archives

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

November 2016

  • JRi Shocks renews sponsorship with ARCA: Officials from the Automobile Racing Club of America announced today that JRi Shocks has renewed its ARCA Performance Partners Program as an Official Product sponsor through 2019. "The mandated shock absorber program is vital to ARCA’s restrictor plate race rules package," said Mark Gundrum, ARCA VP of business development and corporate partnerships. "JRi’s continued support as an official product sponsor provides a safe, stable environment for our competitors." JRi Shocks returns to the ARCA Performance Partners Program as an official sponsor for a third contract term, and will offer a JRi contingency card program for teams displaying the JRi decal on the front fenders of the cars, and using identified JRi Shocks. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (11-30-16)
  • David Sear returning for another partial schedule: Financial professional and ARCA driver David Sear plans on returning for another partial schedule in 2017, but he is currently unsure of which team he will drive for. Sear may be back with Ebert Motorsports for a third season, but has yet to finalize a deal. He also could race for Kimmel Racing, which has been seeking funded drivers during the offseason. (11-29-16)
  • Kimmel Racing to split season between multiple drivers?: Don Radebaugh has published a historical article on Bill Kimmel and the Kimmel Racing family on ARCARacing.com. In the piece, Bill Kimmel describes plans for the 2017 season. "We're doing our best to put a full season together for the 69 car. Right now, Daytona is a little up in the air. Will and Erica are expecting a baby right in the middle of February. Rather than put pressure on them to run the race, he (Will) may just sit out for Daytona... not sure who'll run it. If I don't lease it... maybe Ricky Sanders. But if I can sell a deal, I gotta sell it. After Daytona, we're planning on Nick (Higdon) running the first race at Nashville... we'll probably follow that up with Will at Salem. We'll spread the season out between Will and Nick. We may run a few other guys at times too." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (11-29-16)
  • Mark Thompson to drive for MBM Motorsports at Daytona in final race: Veteran Mark Thompson will attempt to make his final ARCA start at Daytona in February driving for MBM Motorsports. Thompson has driven for the team in the NASCAR Xfinity Series since 2015, competing at Daytona, Talladega, and Kentucky. The Georgia driver has over 90 starts in his career, with wins at Charlotte and Michigan. Thompson has competed in the series since 1991 and had a career high driver point finish of third in 1997. (11-28-16)
  • Derrick Lancaster returning for expanded ARCA schedule: Virginia driver Derrick Lancaster will return to ARCA competition next year and will increase his schedule to six to ten events. Lancaster has attempted superspeedway races since 2014, but is scheduled to run tracks like Nashville, Pocono, and Kentucky for the first time. The veteran sportsman driver will have Don Akers and Steven Lane on his pit box serving as co-crew chiefs. (11-27-16)
  • Scott Edwards to drive for Peterson at Daytona; fan package: 31 year-old Scott Edwards recently announced that he will drive the No. 06 entry for Peterson Motorsports in the season opening race at Daytona. Edwards, who has three career ARCA starts, is also offering 50 fans a unique fan appreciation package for $249. The package includes a race ticket, signed t-shirt, VIP meet and greet, hero card, and a chance to win the gloves that Edwards will wear on race day. Fans can purchase the package by visiting SERFanLove.com. (11-25-16)
  • Brad Smith returning to Hylton Motorsports next year: Brad Smith announced on Rowdy Maglite's radio show Monday night that he will return to Hylton Motorsports for the full 2017 ARCA season. The veteran driver will feature Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Detroit (a charity organization) on his car in each race. Smith finished a career high 6th in driver points this year, after returning from injuries that he sustained at Talladega in 2015. (11-21-16)
  • Zane Smith joins Venturini for 18 races in 2017: Seventeen year-old Zane Smith has signed on with Venturini Motorsports to pilot the No. 55 Toyota Camry during the 2017 ARCA Racing Series season. Smith, a native of Huntington Beach, California, will appear in 18 of 20 scheduled series events starting at the second race of the season in Nashville. Due to ARCA age restrictions, Smith will not participate at Daytona Int’l Speedway or Talladega Superspeedway as both tracks require drivers to meet the minimum age of 18. "Joining Venturini Motorsports and having the opportunity to race in the ARCA series is definitely one of the biggest highlights of my career," says Smith. "The last couple of seasons I've bounced around series to series running a bunch of different super late model races. It's going to be awesome to concentrate my efforts primarily in one series with one team." Running for SCOTT Rookie of the Year honors, Smith will be teamed with crew chief Billy Venturini. Sponsorship announcements will come at a later date. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (11-18-16)
  • Noah Gragson to compete in four events for Venturini: Noah Gragson will drive VMS’s No. 55 in the ARCA season opener at Daytona International Speedway (February 18) and again at Talladega Superspeedway (May 5). Gragson will also pilot the No. 15 VMS Toyota entry at Pocono Raceway (July 28) and Chicagoland Speedway (September 14). (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (11-18-16)
  • Bobby Gerhart Racing selling equipment: Bobby Gerhart Racing has published classified ads on ARCA Racing's website that indicate that the team is selling or leasing equipment. Gerhart lists four cars that are for sale or lease, along with two used ARCA Ilmor 396 engines. (In part from ARCA Classifieds) (11-15-16)
  • Daytona Opportunities at Mike Affarano Motorsports: Team owner and driver Mike Affarano has posted on Facebook that he is seeking funded drivers for the 2017 Daytona test and race. Affarano states that the test price is $2,500, while the race will cost $30,000 (in-house engine) or $50,000 (Ilmor). The Illinois driver has six career ARCA Racing Series starts. His last came at Pocono in 2014, where he finished 14th. (In part from Affarano Motorsports Facebook) (11-15-16)
  • 2017 ARCA Schedule Released; Berlin & NJMP removed; Elko & Road America added: ARCA Racing Series officials released the 2017 schedule Thursday to include 20 race-dates across 13 states. Another healthy mix of superspeedways, paved short tracks, dirt tracks and a road course will highlight the 2017 tour, including returns trips to Elko Speedway in Minnesota and Road America in Wisconsin. ARCA raced at the Elko short track 2012-2014 and once at the Road America road course in 2013. “We are pleased to announce our full and complete 20-race, 2017 schedule,” said ARCA President Ron Drager. “From superspeedways recognized as among the most famed tracks in the world, to historic short tracks, to mile dirt tracks and road course venues, the schedule highlights the long standing diversity of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. We’re especially pleased to welcome back to the schedule Elko Speedway and Road America.” The series will kick off the 2017 campaign with the 54th running of the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona February 18 which precedes NASCAR's Unlimited later that night. For the sixth consecutive year, the ARCA Racing Series will crown the Series champion at Kansas Speedway where ARCA's race season concludes under the lights October 20. Full Schedule (In part from ARCARacing.com) (11-10-16)
  • New Jersey Motorsports Park off schedule in 2017: New Jersey Motorsports Park will lose one of its biggest races of the season in 2017. NJMP General Manager Mark Verrastro confirmed Wednesday the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Racing Series will not return to the Millville race track next year. ARCA plans to run only one road course, and it won’t be at NJMP. “We don’t think it’s a big loss,” Verrastro said. “With our major event announcements coming up in the near future, we’ll definitely have a lot more going on, but the ARCA series for us is not a loss.” ARCA ran 20 races in 2016, and Millville has been an annual destination since 2008. NASCAR’s Parker Kligerman won the most recent race May 28. Verrastro said it was a scheduling issue that kept ARCA out of Millville for 2017. (In part from PressOfAC.com) (11-04-16)