archives

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

December 2017

  • ARCA releases 2018 rulebook: The ARCA Racing Series has released the 2018 rulebook. Changes include rookie of the year eligibility, 105” wheelbase cars being retired, and further steel body restrictions in 2019 on tracks like Pocono, Michigan, Chicagoland, and Kansas. View the full rulebook on the ARCA Rules page. (12-22-17)
  • Norm Hutton Racing participating in Daytona test: Norm Hutton Racing announced on Facebook this week that it will participate in the open Daytona test in January. The Pennsylvania based operation fielded a car for Daytona and Talladega last year for David LeBeau, who competed in the series for the first time. The team's car chief Shellie Stewart has been working toward racing at Daytona. However, it is unclear if Stewart has gathered the sponsorship needed for the event. (12-22-17)
  • Mullins Racing potentially expanding schedule in 2018: The highlights of the season for Mullins Racing was the team’s short track debut at Nashville and Elko, as well as the team’s first two-car effort at Elko. Mullins believes the team has a lot of room to grow on the short tracks and they plan to be back at both Nashville and Elko in 2018. In addition, Mullins said he is hoping to run two cars in more events in 2018 pending sponsorship. “We’re definitely looking to have a multi-car team if we can if we can put the right opportunities together,” Mullins said. “I think we did great at Elko and I think we could do that again if things work out.” Mullins Racing is currently working on putting together a new race car for the season-opening Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 10. In addition to Daytona, Nashville and Elko, the team also tentatively hopes to compete at Talladega Superspeedway on April 27 and Charlotte Motor Speedway May 24. (In part from Mullins Racing PR) (12-21-17)
  • RFMS Racing returning full time with Travis Braden: Don Fike, President of RFMS Racing, has announced that his team will run the full ARCA Racing Series season in 2018 with driver Travis Braden behind the wheel of the No. 27 Ford Fusion. The Brownsburg, Indiana-based team will be headed by crew chief Dan Glauz and car chief Casey Swift. Braden will also provide an additional hand in the shop throughout the year. "After working with these guys for a month or so last season, I feel pretty blessed to get to join Don (Fike/team owner), Dan and Casey for an entire season and finish what we started in 2017," said Braden. Braden subbed in the car in the back half of 2017, coming away with a 4th-place finish at Winchester Speedway, 8th at Kentucky Speedway and 11th at Chicagoland Speedway. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (12-14-17)
  • Austin Theriault racing at Daytona with Schrader: Car owner champion Ken Schrader announced that driver champion Austin Theriault would be returning to the seat of his No. 52 Ken Schrader Racing Ford for the season-opening Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire at Daytona Int'l Speedway Feb. 10. Schrader did not say if Theriault would be driving the car beyond Daytona. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (12-13-17)
  • Cunningham Motorsports being sold OFFICIAL: Rumors are circulating that Cunningham Motorsports is for sale. Briggs Cunningham III, who jointly owns the organization with Kerry Scherer, is said to be in declining health and no longer wants to continue his ownership role with the team. Cunningham first entered the ARCA Racing Series in 1996 when he formed CSG Racing with Scherer and Mark Gibson. The team would go on to win the ARCA championship with Chase Briscoe in 2016. Scherer's role in a potential team buyout with other crew members remains unclear. (11-04-17)
    OFFICIAL: Cunningham Motorsports co-owner Kerry Scherer announced that the longtime ARCA team is in the process of completing the sale of the team's assets, and that further announcements regarding the sale would be forthcoming. The 2017 season, in which the team finished 2nd and 3rd in driver points, marked the organization's 21st consecutive season of racing in the ARCA Racing Series. The team, under the direction of co-owners Briggs Cunningham and Scherer, won 40 races total with 15 different drivers. Cunningham winners included Mark Gibson, Chase Miller, Scott Lagasse, Jr., Parker Kligerman, Patrick Long, Dakoda Armstrong, Tom Hessert, Alex Bowman, Blake Jones, Kyle Weatherman, Trevor Bayne, Myatt Snider, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe and Dalton Sargeant. In their first year of competition in 1997, the team won the General Tire Superspeedway Challenge championship. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (12-13-17)
  • Chandler Smith signs with Venturini for 6 short track races: 15-year old Georgia native Chandler Smith, has joined Venturini Motorsports for six short track races next season in the ARCA Racing Series. Fresh off a pair of top-5 finishes in last weekend’s highly competitive Snowflake and Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Florida, Smith becomes the latest teenage talent to leap into the series making his ARCA debut at the Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville on April 7. Selected to pilot the team’s No. 55 Toyota Camry for a partial schedule, the high school sophomore will also compete at Salem Speedway (April 22), Toledo Speedway (May 20), Iowa Speedway (July 7), Elko Speedway (July 14) and Lucas Oil Raceway (September 7). “It’s a big step in my career and an exciting time in my life,” said Smith after announcing his 2018 ARCA schedule. “I’m excited and ready to put my skills to the test. I’ve got a lot to prove. Running ARCA will be a big learning curve for me but I’m really confident in myself and this team. Venturini Motorsports and Toyota has shown a lot of success over the years with young drivers. They’ve got a great program – it’s the best fit.” (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (12-09-17)
  • General Tire renews ARCA sponsorship; sponsoring Charlotte: General Tire announced today that is has renewed its partnership with the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) racing series. The renewal continues General Tire’s status as the “Official Tire” of the series. In addition to the multi-year agreement, General Tire also announced it will title sponsor the “General Tire 150” held at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 24, 2018. “We’re pleased to announce the extension of our partnership with ARCA and look forward to expanding our presence in the sport by adding the General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Travis Roffler, director of marketing for General Tire. “Our team has worked hard to help grow ARCA and provide competitive, action-packed racing each week for the fans. We’re eager to work with ARCA to help expand both our brands even more!” Since 2016, General Tire’s participation in ARCA has included race entitlements, driver and team awards, as well as at-track activation, and hospitality. It’s a partnership that continues to grow into 2018 and beyond. (In part from General Tire PR) (12-06-17)
  • Ed Pompa plans to race next year: [Ed] Pompa is still undecided as to what next year's racing season will look like. "It's always my plan to race. Worst case scenario would be two Poconos and the fall Salem race... I always hope to do more. I just found out my oldest son is getting married that Saturday of the second Pocono race so we'll see. We always want to run Daytona. I'm getting all my thank-you notices out for all the companies that support the Double H Ranch... working on that today." All sponsor donations on Pompa's Fast Track Racing-prepared cars go directly to the Double H Ranch, which support children with life-threatening illnesses. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (12-05-17)
  • Con Nicolopoulos undecided about a full season in 2018: [Con Nicolopoulos] nows he wants to race more next year. "I plan on being there next year. I don't know if it'll be the full season or not, but I definitely want to race. I've been talking to Wayne [Peterson]. We're trying to put a composite car together for Daytona and Talladega; but it's tough. There just isn't very many used ones out there. I just know I want to run as many as I can. Sure love to run Charlotte." Whether he does or he doesn't, Nicolopoulos knows he's a lucky guy. "I'm very grateful for every moment of it. It's tough being away from your family so much, but I have a very understanding wife. She doesn't want me to live my life with regrets. She doesn't want to be the reason I'm not chasing my dream... that's pretty special and I recognize that." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (12-04-17)