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

February 2017

  • Kevin Hinckle adds Iowa to race schedule: Kimmel Racing driver Kevin Hinckle has added Iowa Speedway to his race schedule for the 2017 season. Hinckle, who previously announced that he would compete at Kansas, is also looking to secure sponsorship for races at Michigan and Road America. The Kansas native participated in the Daytona test earlier this year. (02-28-17)
  • Win-Tron Racing planning to field two cars full time: [Kevin] Cywinski's plan to run both cars, the 32 and 33 everywhere on the ARCA Racing Series tour, is still in play. "Justin (Fontaine) was supposed to run the first four for sure, then evaluate...he was leaning toward running the full season. Obviously, with the mild compression fracture in the L1, he's going to be out for two, three months. Hopefully, we'll get him back as soon as Toledo or Elko or possibly Pocono." Cywinski, who raced for decades, has been in the ownership role for the last 10 years. "Our goal all year is to run both cars in competition everywhere. Gus is in the 32 everywhere and we have a couple options for the 33 at Nashville and Salem. We'll get through that and see where Justin is in regards to getting back behind the wheel." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (02-28-17)
  • Ed Pompa climbs in for Thomas Praytor at Daytona: [Thomas] Praytor’s DK-LOK Ford was battered and bruised but it wouldn’t fire up, getting the Ford a ride back to the garage on a wrecker and the Moose a trip to the infield care center. The team quickly went to work on the machine and had it ready to return to action but didn’t have a driver. Praytor’s CO2 levels were too high in the infield care center and they had him held up until those levels returned to normal. Ed Pompa was involved in the same wreck but his Clemson car was done and the team recruited Pompa to finish the race. Pompa strapped in and just as the car was ready to return to the race the final caution flag flew and the race was called after a long red flag period ending this year’s Daytona race early. (In part from Max Force Racing PR) (02-24-17)
  • Kelly Kovski struck by race car at Volusia Speedway Park: Springfield racer Kelly Kovski and two other people in a pit area were injured when they were struck by a race car that hit a barrier and catapulted over a 10-foot fence at a dirt speedway near Daytona Beach, Florida. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said Sunday's crash at Volusia Speedway Park left one victim in extremely critical condition. The other two were taken to a hospital in stable condition. One was released Sunday night. WKMG-TV in Orlando reported Kovski to be in stable condition. Kovski, 35, annually drives in the ARCA Series stock car races at both the Springfield Mile and at the DuQuoin State Fair for Allgaier Motorsports. (In part from SJ-R.com) (02-24-17)
  • Justin Fontaine injured after Daytona crash: Justin Fontaine was involved in an accident during Saturday’s Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200 at Daytona. Fontaine, 19, suffered a mild compression fracture of his L1 vertebrae and will be kept overnight at a local Daytona Beach, Fla. hospital for observation. “Justin is awake and alert following a hard crash at Daytona International Speedway,” said Win-Tron Racing owner Kevin Cywinski. “I’d like to thank ARCA and the Daytona International Speedway safety and medical teams for their amazing job attending to Justin following his accident. Justin is in good spirits and we hope to be able to provide a further update on his recovery time when it’s appropriate.” Fontaine added, “I just want to let everyone know that I’m okay and I’m thankful for the outreach of support. I also want to thank Win-Tron Racing for building me a safe race car. I’d also like to especially thank ARCA and the track for their quick actions after the accident. It looks like I’ll be out of the car for a while, but I’d like to thank ProMATIC Automation for giving me the opportunity to compete at Daytona.” (In part from Win-Tron Racing PR) (02-19-17)
  • Austin Theriault wins at Daytona: Multi-car wrecks, red flags and six cautions could not keep Austin Theriault from finding his way to victory lane at Daytona. Theriault, in Ken Schrader's No. 52 Orlando Longwood Auto Auction Chevrolet, kept himself up front most of the way and, as a result, out of harm's way to win the action-packed Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200. Theriault, who led just four laps, drove around the outside of Terry Jones on lap 73, and then held on up through lap 75, which ended up being long enough to win when the race officially ended five laps shy of the intended distance. "Just an amazing effort from my guys...Ken Schrader Racing brought a great Orlando Longwood Auto Auction Chevrolet," said Theriault. "I think we would have won even if we would have gone back to green...our car was that strong." Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (02-19-17)
  • Tom Hessert wins Daytona pole: #25 Tom Hessert has won the pole for the Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200. Hessert was in the sixth qualifying group and used the draft to his advantage. #18 Matt Tifft will start second, while #11 Bryan Dauzat, #78 Kyle Weatherman, and #34 Willie Mullins round out the top five. 42 drivers participated in qualifying. #67 Cody Lane and #71 Gene Paul missed the race. Starting Lineup (02-17-17)
  • General Tire becomes pole award sponsor: Saturday’s Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200 Driven by General Tire for the ARCA Racing Series kicks off the second consecutive year for General Tire as ‘The Official Tire of ARCA.’  A new addition to General Tire’s series support for 2017 will be the General Tire ARCA Pole Award which will offer $1,000 to the fastest qualifying driver of each race and a $10,000 bonus to the driver with the most Pole Awards at the end of the year. General Tire will once again support five races including the presenting sponsor of this weekend’s race at Daytona. “We feel that our initial season last year as a partner with the ARCA Racing Series was a great success,” said Travis Roffler, director of marketing for General Tire. “Adding the Pole Award is a natural progression to offering the type of support that we feel helps, not only our brand, but the overall health of the series and the drivers that compete in it.” (In part from General Tire PR) (02-17-17)
  • MAVTV to broadcast ARCA races in multi-year agreement: Officials from the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and MAVTV announced today a new multi-year broadcast rights agreement for the ARCA Racing Series under which racing events will be televised on MAVTV during the 2017 through 2019 racing seasons. Ten races will be telecast on MAVTV in 2017, the first of the three-year agreement. Coverage begins Saturday night, April 8 with the first Live broadcast from Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to Nashville, races from Elko Speedway in Elko, Minn., Madison International Speedway in Wis. and the Illinois State Fairgrounds will also air Live on MAVTV.  “MAVTV continues its long-term commitment to motorsports,” said Bob Patison, president of MAVTV. “We see the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards as a premier property on our network, and are happy to begin our ARCA relationship with this new contract.” In addition to the Live events, MAVTV will provide coverage from an additional 6 ARCA Racing Series events, including delayed broadcast coverage from the 4-mile Road America road course in Elkhart Lake, Wis., plus great short track action from Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa, Winchester Speedway in Ind., the dirt mile at DuQuoin Fairgrounds in Southern Ill. and both Salem Speedway events in Ind. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (02-17-17)
  • Codie Rohrbaugh attempting Daytona; schedule not finalized: Even though he hasn’t competed in an ARCA race at Daytona, Codie Rohrbaugh has turned enough laps around the [track] to make him feel like a veteran. Last month, his Grant County Mulch Racing (GCMR) team spent two days testing preparing their young driver for his superspeedway ARCA debut in Saturday afternoon’s Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200. His family-owned team led by industry veteran Mark Huff acquired a car from Allgaier Motorsports and will pilot that No. 7 Grant County Mulch Dodge in Rohrbaugh’s third career ARCA start. “Can’t wait to get to Daytona,” said Rohrbaugh. “It’s a bucket list item for our team. Though, it’s more than just going down there and getting into the field. We’d like to have a good shot at a good finish and I think we have an opportunity to do that.” Following Daytona, the team’s ARCA plans are still flux, but Rohrbaugh says the team does plan to compete in several events this season. “The more we’re able to run good, the more I think you’ll see us around,” sounded Rohrbaugh. “We know we have Daytona on the docket, then I’m sure we’ll pick a couple short tracks. If we come out of Daytona unscathed, we’ll probably go to Talladega. Don’t count out us for some of the bigger track races too. We’re working hard on nailing down a more firmer schedule, but we plan to be around a good bit this season.” Marketing partnership opportunities are available for the 2017 ARCA Racing Series season and beyond. (In part from Grant County Mulch Racing PR) (02-15-17)
  • Tom Hessert; Venturini partner with Andrews Products: Veteran Tom Hessert is back in the driver’s seat ready to capture glory in this weekend’s season opening [race] at Daytona. Hessert, a mainstay on the ARCA circuit over the last decade, hopes to capture his first career win at the famed Florida speedway behind the wheel of his No. 25 Venturini Motorsports – Andrews Products Toyota. “Winning at a historic track like this is every racers dream,” says Hessert. “Who knows, this might be our year. We’ve got a really strong Andrews Toyota – my teammate Spencer Davis ran my car last month at the test and set quick time early on. These Venturini cars are solid on the plate tracks. We had a winning car last year before cutting a tire. I’d say we’ve got some unfinished business to take care of this weekend.” Hessert will be back at Daytona under the watchful eyes of crew chief Dave Leiner. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (02-15-17)
  • Big Tine returns to Cunningham Motorsports for Daytona: While the first race of the season for the ARCA Racing Series at Daytona is usually full of new faces, cars and paint schemes, Cunningham Motorsports (CMS) and Shane Lee’s No. 22 Ford will adorn a familiar look. Big Tine will be back on the hood as the primary partner for CMS at the famous 2.5-mile superspeedway this coming weekend in the Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200. “I’m really excited to have Big Tine on the car for this race,” said Lee. “They were an important part of Cunningham last year and to be able to have them on my car is really special. It’s definitely big shoes to fill since the Big Tine car visited victory lane multiple times last season." (In part from Cunningham Motorsports PR) (02-14-17)
  • Terry Jones; Rette Jones secure Daytona sponsorship: [Terry Jones and] his Rette Jones Racing [team is preparing] to make their 10th start at the “World Center of Racing” in their familiar No. 30 entry. “It’s a new year with the same agenda,” said Jones. “We’re going to Daytona with one goal of qualifying good and then letting the race play out for itself. Last year, I only had two laps in the race and a bunch of us were wiped out. I really hope that doesn’t happen this year, but I’m anxious to get down there with my team and hopefully have a good showing.” The band Buck Twenty and Nortrax will sport their logos on Jones’ No. 30 in Saturday afternoon’s 80-lap roar. Mike Ure and Aidan Johnson-Bujold are a singer / songwriter duo. The two combine their distinct voices to create a trademark blend that listeners have recognized and proudly identify as Buck Twenty. Nortrax Inc., a John Deere company, operates John Deere construction and forestry dealerships throughout the United States and Canada. (In part from Rette Jones Racing PR) (02-14-17)
  • Phoenix Construction partners with Dalton Sargeant at Daytona: Phoenix Construction and Billy Ballew Motorsports’ return to [Daytona as a sponsor of Dalton Sargeant's No. 77 Cunningham Motorsports entry]. “The No. 77 Phoenix Construction, Billy Ballew Ford Fusion looks great and I couldn’t be more excited to make my first start with Cunningham Motorsports,” said Dalton Sargeant. “To have the opportunity to race a car with Phoenix Construction on the hood is really cool, James Finch and Billy Ballew had some great drivers in their cars throughout the years so its an honor to include my name on that list.  There’s a Florida connection with these group of guys and we’re all looking forward to a bit of a homecoming at Daytona this weekend.  Hopefully with all of us being from the sunshine state it will bring us some luck.” (In part from Dalton Sargeant Motorsports PR) (02-14-17)
  • Venturini Motorsports announces Bell, Thorson, Lessard schedules: Venturini Motorsports (VMS) unveiled the addition of Christopher Bell, Tanner Thorson and Raphael Lessard to the team’s 2017 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards driver roster. The trio of drivers will combine for seven races driving for Venturini Motorsports.
    BELL:     Christopher Bell, 2017’s Midget Chili Bowl Nationals winner and full-time driver for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, will drive the number No.15 at Illinois State Fairgrounds on August 20 and the No.25 Toyota Camry at Chicagoland Speedway on September 14.
    THORSON:     Tanner Thorson, 2016’s USAC National Midget Champion and two-time National Midget Driver of the Year, returns to VMS after last season’s sole ARCA start at Springfield’s Illinois State Fairgrounds dirt-mile. The 20-year old Thorson will drive the No.25 Toyota Camry at Madison Int’l Speedway on June 23 and the No. 15 Toyota Camry at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds dirt-mile on September 4.
    LESSARD:     Raphaël Lessard, a native of St-Joseph-de-Beauce, Quebec, Canada, will compete in three races with VMS driving the team’s No.25 Toyota Camry. Lessard, the youngest driver on the team’s roster, was the 2016 CARS TOUR Champion driving for David Gilliland Racing last season. Lessard will make his ARCA debut at the Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville on April 8 in addition to making appearances at Salem Speedway on April 30 and at the high banks of Winchester Speedway on August 6. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (02-14-17)
  • Spencer Davis to compete in 7 events for Venturini: Spencer Davis made it official today signing with Venturini Motorsports for seven events in the upcoming 2017 ARCA Racing Series season. Eighteen year-old Davis will make his ARCA Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway on May 5th driving VMS’ No. 15 Toyota entry. The Dawsonville, Georgia native will also appear in the No.25 Toyota Camry at Pocono Raceway, Michigan International Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Lucas Oil Raceway, Kentucky Speedway and in the series’ finale at Kansas Speedway on October 20. “This is an incredible opportunity at this stage in my career,” says Davis. “It’s exciting not only to drive for a high caliber team such as Venturini Motorsports but also because of the type of tracks we built my schedule around. Focusing on the intermediate and superspeedways will give me valuable experience down the road as my career moves forward.” (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (02-10-17)
  • Cody Lane to attempt Daytona with Students Survival: New Age Motorsports and Students Survival Dream Academy are excited to announce that Cody Lane Racing will be competing in their first race as the Dream Team of Pasco. Cody is a 21 year-old driver. His father and him created New Age Motorsports and Driver Development to help build the racing capabilities and help guide others. The kids in the Dream Academy are learning the ins and outs of racing. They are building the car from scratch. A Dodge body running a Ilmor Engine, the kids are learning to build and tune from the ground up. Ages 17-20, they will also be the pit crew at the race. (In part from Students Survival Dream Academy PR) (02-09-17)
  • FOX Sports 1 broadcast team announced: An all-star line-up of talent is ready to deliver live coverage of the ARCA Racing Series season-opening Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200 Driven by General Tire at Daytona Int’l Speedway, live on FS1 Saturday, Feb. 18. FS1 lead play-by-play commentator Kevin Lee will call the action alongside veteran color commentator Phil Parsons in the booth. Jim Tretow and Heather DeBeaux will handle the duties on pit road. “ARCA’s Daytona race is a strong element of our more than 100 hours of coverage from Speedweeks,” said Steve Craddock, FOX Sports SVP of Production. “This is always the first stock car race of the season and the fans are ready to get back to racing.” (In part from ARCARacing.com) (02-09-17)
  • Thad Moffitt to run partial schedule for Empire Racing: Empire Racing, a driver development team for Richard Petty Motorsports, is full-ahead for what looks like a busier ARCA schedule in 2017 with Petty's grandson, Thad Moffitt, at the helm of the No. 46 car for several races. Moffitt's still 16, so [Sean] Corr plans to fill the gap on the speedways as necessary. "We're building new composite cars. We have the new one we built last year and we just finished our second composite car, and we already have our chassis lined up for the third one" said Corr. "I can't wait... I love running Daytona and Talladega. We're going to try and run the 46 all year... I may possibly do Michigan and both Poconos... still working through all that. The plan is to put Thad in the car for the short tracks... Nashville, Salem, Toledo... everything he can run he plans on running." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (02-08-17)
  • Vinnie Miller joins MDM Motorsports for six races: MDM Motorsports has added driver Vinnie Miller to the team in 2017 as part of the team's driver development program. The 19-year-old Ortonville, Mich., native will compete in six Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) events. Miller's ARCA debut is scheduled for Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville on Saturday, April 8. "I am extremely excited about the opportunity to drive for MDM Motorsports," said Miller. "The team has been really competitive and has had success in the past, so I'm grateful for the opportunity. Having Harrison Burton, Sheldon Creed, and a few others as teammates to learn from will be invaluable. My crew chief, Jamie Jones, is a veteran crew chief in NASCAR and I know that he and I will work hard to make our sponsor, Master Manufacturing, proud this season." (In part from VinnieMillerRacing.com) (02-08-17)
  • Musselman’s Apple Sauce Partners with Venturini:  Venturini Motorsports and Musselman’s Apple Sauce have agreed to a one-year partnership for the upcoming 2017 ARCA Racing Series season. “Musselman’s family of brands are excited to announce this new partnership with Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards,” said Kevin Blacker, Knouse Food’s Director of Marketing. “Over the last several years, the ARCA Series with its demographic footprint and strong fan base has provided Musselman’s with a solid platform to promote our brand through a variety of marketing and retail initiatives. We see value in the relationship between the on-track activations and the off-track consumer engagements." The Musselman’s brand will be showcasing their Musselman’s BIG CUP and Musselman’s Squeezables products in primary and associate branding on the VMS’s race fleet during the 20-race season. This will include primary branding in twelve races and associate branding across eight races. VMS and Musselman’s will unveil their new partnership with Noah Gragson driving the No.55 Musselman’s BIG CUP Apple Sauce Toyota on Saturday, February 18 during ARCA’s season-opening event at Daytona. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (02-07-17)
  • Will Kimmel becomes a father: It's official. William James Kimmel IV has finally arrived in the world. Will and Erica Kimmel are now proud parents of a beautiful baby boy, born on this day, Feb. 2, 2017. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (02-02-17)
  • Ricky Sanders joins Kimmel Racing for Daytona: If Kimmel Racing is minus a few familiar faces at Daytona, rest-assured good ole number 69 will still be in the house. Stockbridge, Georgia's Ricky Sanders is scheduled to climb aboard for all the fun. "It's been a longtime relationship with the Kimmels," said Sanders. "It goes back to the first ARCA race I ran in '91...it was Frank's rookie year. We were side-by-side in the ARCA garage at Talladega. We teamed up in the garage, drafted in practice and throughout the race. I've always enjoyed working with Bill, and I want to help Will as much as I can." Sanders will be in a faster "toy" at Daytona this year, the primary car for Kimmel Racing. "The car actually tested pretty good," Kimmel said. "We're just going back through it making sure everything's tight, then go race. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (02-02-17)
  • Caesar Bacarella to attempt Daytona for Finney: [Brian Finney] won't be in the cockpit at Daytona. Finney will be calling the shots atop the pit box as crew chief for newcomer Caesar Bacarella. "It's very exciting," said Bacarella. "We had a real good test and I know that Brian and all the guys at Finney Racing are doing the best they can to improve on it. The car was very easy to drive in the test, very predictable. We're still looking for a little more speed, but we know where it's at." Bacarella is a road racer by trade and finished second in the Ferrari Challenge circuit on the road course at Daytona in 2016. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (02-01-17)