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

January 2015

  • Woodruff Motorsports to run partial ARCA schedule: Teams are in the process of finalizing their plans and solidifying sponsorship deals to make the season opening races in Florida. Owner Darryl Woodruff and his Woodruff Motorsports team are no exception. “It has been a long off-season for the entire Woodruff Motorsports team, but we have accomplished a number of goals on our checklist as we continue to work towards 2015 and beyond,” said Darryl Woodruff. In December 2014, Darryl and his team participated in the ARCA Racing Series test at Daytona in hopes of gaining approval to compete in the series for 2015. Woodruff Motorsports’ driver Kyle Lockrow was behind the wheel of the #7 Ford, and at the conclusion of the two-day test was 18th on the speed charts, earning the team’s approval from ARCA series officials. The tentative [ARCA] schedule for Woodruff Motorsports includes events at Pocono in June and Kentucky in September. Sponsorship opportunities with Woodruff Motorsports are available for the 2015 season. (In part from Woodruff Motorsports PR) (01-30-15)
  • Daniel Suarez to drive four races for Venturini Motorsports: Venturini Motorsports announced today that Daniel Suarez will return to the ARCA Racing Series with an abbreviated four race schedule starting at Daytona. In addition to making his Daytona start, Suarez will drive the No. 15 ARRIS Toyota at Chicagoland Speedway, Kentucky Speedway and Kansas Speedway in 2015. “I’m very excited to compete in four ARCA Racing Series events this season with Venturini Motorsports,” said Suarez. “I had a lot of fun and gained really good experience last season in Kentucky and I’m sure this opportunity will help me further develop as a driver for 2015 and beyond.” (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (01-26-15)
  • Preliminary Daytona entry list released: The preliminary entry list for the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona has been posted. Notable entries include #00 Barry Fitzgerald, #06 Ed Pompa, #0 James Swanson, #8 Austin Hill, #23 Grant Enfinger, #54 Matt Kurzejewski, #68 David Levine, #78 Mason Mitchell, #82 Patrick Starapoli, #83 Derrick Lancaster, and #94 Dalton Hopkins. Additional entries are expected to be added soon. Preliminary Entry List (01-24-15)
  • DGM Racing to field Daytona entry for Russ Dugger: Russ Dugger is excited to announce his return to Daytona's famed high banks, with sights firmly set on running up front in the ARCA Racing Series Lucas Oil 200. Dugger will again be in top notch equipment when he climbs behind the wheel of his [DGM Racing] Chevrolet for what may be the finale of his professional driving career. Tanda Racing, a kart racing organization based in Norman, Oklahoma will be the primary sponsor for Dugger's entry for the Valentine's Day race, highlighting their "Promoting Youth In Motorsport" mission. (In part from Russ Dugger Racing PR) (01-24-15)
  • Ken Schrader Racing back full time in 2015 UPDATE 2 Campbell and Thompson at Daytona; Tifft returning?: Veteran race car driver Ken Schrader was on stage Saturday as the sixth-place owner. He said he wasn’t sure of the details for Ken Schrader Racing in 2015, but said the team expects to have plenty of the ARCA Racing Series in its future. “I’m very glad to be part of the ARCA series and we’ll be there for all 20 races with Federated Car Care as our sponsor,” Schrader said. “I’m very excited about the new body with the ARCA Ilmor engine and very excited for the new season.” (In part from ARCARacing.com) (12-15-14)
    UPDATE: Clay Campbell and Mark Thompson are the rumored Ken Schrader Racing drivers for Daytona in February. Campbell, the president of Martinsville Speedway, drove for the team at Daytona and Talladega last year. He also participated in the Daytona open test in December. Mark Thompson is also expected to drive a second car. Thompson owns Phoenix Air and has been a long time competitor in the series, most recently driving for Turner Scott Motorsports and Venturini Motorsports. (01-08-15)
    UPDATE 2: There is more good news coming from the ARCA Racing Series – expect to see a lot of Ken Schrader Racing on the tour in 2015. The team is expected to return in 2015 with much the same cast of drivers to include Schrader, Clay Campbell and, more than likely, 18-year-old Matt Tifft. “Right now, we’ve got Clay Campbell in for Daytona and Talladega,” Schrader said. “I can tell you that I’ll be driving in the first Salem race, Toledo, Winchester, IRP (Lucas Oil Raceway), DuQuoin and the last Salem for sure, maybe more. Outside of that, I’m confident that you’ll see some Matt Tifft appearances in there too.” (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-24-15)
  • Group qualifying for Daytona: For the first time in ARCA history at Daytona, Menards Pole Qualifying will be conducted in a group qualifying format, similar to the procedure at Talladega Superspeedway last year. This will include the element of “drafting,” which will likely produce speeds significantly higher than last year. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-19-15)
  • Frank Kimmel to join Venturini Motorsports OFFICIAL Sharing car with Brandon Jones: Frank Kimmel is expected to join Venturini Motorsports for Friday’s open-test session at Daytona International Speedway, CATCHFENCE.com has learned. Kimmel with backing from longtime partner Ansell and Menards has left Win-Tron Racing and is certain to fill the spot for graduated driver Justin Boston. The Jefferson, Indiana native is expected to compete for the team in the 2015 season-opener next month on February 14. While details of the once former rivals is still forthcoming, sources close to the situation say that Kimmel has funding for at least 10 ARCA races this season. Kimmel, 52, has hoisted the No. 44 in ARCA Racing Series competition since 2008, but it’s likely that Kimmel will campaign with the iconic Venturini Motorsports’ No. 25 this season. Kimmel is expected to be joined by Cody Coughlin, Leilani Munter and Daniel Suarez as Venturini Motorsports teammates for the Lucas Oil 200. (In part from Catchfence.com) (01-13-15)
    OFFICIAL: Officials from Ansell Protective Products and Menards announced today that they will move their ARCA Racing Series team sponsorship program to Venturini Motorsports in 2015. In addition to the team sponsorship announcement, Ansell and Menards disclosed that 10-time ARCA Racing Series champion Frank Kimmel would run a 10-race schedule in 2015, with development driver Brandon Jones driving the Venturini Motorsports Toyota Camry in the remaining 10 events. The car will be the No. 25, the flagship car of Venturini Motorsports. “As the sponsorship world changes, we all know how difficult it is to run a full season, so we had to get creative with our sponsors Ansell and Menards,” Kimmel said. “It’s a situation where we all had to pool our resources to make this program go.” Ansell and Menards will be co-primary sponsors on the No. 25 Venturini Motorsports Toyota for 15 events and each will serve as associate sponsors on the remaining five events. Kimmel will be a driver, mentor, coach and spokesman at Venturini Motorsports. In addition to Daytona, Kimmel is expected to compete at Toledo Speedway; both Pocono events; Michigan International Speedway; Chicagoland Speedway; Berlin Raceway; the mile dirt tracks at both Springfield and DuQuoin, and the fall Salem event. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (01-15-15)
  • Team BCR Racing to field entry for Cole Powell at Daytona: Cole Powell has signed with Team BCR Racing to drive the #88 Tricar Ford at Daytona for the Lucas Oil 200. Before making his Daytona debut in 2014, Powell was named the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Rookie of the Year; the first Canadian to win this title. Powell made his ARCA Racing Series Daytona debut in 2014, where he  was involved in a multi-car incident early in the race. Cole Powell said, "I am really looking forward to 2015, and starting it off with Team BCR is very exciting. Their proven track record, equipment and crew members are very promising, and I feel that I have a great shot at winning this race." (In part from Team BCR Racing PR) (01-15-14)
  • Blake Jones testing for Cunningham; preparing for Daytona race: As long as Blake Jones can remember, he’s dreamed of the day when he would be old enough to drive at Daytona. That dream will come true Friday, January 16 when the 18-year-old driver climbs aboard the No. 22 Cunningham Motorsports Dodge for the open test in preparation for the 52nd annual Lucas Oil 200. “It’s surreal,” Jones said. “It’s a dream come true. I don’t think it has really set in yet, but I am sure that it will become more real on Friday at the test. But, the test will be just a taste of the entire experience. It’s crazy how God works….two-and-a-half years after we began our association, I am preparing to race at Daytona with Cunningham Motorsports. To be working with Paul Andrews (NASCAR championship crew chief) and spotter Rusty Webb completes my dream.” (In part from Cunningham Motorsports PR) (01-13-15)
  • Cole Custer to run partial ARCA schedule for JR Motorsports: JR Motorsports will field cars for [Cole] Custer in select NASCAR K&N Pro Series events as well as a limited number of ARCA races. He has four career K&N Pro Series victories. (In part from NASCAR.com) (01-13-15)
  • Sarah Cornett-Ching to drive for RACE 101 at Daytona: On Feb. 14, Sarah Cornett-Ching, 23, will be behind the wheel of a stock car at the challenging Daytona 200. "I am pretty excited, and it still feels a little bit surreal," said Cornett-Ching. Racing in such a prestigious race doesn't seem like such a long shot, when Cornett-Ching's background is taken into consideration. She has been a part of the high speed world since she was a little girl, going to races with her dad Joe Cornett-Ching. "At first I liked hanging out with my dad, but then I started to like the more competitive side of racing," she said. By 12, she was racing cars herself at the Penticton Speedway. There were some memorable wins along the way, but a turning point for her was winning a scholarship for a driving school in North Carolina called Race 101. "I spent a year doing that, on and off, in 2011," she said. "I learned a ton from that program from the technical side of cars, the way cars handle, to the marketing side as well." Since then, she has raced her late model stock car around BC and had a few wins. She also stayed in touch with the owner of Race 101, Tony Blanchard, and got the opportunity to go test at Daytona in 2013. Cornett-Ching couldn't race in the Daytona 200 that year, however, because she didn't have funding. To raise money for the race in 2015, she took 2014 off, working as a welder in BC and Saskatchewan. She has raised most of what she needs to participate, but still has a way to go. No matter what, she plans to race on Feb. 14. After the Daytona 200, Cornett-Ching hopes to race the rest of the ARCA season. Her ultimate goal is to race in NASCAR and make a living as a race car driver. "That would be awesome if I could do that," she said. (In part from Castanet.net) (01-09-15)
  • Max Force Racing separates from Hixson; changes car number: With sponsorship from DK-LOK USA Thomas “Moose” Praytor and his Mobile, Alabama based Max Force race team will attempt to become the first full time ARCA team based out of Mobile, Alabama. The last two seasons Praytor and Max Force Racing have been paired with Soddy Daisy, Tennessee’s Hixson Motorsports.  “This is a huge opportunity for our race team,” said Thomas Praytor. “We really could not have gotten here without Pam and Wayne Hixson believing in me and making the last 2 years possible. We wish them the best with the 2 car and the 3 car in the future.” There will be a lot of changes for Praytor’s Max Force team in 2015. The team has acquired owner’s points from Cunningham Motorsports and will be changing from the number 2 to the number 9. While changes will be a theme in 2015 some things will remain the same, the Moose will continue to pilot DK-LOK Fords powered by rock solid Roush Yates Horsepower. (In part from Max Force Racing PR) (01-07-15)
  • Mark Rette leaves Win-Tron to form own team with Terry Jones OFFICIAL: ARCA champion crew chief Mark Rette has left Win-Tron Racing and Frank Kimmel. He has formed his own team for the 2015 season with driver Terry Jones. The two veterans will compete in the ARCA Racing Series and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. An official announcement is expected soon. (12-07-14)
    OFFICIAL: A new ARCA Racing Series team headquartered in a 10,000 square foot Mooresville, North Carolina shop will debut next month at Daytona International Speedway. On Tuesday, veteran ARCA Racing Series driver Terry Jones announced the creation of Rette Jones Racing, a new team started by the Amherstburg, Ontario native and 2009 ARCA Racing Series championship crew chief Mark Rette. Together, the two racers will field a part-time ARCA Racing Series team beginning with February’s Lucas Oil 200. The team also hopes to expand into other racing divisions, such as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series as they build their platform. “I’m excited to be back on an ownership level in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards with partner Mark (Rette),” said Jones. “Together, we are both determined to build a successful and winning organization that will field cars not only in ARCA, but in other series too. It’s a big task for us to put together a competitive program for Daytona next month, but Rette Jones Racing is determined to debut strong and show everyone what we’re capable of.” The team will also concentrate on breeding new young talent at the ARCA Racing Series level behind the wheel of their newly acquired race fleet in select races. Jones will debut for RJR in the 2015 ARCA Racing Series opener next month behind the wheel of the No. 30 Toyota Camry. The team will also utilize the new ARCA Ilmor 396 engine package throughout the season. Further key announcements from Rette Jones Racing are forthcoming in the coming weeks. (In part from Rette Jones Racing PR) (01-06-15)
  • Team Stange Racing announces sponsorship for Chicagoland; Iowa: Team Stange Racing will race the No. 46 Ford with co-primary sponsorship from Shooters Restaurant Group for the June 20th ARCA 150 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois and on July 17th for the Iowa ARCA 150 in Newton, Iowa. “Today it is great pleasure to announce the first step of our 2015 ARCA plans as we work towards announcing more races to our 2015 ARCA schedule. We are working very hard and I am still hopeful to announce a Daytona program for next month as well” said Ashley Stange, co-owner Team Stange Racing. A driver for the No. 46 Ford for Chicagoland and Iowa has not been chosen as of this time. (In part from Team Stange Racing PR) (01-05-15)
  • Our Motorsports to run partial schedule with Tommy Barrett Jr: NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour team owner Chris Our arrived in the series in 2012 with no history in the division and quickly made it clear he was building an organization to be reckoned with. Now Our is taking the steps to take that organization to a much larger stage. Our will field a car part-time for Tommy Barrett Jr. on the ARCA Racing Series in 2015. “We purchased a speedway car,” Our said. “We’re going down to test on [January 16] and then we’re going to go back for the Daytona race and take it from there. The goal right now is to run from two to four races this year and see how it goes. The opening race will tell the story about where we’re at and how we’re going to do. We leased a fresh motor from a top team that should be very stout. It’s a real good piece. So we should be good that way. And it’s a beautiful car.” (In part from Our Motorsports PR) (01-03-15)
  • Carter 2 Motorsports fined after Daytona test: Based on violation of the established restrictor plate size and dimension rule during the ARCA sanctioned open test at Daytona Int’l Speedway December 19-20, Carter 2 Motorsports team owner Roger Carter has been fined in the amount of $1,000. (ARCARacing.com) (01-03-15