR) (04-24-13)
  • Mark Thompson driving for Turner Scott Motorsports at Talladega:  61 year-old Mark Thompson will return to Turner Scott Motorsports for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Speedway on May 3rd. Thompson, who owns and serves as the president of Phoenix Air, raced at Daytona earlier this year for Turner Scott where he started 16th and finished 8th. (04-23-13)
  • Erik Jones to drive for Venturini at Kentucky and Pocono races: Erik Jones will be teaming back up with Venturini Motorsports for the June Pocono ARCA 200 and the August Pennsylvania ARCA 125 at Pocono Raceway as well as the Kentucky ARCA 200 at Kentucky Speedway.  “I’m really looking forward to teaming back up with Venturini Motorsports for the ARCA races at Pocono and Kentucky,” stated Jones. “I learned a lot with them last year and they are strong contenders at any track they go to. I’ve never raced on a track longer than 1-mile so I’m looking to gain some valuable experience, and get used to racing at a track that's over a mile, and hopefully bring home my first ARCA Racing Series win.” (In part from Erik Jones Racing PR) (04-19-13)
  • Team BCR Racing and Grant Enfinger add Salem and Toledo sponsorship: Team BCR and Grant Enfinger have proudly announced today that Hewes Concrete Polishing will become a primary marketing partner for the Salem and Toledo ARCA races. Hewes Concrete Polishing will also be an associate marketing partner for the Talladega ARCA 250. "This is exciting news for Team BCR and I," says Fairhope, AL Driver, Grant Enfinger. "This means we are able to compete for a win at Salem Speedway, which originally wasn't on our schedule." (In part from Team BCR Racing PR) (04-15-13)
  • Thomas Praytor joining forces with Hixson Motorsports at Salem:  Hixson Motorsports will have Thomas "Moose" Praytor pilot their primary #2 car at Salem Speedway on April 28th.  "We really had not planned on going to Salem but our first 2 races have put us in the top 10 in points and we have a lot of momentum," offered Wayne Hixson of Hixson Motorsports. "Thomas has done a really good job on the track and he's working his tail off in the shop. We already have the cars and motors and we're searching for sponsorship that can take us farther than Talladega." Praytor is currently tied for 8th in the ARCA Series standings after Daytona and Mobile. "As a driver all you can ask for is a chance and I can't thank Mr. Wayne (Hixson) enough for giving me the opportunity. A few months ago I didn't know where Soddy-Daisy Tennessee was and I've spent so much time there this year I feel like it's a second home," said Praytor. (Max Force Racing PR) (04-13-13)
  • Travis Swaim to make ARCA debut at Salem with Kimmel Racing: 2012 UARA-STARS Champion Travis Swaim will make his ARCA Racing Series debut at Salem Speedway on April 28th. He will drive the No. 69 Ford for Kimmel Racing. Swaim and Michael Lira tested for the team at the track last Saturday, completing at least one hundred laps apiece and practicing live pit stops. (04-08-13)