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

March 2017

  • Bo LeMastus to run partial schedule; three drivers in car: Bo LeMastus will not be behind the wheel of his No. 42 Crosley Brands Toyota at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway during the Music City 200. LeMastus, who regularly travels the world on behalf of the Crosley Brands company he owns, will be leaving Monday on a business trip to China. "I've got to stick to my day job...it's what pays the bills. I just ran out of minutes," said LeMastus. "I had a unexpected trip to China come up, so my plan is to plug someone into the 42 for Nashville." It won't be the only time this year we'll see a different driver in the 42 other than LeMastus. "We've got two drivers in mind who we can plug in as necessary...two serious wheelmen I can assure you that. Wherever I have attendance issues, we plan to sub them in." LeMastus says he'll be home in time to race at Talladega and Toledo with a sharp eye on the road course race coming to Road America. "I can't promise that the 42 will be at all the races this year, but we should be at several. With either of these two drivers that will be subbing, I really believe we'll have an honest shot. The whole goal is to win one." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-31-17)
  • Justin Fontaine medical update; returning at Elko?: ARCA Racing Series driver Justin Fontaine's recovery is going better than expected. Fontaine, 19, suffered a mild compression fracture of his L1 vertebrae during a late-race accident at Daytona. He was released from Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach the next afternoon, Feb. 19. Since then, while following a strict routine from his doctors, a recent follow-up appointment revealed that Fontaine has approximately eight more weeks of recovery with an expected return to racing on the ARCA tour at Elko (Minn.) Speedway on June 3 for the Elko ARCA 250. “I’m feeling better, a lot better,” said Fontaine, a native of Asheville, N.C. “I am certainly appreciative of the support from everyone over the past month or so. From the phone calls, to the text messages and the outreach on social media, at times it’s been overwhelming, but I’m incredibly grateful. I just have to keep doing what the doctors ask and I’ll be back in a race car before I know it.” (In part from AM Racing PR) (03-31-17)
  • Chris Reese; Reese Motor Sports to debut at Nashville: Local Oklahoma dirt track driver Chris Reese will make his ARCA Racing Series debut at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville on April 8th driving his own No. 62 Chevrolet. Reese, who has received assistance from Eric Caudell, will attempt two other races this season at Iowa and Kansas. The Chevrolet that he will drive is a former car from Rabenold Racing. (03-25-17)
  • Andy Hillenburg suffers back injury: Team owner Andy Hillenburg, the 1995 series driving champion and owner of Fast Track Racing, is hospitalized after suffering a back injury in a work-related auto accident. Hillenburg suffered his injury on Thursday March 23 and underwent surgery to his L-1 vertebra on Friday. He's conscious and alert and his recovery is on schedule. He expects to be released from the hospital in 2-3 days and will begin short term therapy at that time. “We had a little work-related mishap, but I’ve made the required unscheduled pit stop and as quickly as I’m able I plan to rejoin the race,” said Hillenburg. “I feel very fortunate that my injury was not more severe, and that I’ve got complete mobility. I look forward to seeing everyone at Nashville on April 8.” (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-25-17)
  • Dispute between Russell Henderson and drivers: A dispute developed during January’s ARCA test at Daytona International Speedway between a group of drivers and an owner, and now the group is seeking legal action. According to driver Kevin Fontana, Russell Henderson told multiple drivers that he would have a couple of cars ready for Daytona testing. However, upon arrival to the speedway, Fontana says that the drivers found that Henderson had, in fact, failed to bring any equipment for testing despite the drivers already paying him for the opportunity to drive. Full Story (SpeedwayMedia.com) (03-24-17)
  • Sheldon Creed joins MDM Motorsports for 9 races: Professional off-road driver Sheldon Creed has joined MDM Motorsports and will compete in nine (9) ARCA races. Creed, who drove for Lira Motorsports last season, will race at Nashville, both Pocono races, Michigan, Iowa, Lucas Oil, Chicagoland, Kentucky, and Kansas. The 19 year-old from California made his NASCAR K&N Pro Series East debut for the team in February at New Smyrna Speedway. (03-22-17)
  • D.L. Wilson comments on Russell Henderson: D.L. Wilson, who was originally scheduled to test with Henderson Motorsports at Daytona in January, has commented on Russell Henderson.
    Wilson: "Russell Henderson has a Felony Theft warrant out for his arrest in Texas. North Carolina and Michigan will follow soon on behalf of the drivers effected at the Daytona testing incident." (In part from Facebook.com) (03-19-17)
  • Ty Gibbs to compete in future ARCA events?: [14 year-old] Ty Gibbs – grandson of NASCAR owner Joe Gibbs - is part of the Driver Development Program at Joe Gibbs Racing. Gibbs knows this is a process and [is taking it] a series at a time as he cuts his teeth on short tracks such as Hickory Motor Speedway, Myrtle Beach and Greenville-Pickens in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. [He] hopes to then advance to Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) then the eventual move into NASCAR’s premier series. “My goal is to get to the top level of NASCAR but I know I need to run at each level, learn as much about the cars and setup as possible but my goals is to run at the top level of NASCAR,” Ty said. “Hickory is a track that I feel will help me a lot in learning how to use the brakes and how to handle a car – especially in traffic. I hope that in the next two to three years I can run some ARCA races.” (In part from HickoryRecord.com) (03-18-17)
  • Tony Mrakovich joins Ken Schrader Racing for Nashville & Salem: Pennsylvania native Tony Mrakovich has announced that he will drive for Ken Schrader Racing at Nashville on April 8th and Salem on April 30th. Mrakovich, who tested for MBM Motorsports at Daytona, stated that his sponsors wanted to join the Schrader organization after its victory with Austin Theriault in the season opening race. The Legend car standout also explained that he hopes to run more races this year in preparation for a possible full ARCA schedule in 2018. (03-16-17)
  • Natalie Decker joins Venturini for three races: 19-year old Natalie Decker from will join Venturini Motorsports for three races during the 2017 ARCA Racing Series season. Complementing VMS’ already stout driver lineup, Decker, with sponsorship support from N|29 Capital Partners, will make her ARCA Series debut in consecutive race weekends starting with Toledo Speedway (May 21), Elko Speedway (June 3) and Pocono Raceway (June 9). “This is definitely the biggest step in my racing career so far,” said Decker. “Racing takes sponsorship support, and it takes hearing a lot of No’s before you find a Yes. I’m so blessed and thankful to ‘N Twenty-Nine Capital Partners’ (N|29) for believing in me and providing this opportunity to compete with Venturini Motorsports.” (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (03-15-17)
  • Musselman’s Racing announces driver schedule: As previously announced Musselman’s Apple Sauce has partnered with Venturini Motorsports for the 2017 ARCA Racing Series season. As part of Musselman’s efforts to promote their retail brand of products and ongoing initiative to expand their national motorsports presence, Mussleman’s and VMS have created the ‘Musselman’s Family of Drivers’ program. The program, which will highlight the strength of VMS’ well-known driver development platform, will integrate a multi-driver rotation to carry out Musselman’s branding throughout the 2017 ARCA Racing Season. The Musselman’s brand will showcase their Musselman’s BIG CUP and Musselman’s Squeezables products in primary and associate branding on VMS’s No.25 and No.55 Toyota’s throughout the 20-race season. This will include primary branding in twelve races and associate branding across the remaining eight races.
    Raphael Lessard:     Raphael Lessard, the 2016 CARS Tour Super Late Model Racing Champion, will make his highly anticipated ARCA debut in the next series event taking place at the Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville on April 8. A native of Quebec, Canada, the high school teenager will be the youngest competitor in the starting field. In addition to Nashville, Lessard will drive the Musselman’s colors at Salem Speedway (April 30) and at Winchester Speedway (August 6).
    Noah Gragson:     Noah Gragson will return at Talladega Superspeedway (May 5).
    Zane Smith:     Zane Smith, who’s running in eighteen series events, will feature the Musselman’s logo for ten events at Toledo Speedway (May 21), Elko Speedway (June 3), Pocono Raceway (June 9 & July 28), Michigan Int’l Speedway (June 16), Iowa Speedway (July 8), Lucas Oil Raceway (July 21), Road America (August 27), Kentucky Speedway (September 22) and Kansas Speedway (October 20).
    Tom Hessert:     Six Time ARCA Series winner, Tom Hessert will represent Musselman’s at the Illinois State Fairground’s Dirt Mile (August 20), DuQuoin State Fairgrounds (September 4) and at Salem Speedway (September 9).
    Others:     Tanner Thorson will take the reins at Madison International Speedway (June 23) and recent NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner, Christopher Bell will bring Musselman’s to VMS’s home track at Chicagoland Speedway (September 14.) (In part from Musselman's Racing PR) (03-14-17)
  • American Sports Network to cease operations: American Sports Network was created in 2014 by Sinclair Broadcast Group to air college sports and provide local sports coverage to certain areas across the country. It appears that Sinclair is pulling the plug on the network after three years. TV news website FTV Live first reported that staffers were informed that their roles were being cut and the network was ceasing operation. It’s a sudden end for a network that in theory should have worked, but the execution and production didn’t quite catch on. The end of American Sports Network won’t leave the conferences in the dark, but it may leave several leagues scratching their proverbial heads. [Note: ASN aired several ARCA races during the 2016 season.] (In part from AwfulAnnouncing.com) (03-11-17)
  • Bryant Barnhill to run part time?: 18 year-old Bryant Barnhill has had discussions with ARCA Racing Series team to compete in a partial schedule this season. Barnhill, who tested for Fast Track Racing in January at Daytona, is hoping to make his ARCA debut as soon as possible. The South Carolina driver is being mentored by NASCAR veteran Chad McCumbee. (03-07-17)
  • Ty Majeski returning for a partial schedule: The NASCAR season started last week. For Ty Majeski it won’t for another couple of months yet. “Everybody knows how tough this business is,” said the Roush Fenway Racing development driver from Seymour. “The biggest thing is you’ve got to be patient.” At least the plans for Majeski are beginning to come together. His Xfinity Series debut is set for June 24 at Iowa Speedway, Eric Peterson, the team’s driver development coordinator, said Thursday. Then Majeski will run some sort of part-time schedule in ARCA and Xfinity. “We hope to have that shored up a little more in the next two weeks,” Peterson said. Roush hasn’t finalized details on which team Majeski will join for a handful of ARCA races on intermediate tracks this year, Peterson said. Majeski did drive a Cunningham Motorsports car in a test at Daytona, and the championship-winning team has strong ties to Ford. (In part from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) (03-05-17)
  • Travis Braden to attempt Talladega in May: West Virginia driver Travis Braden made his superspeedway debut at Daytona in February. Braden released the following statement about his next race: “After graduating from WVU last fall, my sole focus has been professionalizing my racing career, improving on the track and working with new and potential sponsors. Our team is really progressing, so I’m excited to get back out there at Talladega." (In part from Precision New Media) (03-05-17)