archives

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

July 2013

  • Chad Boat joins forces with AmenZone Fitness: AmenZone Fitness, a back-to- basics workout designed for athletes and the athletically minded, will partner with Chad Boat and the Billy Boat Motorsports team for 4 races in ARCA competition in 2013, starting at Pocono Raceway on August 2nd. “I am excited to have AmenZone as a partner on our team.  Their training style promotes a natural workout that uses body strength, tires, and movement to stay fit.  Fitness plays an important role in racing, and the AmenZone high energy workout gets results,” said Chad. (Billy Boat Motorsports PR) (07-30-13) 
  • Brian Kaltreider adds Century 21 sponsorship for Pocono: Pennsylvania native Brian Kaltreider will return behind the wheel of his No. 07 Century 21 Ford for the Menards Modspace 125 at Pocono Raceway this weekend. “We are really looking forward to the Pocono race,” said Kaltreider. “It’s always great to race close to home, and as we continue building our program through a part-time schedule in the ARCA Racing Series - the Pocono events are ones we circle on our schedule every year. We have some great partners on board for the event including Century 21, Real Estate Mortgage Network, Independent Graphics, Belmont Peanuts, and Tire King of Upper Black Eddy, PA. We’ve been getting great support from the guys at RoushYates over the last few events and it’s all shaping up for us to really turn things up next weekend.” (Mystic Motorsports PR) (07-30-13)
  • Mason Mitchell partners with Empire Racing: Empire Racing and Mason Mitchell Motorsports announced today that the two teams have formed an alliance and Mitchell will race the rest of the season. With equipment and the FR9 Engine Program from Roush-Yates Engines, Mason Mitchell Motorsports and Empire Racing will work together in ARCA as well as a driver development program. “We are looking forward to this venture as a long term relationship between Empire Racing and Mason Mitchell Motorsports to become the driver development team to go to,” said Empire Racing Team Manager John Bellesfield. “I am honored to drive for Empire Racing and call this my home,” Mitchell said. “With Happy Cheeks and my crew chief Jamie Jones back with me, I can’t wait for Pocono.” Happy Cheeks Toilet Cleaner will be on the Empire Racing No. 82 Ford at Pocono Raceway. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (07-29-13)
  • Andrew Ranger wins at New Jersey: #53 Andrew Ranger won the Barbera’s Autoland 150 at New Jersey Motorsports Park after passing #9 Chase Elliott with 10 laps to go. #77 Tom Hessert also passed Elliott to finish second. Elliott, #69 Will Kimmel, and #44 Frank Kimmel completed the top five. Frank Kimmel increased his championship lead over Mason Mingus to 180 points with his fifth place finish. Full Results (07-28-13)
  • Andrew Ranger wins New Jersey Motorsports Park pole:  #53 Andrew Ranger won the pole for Sunday's race at New Jersey Motorsports Park after turning the fastest lap in qualifying. #9 Chase Elliott will start second, while #55 Brian Wong, #77 Tom Hessert, and #15 Nelson Canache Jr. completed the top five. Starting Lineup (07-28-13)
  • 30 cars entered for New Jersey Motorsports Park: 30 cars are entered for Sunday's race at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Entries include #9 Chase Elliott, #15 Nelson Canache Jr, #22 Austin Self, #24 Steve Minghenelli, #40 Dominick Casola, #43 David Levine, #53 Andrew Ranger, #55 Brian Wong, #68 Mason Mitchell, #85 Tim Cowen, #86 Robert Mitten, #89 Matt Tifft, #97 Roger Carter, and #99 Chris Buescher. Full Entry List (07-26-13)
  • AJ Henriksen fined and placed on probation: Venturini Motorsports driver AJ Henriksen has been fined $250 and placed on indefinite probation for violation of ARCA Rulebook page 4, Section 2, Item A-9 which defines the ARCA policy relating to electronic image/video capture during an ARCA Racing Series event. (ARCARacing.com) (07-25-13)
  • Kent Schenkel retires after Michigan:  63 year-old Kent Schenkel has retired from ARCA Racing competition after his recent Michigan start in June. Schenkel entered the race resolved that it would be his last. However, after logging a 12th place finish (his best in five years of racing in the ARCA), the thought to continue racing, he confesses, "came across my mind." But the steep cost of racing, he says, will ensure that he sticks to his plan of calling it a career. Schenkel has raced since 2009, making annual Michigan races and occasional events at Chicagoland in his seven race career. (In part from HuntingtonCountyTAB.com) (07-24-13)
  • Corey LaJoie wins at Chicagoland in second ARCA start:  #17 Corey LaJoie won at Chicagoland Speedway in his second ARCA Racing Series start. LaJoie inherited the lead when #25 Justin Boston ran out of fuel on lap 98 and won after his closer competitor, #22 Ryan Blaney, also ran out of fuel with less than 10 laps to go. Blaney and Lajoie had the dominate cars of the race, leading a combined 79 of the 100 total laps. #02 Josh Williams worked fuel strategy to finish second. Blaney, #69 Will Kimmel, and #84 Chad Boat completed the top five. #44 Frank Kimmel finished 9th and lost 10 points to #32 Mason Mingus in the championship battle.  Kimmel now leads Mingus by 165 points. Full Results (07-22-13)
  • 30 cars entered at Chicagoland Speedway:  30 cars are entered for Sunday's race at Chicagoland Speedway. #15 Caleb Armstrong, #17 Corey Lajoie, #23 Spencer Gallagher, #40 Mike Affarano, #55 AJ Henriksen, #68 Mason Mitchell, #80 Brian Finney, #84 Chad Boat, #86 Dale Quarterly, #90 Grant Enfinger, #97 Dominck Casola, and #99 Galen Hassler are among the entries. Full Entry List (07-19-13)
  • Roger Carter not cleared to race; Dominick Casola to drive at Chicagoland UPDATE :  Roger Carter will not race this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. He has not been cleared to drive by his doctors after suffering a concussion at Winchester Speedway on June 30th. Dominick Casola will drive the No. 97 Dodge in Carter's place, while Mike Affarano will drive the No. 40 entry. (07-17-13)
    UPDATE:  Mike Affarano was not able to fit in Roger Carter's race seat, which has caused Dominick Casola to move over to the No. 40 Dodge.  Another driver will be in the No. 97 today. (07-21-13)
  • Mason Mitchell out at Roulo Brothers Racing; Galen Hassler in? UPDATE:  Galen Hassler posted on his personal Facebook account today that he "got a call from Roulo Bros. Racing to run the #99 Roulo Bros./Roush Ford at Chicago this weekend" and that "things could still change but as of now [he] will be in the car." Mitchell has not appeared on the Chicagoland entry list after stating that he had secured primary sponsorship from Happy Cheeks for the remainder of the season in April. (07-17-13)
    UPDATE:  Mason Mitchell is now entered to drive the No. 68 Clarksville Schwinn Ford at Chicagoland for Kimmel Racing. It appears that Mitchell's family pulled the funding that he was bringing to Roulo Brothers Racing due to performance issues.  He will likely start and park this weekend in hopes of maintaining his fifth place position in ARCA's driver standings. (07-18-13)
  • Garrett Smithley to make second Pocono start for Creation-Cope Racing:  Pennsylvania native Garrett Smithley will return to Pocono International Raceway on August 2nd for his second career ARCA race. His debut at Pocono in June resulted in a solid 17th place finish. The 21-year old will once again drive the #74 Chevrolet prepared and operated by Creation-Cope Racing (CCR) from Mooresville NC, with his former U.S. Legend car sponsor, Peachtree City Golf Cars (GA) on the hood. Smithley commented "I'm happy to be going back to Pocono with CCR under the guidance and expertise of Derrike Cope. Despite a lot of factors going against us in the first race I had a great run learning how to drive ‘The Tricky Triangle.’ (In part from Garrett Smithley PR) (07-17-13)
  • Josh Williams partners with Gallagher Motorsports: Josh Williams will pilot the No. 02 Allegiant Travel Ford this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway, representing a new partnership between his family-owned team and Gallagher Motorsports. Subbing for an injured Spencer Gallagher at Winchester Speedway, Williams clicked with the Gallagher Motorsports crew. Having made a full recovery and returning to the seat of the No. 23 this weekend, Gallagher and the crew reached out to Williams shortly after the race with the possibility of a new partnership. Continuing to use his own Ford Fusions, Williams brought his cars to the Mooresville, N.C., shop early last week and will run under the Gallagher Motorsports banner. In connection with the team’s partnership, Allegiant Travel will also dawn their likeness over the No. 02 in a one-race sponsorship. Gallagher and Williams will both sport the custom Allegiant Travel design, along with the iconic swooping plane down the side. “I am truly thankful for all of the opportunities Gallagher Motorsports and Allegiant Travel have given me,” Williams said. “I was honored to get the call a few weeks back to fill in for Spencer (Gallagher) and to now have this new partnership in place is amazing.” (In part from Gallagher Motorsports PR) (07-17-13)
  • Spencer Gallagher cleared to race; will return at Chicagoland:  Gallagher Motorsports officials are pleased to announce that Spencer Gallagher will return to the No. 23 Allegiant Travel Chevrolet for this weekend's race at Chicagoland Speedway. Gallagher, who has been sidelined with a vestibular concussion he received during a wreck in early June at Michigan International Speedway, has missed the last two ARCA Racing events per doctor's orders. The Las Vegas, Nev., native underwent the required therapy coupled with prolonged rest and regular visits with his doctors during his downtime. Upon his last consultation with the specialists, Gallagher was given the go-ahead to resume racing. (In part from Gallagher Motorsports PR) (07-15-13)
  • Nelson Canache Jr; Brian Wong to drive for Venturini Motorsports at New Jersey?:  Nelson Canache Jr. and 22 year-old Brian Wong are currently listed as Venturini Motorsports drivers for the New Jersey Motorsports Park event on July 28th. Canache would return to the team driving the No. 15 Toyota after a full season in 2012. Wong, a Chinese-American, would make his ARCA Racing Series debut driving the No. 55 Toyota.  He has previously competed in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and the NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. (07-11-13)
  • Anderson Bowen breaks ankle; out for 4 to 6 weeks: Anderson Bowen broke his ankle while at a Florida beach last week. Bowen is expected to be out for four to six weeks, meaning that he will miss muliple ARCA/CRA Super Series races. His next ARCA Racing Series event is scheduled to be at Madison Int'l Speedway on August 25th. (07-11-13)
  • Roger Carter suffers concussion; hospitalized after Winchester; Skipping Chicagoland? UPDATE 2:  Roger Carter was hospitalized this week after suffering a concussion in a wreck at Winchester Speedway. His wife, Dana Carter, posted that Roger was being treated in a North Carolina hospital on Tuesday afternoon on her personal Facebook account. James Swanson was also hospitalized after being involved in the same wreck. Swanson was released Sunday night. (07-03-13)
    UPDATE:  Roger Carter posted on Facebook that he will "no longer commit to a full 2013 ARCA season" after two of his cars were destroyed in an accident at Winchester Speedway. This means that Carter 2 Motorsports may not attempt Chicagoland Speedway on July 21st. Carter went on to explain that it takes money to race and that he won't "sell short deals to help anyone anymore."  He also stated that "when we unload our cars from now on it will be with drivers who are capable and have the resources to run in the top ten." Cody Lane, who was driving Carter's second car at Winchester, collided with Milka Duno to trigger the five car wreck. (07-06-13)
    UPDATE 2: Roger Carter posted on his Facebook account that Carter 2 Motorsports will be at Chicagoland Speedway. He believes that he will be cleared to race his No. 97 Dodge. The team has not named a driver to race the No. 40 yet. However, Korbin Forrister seems to be the likely choice. (07-10-13)
  • Devin Steele to make ARCA debut at Kentucky: 20 year-old Devin Steele plans to make his ARCA Racing Series debut at Kentucky Speedway on September 20th. Steele, who has experience in Bandoleros, INEX Legends cars, and SK Modifieds, is currently preparing and seeking sponsorship for his own entry. (07-06-13)
  • Venturini Motorsports and Brennan Poole fined; penalized: Based on post-race technical inspection after Sunday's race at Winchester Speedway, the Venturini Motorsports #55 team has been fined $750, and team owner Billy Venturini and driver Brennan Poole have been penalized with the loss of 25 championship points for violating the minimum roof height rule. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (07-04-13)
  • Frank Kimmel wins at Winchester; ties Iggy Katona's win record: #44 Frank Kimmel won the Herr’s Chase the Taste 200 and tied Iggy Katona's all time win record at 79. Kimmel led 158 of the 200 laps and extended his points lead to 175 over #32 Mason Mingus.  Mingus was collected in a five car accident on lap 128, which also involved #69 Brad Lloyd, #97 Roger Carter, #40 Cody Lane, and #06 James Swanson. Swanson was transported to an area hospital for observation. He was soon cleared and released. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (07-01-13)