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

May 2013

  • 23 cars entered for Elko Speedway UPDATE: Only 23 cars are entered for this weekend's race at Elko Speedway. Entries include #15 Kyle Benjamin, #22 Jonathan Eilen, #40 Mark Meunier, #52 Ken Schrader, #55 Taylor Ferns, and the #64 entry for Hughes Racing. Josh Williams is not entered in the #02, but is listed as the driver of the #17 Roulo Brothers Racing Ford instead. His team is scaling back due to sponsorship issues. #90 Grant Enfinger is not entered due to funding issues as well. Entry List (05-29-13)
    UPDATE: Hixson Motorsports (#3) and Hughes Racing (#64) have withdrawn their entries for Elko. #34 Darrell Basham has been added to the entry list.  Win-Tron Racing has added a second car for Nick Barstad (#89). (05-30-13)
  • Grant Enfinger and Team BCR Racing not racing at Elko:  Grant Enfinger and Team BCR Racing will miss this weekend's race at Elko Speedway due to sponsorship issues. The team is unsure if it will field an entry at Pocono the following weekend for the same reason. It was announced in March that Enfinger would be running the full schedule, but that is no longer true. (05-29-13)
  • Creation-Cope Racing returning at Pocono with Garrett Smithley: Pennsylvania native Garrett Smithley will make his first ARCA Series start at the Pocono Raceway on June 8th. The 21-year old will drive the Herobox.org Chevrolet, prepared and operated by Creation-Cope Racing (CCR) from Mooresville NC. "I'm really happy to be back and driving with CCR under the guidance and expertise of Derrike (Cope)" said Smithley. "The team has so much experience and knowledge and that definitely makes the transition to ARCA easier for me. I was satisfied with my strong performance at the ARCA Daytona testing earlier this year and I feel that I'm ready for this series. It's an incredible opportunity to be racing at Pocono, one of the country's iconic NASCAR speedways and it's in my home state so I'm hoping for good results." Team Manager Andy Woolgar commented "We are very pleased to welcome Garrett to the team. He shows a lot of maturity in his approach to racing on and off the track. We are looking forward to helping him achieve a good result and Pocono, and building on that." (In part from Creation-Cope Racing PR) (05-29-13)
  • Bill Martel Racing and Kyle Martel to attempt both Pocono events: Bill Martel Racing (BMR) has committed to entering the “Pocono ARCA 200” and the “Pennsylvania ARCA 125” at Pocono Raceway [in the ARCA Racing Series]. Kyle Martel returns to his home track to drive the #43 BMR Chevrolet on June 8th and August 2nd. The paint scheme will be jet black and highlighted with the primary sponsor logos of Hanover Cold Storage, Finish Line Transportation, Finish Line Express, and Turn 4 Foods.  “Kyle Martel is an extraordinary driver with over 200 career wins at all levels in motorsports and won his first national championship at the young age of 12. A veteran of NASCAR Super Lates and the ARCA Series -- our entire team and sponsors are looking forward to watching Kyle cross the finish line at both ARCA races,” commented team owner Bill Martel. “Our goal is to continue to secure funding to keep Kyle in the driver’s seat and doing more of what he loves to do -- go racing. We are excited to be working with some new sponsors which has Bill Martel Racing excited,” commented Rob Ziemba, public relations manager. (In part from Bill Martel Racing PR) (05-28-13)
  • Darrin Brooks begins partial schedule at Elko: Darrin Brooks has a lot in common with other Maysville Community and Technical College students. The 20 year old from Flemingsburg, Kentucky is working on an Associate in Arts and thinking about a possible future in business. The similarities end, however, on a race track. Darrin very recently signed a contract with J & T Racing Driver Development for seven ARCA races this year at Elko, Illinois State Fairgrounds, DuQuoin, Madison, Iowa, Kentucky, and Kansas. “J & T is willing to help me with sponsorship,” said Darrin. “They will coach me to be successful and this will give me a higher chance to get to NASCAR sooner.” Darrin hopes to be racing his number 64 Chevy at the Elko Speedway in June. (JT Racing PR) (05-25-13)
  • Cunningham Motorsports joins forces with Will Kimmel:  Cunningham Motorsports and Will Kimmel [announced on March 14th] that they will join forces for 3 ARCA Racing Series races during the 2013 season. Kimmel will pilot the #22 in both the June and August ARCA Series races at Pocono Raceway.  The third combined effort will take place at Will’s home track of Kentucky Speedway. (In part from Cunningham Motorsports PR) (05-25-13)
  • Venturini Motorsports crew chief fined after physical altercation: Venturini Motorsports No. 15 crew chief Kevin Reed has been fined $500 and placed on disciplinary probation through December 31, 2013, for violation of ARCA Rulebook Page 7, Section 3, Items 3 and 10 which reference conduct by team members toward ARCA Officials and conduct detrimental to the sport. The penalties result from incidents during qualifying at Toledo Speedway Saturday, May 18. (ARCARacing.com) (05-24-13)
  • Cunningham Motorsports signs Jonathan Eilen for Elko:  Jonathan Eilen is entered [to drive] the No. 22 Cunningham Motorsport Dodge [at] Elko. "We couldn't be more pleased to have Jonathan in our car for Elko," said Cunningham Motorsports co-owner Kerry Scherer. "He drove for us one time at Berlin back in 2009 and did a spectacular job. We're excited to have him back, and we know he's going to do a great job. He's such a great kid, and comes from such a great family. We're very excited about this." Eilen, who was nearly unknown to the ARCA Racing Series in '09 at Berlin, had raced his way into the top-five, but got involved in someone else's wreck late in the race. "I know that Cunningham Motorsports is one of the leading competitors in the ARCA series, so I'm very excited to back with them. We were either going to win that race at Berlin, or finish second, so I definitely feel like we've got some unfinished business to take care of," Eilen added. (ARCA Racing Series PR) (05-23-13)
  • Ken Schrader wins at Toledo Speedway:  #52 Ken Schrader won the Menards 200 at Toledo Speedway and became the oldest winner in ARCA Racing Series history. Schrader dominated the race, leading 163 of the 200 laps. #32 Mason Mingus, #44 Frank Kimmel, #25 Justin Boston, and #89 Matt Tifft completed the top five. Pole winner #15 Kyle Benjamin had mechanical issues with his car early in the race and finished in 23rd. Frank Kimmel continues to lead the points over Mason Mingus with a 20 point margin. Full Results (05-19-13)
  • Kyle Benjamin wins pole for Menards 200 at Toledo:  #15 Kyle Benjamin won the pole for the Menards 200 and became the youngest pole sitter in ARCA Racing Series history. #52 Ken Schrader will start second, while #32 Mason Mingus, #44 Frank Kimmel, and #77 Tom Hessert complete the top five. #16 Kelly Kovski and #91 Robert Bujdoso wrecked in qualifying. #42 Bo LeMastus wrecked in first practice and will not race on Sunday since his team only brought one car this weekend. Starting Lineup (05-18-13)
  • 36 entries for the Menards 200 at Toledo Speedway:  36 entries are currently entered for Sunday's race at Toledo Speedway. Notable entries include #06 Chris Bailey Jr, #10 Blake Hillard, #11 Kyle Weatherman, #16 Kelly Kovski, #22 Austin Wayne Self, #40 Cody Lane, #52 Ken Schrader, #55 Taylor Ferns, #61 Jake Francis, #70 Spencer Montgomery, #89 Matt Tifft, and #91 Robert Bujdoso. Bobby Gerhart has filed an entry for the event, but it remains unclear if he will race after he placed his team for sale last week. Full Entry List (05-15-13)
    UPDATE: Carter 2 Motorsports has withdrawn the No. 70 Dodge. The car that Spencer Montgomery was scheduled to drive was not repaired in time from the damage that it suffered at Salem Speedway. 35 cars are now entered. (05-16-13)
  • Jake Francis entered at Toledo: Jake Francis is entered to return to ARCA Racing competion this weekend at Toledo Speedway. The 23 year-old driver from Painesville, OH last raced in the series in 2008 for Capital City Motorsports, making four starts total. Francis drove for his family owned team in 2007 at Milwaukee where he had a career high 12th place finish. He will drive his family owned No. 61 Francis Engineering Chevrolet again on Sunday. (05-13-13)
  • 52 Racing to debut at Pocono Raceway? DENIED:  JP Malone, the owner of a new and used race parts company called Racing Rivets, is rumored to be acquiring the assets of Bobby Gerhart Racing. Malone plans to debut his new ARCA Racing Series team with a veteran driver behind the wheel at Pocono Raceway. 52 Racing will have Racing Rivets on the car as the primary sponsor. (05-12-13)
    DENIED: JP Malone has denied the rumor that he is acquiring the assets of Bobby Gerhart Racing. Malone states that he is not intersted in owning an ARCA Racing Series team. (05-13-13)
  • Win-Tron Racing to field second car for Matt Tifft at Toledo:  Win Tron Racing brought two drivers, Mason Mingus and Matt Tifft, to test at Toledo Speedway on Thursday in preparation for the Menards 200 on May 19th. Newcomer Matt Tifft, the 16-year old driver from Hinckley, Ohio, took his first laps in an ARCA car. "We've run some NASCAR K&N cars but this is the first time ever in an ARCA car," Tifft said. "They have a lot more power; they're a lot of fun to drive. It's a really fun track. There's a lot of speed on the track - you can really get after it here in these ARCA cars." Tifft is planning to make his ARCA debut in a second Win Tron Racing entry at Toledo later this month. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (05-10-13)
  • Bobby Gerhart selling race team; leaving ARCA: Bobby Gerhart has listed his complete race team on ARCARacing.com's classifieds section. The classified states that the complete race team is for sale, including 26 cars, 14 engines, 15 transmissions, and a complete hauler. Gerhart also states that he will sell the team completely or in parts. (05-07-13)
    UPDATE: We spoke to Bobby Gerhart this morning at Talladega and he was still upset about his time being disallowed yesterday in post-qualifying tech. Initially we asked him about what they found wrong with his car. "I think they didn't like the color," replied Gerhart, a former winner at Talladega. According to Gerhart, ARCA did not like how the right-front spring sat in the helix early in the day yesterday, so his team fixed it according to how the series officials wanted it done. After qualifying ARCA found the infraction and penalized Gerhart. It involved the same issue that was reportedly told to the teams earlier. "I'm done," said Gerhart, an eight-time ARCA winner at Daytona Int'l Speedway. "I'm not happy and the only way to show my displeasure is to not show up. I'll race somewhere else." Gerhart planned to race in 12 events this year. (SPEED 51) (05-07-13)
  • Allgaier Motorsports returning at Toledo with Kovski: Allgaier Motorsports will return to ARCA Racing Series competition on May 19th at Toledo Speedway. Long time crew chief and driver Kelly Kovski will be behind the wheel of the No. 16 Hoosier Tire Midwest Dodge. Kovski typically runs ARCA's dirt track races, where he has finished in the top five several times. (05-04-13)
  • Frank Kimmel wins at Talladega: #44 Frank Kimmel won the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway after ARCA officials called the race due to rain. #32 Mason Mingus finished second, while #55 Caleb Armstrong, #66 Mark Thompson, and #30 Terry Jones completed the top five. One major crash on lap 35 took out contenders including #23 Spencer Gallagher, #25 Justin Boston, #35 Milka Duno, and #77 Tom Hessert. Several other cars received significant damage that took them out of contention for the win. Full Results (05-03-13)
  • Milka Duno wins Talladega pole after disqualifications:  #35 Milka Duno won the pole for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway after her teammate's qualifying time was disallowed. #15 John Wes Townley had turned the fastest qualifying lap, but failed post qualifying inspection along with #5 Bobby Gerhart, #22 Korbin Forrister, and #66 Mark Thompson. #32 Mason Mingus will start alongside Duno on the front row, while #90 Grant Enfinger, #25 Justin Boston, and #55 Caleb Armstrong round out the top five. Only 36 cars were entered for the event, meaning everyone will race. #0 Wayne Peterson and #7 Brent Cross withdrew. #17 Dave Savicki did not make a lap in practice or qualifying. Starting Lineup (05-02-13)