archives

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

June 2019

  • FORTS USA to sponsor July Pocono Race: Pocono Raceway welcomes FORTS USA, an industry leader in fold-out shelters, as the presenting partners for the FORTS USA 150 ARCA Menards Series at ‘The Tricky Triangle’ on Friday, July 26, 2019. “We are excited about our new partnership with FORTS USA,” said Pocono Raceway CEO, Nick Igdalsky. “While visiting their manufacturing facility in Florida earlier this year, I saw firsthand how easy these fold-out shelters were to put up and how much technology went into making them durable. Their innovative products will be on display during our upcoming July NASCAR and ARCA race weekend.” FORTS USA, whose acronym stands for fold-out rigid temporary shelters, provides fold-out shelters for first responders, military and hospitality organizations. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (06-29-19)
  • Ty Majeski wins the Bounty 150 at Chicagoland: Ty Majeski (No. 22 Crestliner Boats Ford) scored his third ARCA Menards Series win of the season with a dominant performance in the Bounty 150 on Thursday night at Chicagoland Speedway. Majeski led 72 of the race’s 100 laps and at times opened up a 12-second advantage on the field. Several late-race cautions allowed the field to close the gap, but Majeski would reopen the advantage repeatedly, eventually winning by 9.179 seconds over second-place finisher Harrison Burton (No. 20 Ruud Toyota). “We’ve won all three races in a different way,” Majeski said. “We didn’t have the best car at Charlotte and beat them on a couple of late race restarts, we got them in the pits at Pocono, we almost got them on fuel mileage at Michigan and we wore them out with the best car here tonight.” Majeski’s biggest challenge throughout was to stay focused on hitting his marks and not abusing his tires. “The last thing I wanted to do was to build up a fifteen second lead and blow the right front out from driving it too hard and abusing it,” Majeski said. “I just wanted to hit my marks and keep the car out of trouble and bring it home. This is as much about showcasing Chad Bryant Racing and the stuff they build as it is showing the world what I can do and it would make me look horrible to throw away a car that dominant.” Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (06-29-19)
  • Bret Holmes secures Chicagoland sponsorship from Techworks Trailer Sales: Bret Holmes Racing announced today a new partnership with Techworks Trailer Sales. The Elkhart, Ind., -based company will be the primary sponsor of Bret Holmes and the No. 23 Chevrolet team for this week’s ARCA Menards Series event at Chicagoland Speedway. "We’re pleased to have Techworks Trailer Sales come onboard for the Chicagoland Speedway race," said Nic Moncher, General Manager at BHR. "Their company values go hand-in-hand with how we operate at BHR. I believe this is going to be a great relationship moving forward. All of us at BHR welcome Techworks Trailer Sales and look forward to hopefully taking them to victory lane this week at Chicagoland Speedway." A company that is committed to customer service, Techworks Trailer Sales began in Elkhart, Ind., in 1989. Walt Barnes started the trailer business with his wife and has been dedicated to selling trailers ever since. “Techworks Trailer Sales is excited to partner with Bret Holmes and the entire No. 23 team this week in the ARCA Menards Series race,” said Walt Barnes, Owner of Techwork Trailer Sales. “We’re a family-owned business and it makes sense to sponsor another family-owned operation. We can’t wait to get to Chicagoland Speedway and see that blue and white Chevrolet on track.” (In part from Bret Holmes Racing PR) (06-24-19)
  • Ty Gibbs scores first career ARCA victory at World Wide Technology Raceway: Ty Gibbs (No. 18 Monster Energy Toyota) scored his first career ARCA Menards Series win with a last-lap pass of Sam Mayer (No. 21 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet) in Saturday’s Day to Day Coffee 150 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Gibbs had the dominant car over the last third of race, but came down pit road under the final caution flag of the night with ten laps to go. When the race restarted with six laps to go, Gibbs was eighth but he knifed his way through the field to second within three laps. He stalked Mayer the final three laps, and the two made contact in the final corners and Mayer drifted up the track and Gibbs went on to the victory. "I had a pretty big gap coming to the white flag and I gained on him in turns one and two," Gibbs said. "He overdrove it into three and four and gave me that shot and we’re at a short track so you might as well take it. It’s for the win and that’s pretty big. It’s a hard deal, but it’s been a long day. We had a motor issue and we fought back and won. It just shows how hard my guys work." Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (06-24-19)
  • Drew Dollar to make ARCA debut at Gateway for DGR-Crosley: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East regular Drew Dollar is set to make his ARCA Menards Series debut this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. The 19-year-old driver will pilot the No. 4 Lynx Capital Funds Toyota Camry in Saturday’s Day to Day Coffee 150. Along with it being Dollar’s first time competing in the ARCA Menards Series, the 120-lap race will be his first start at Gateway’s 1.25-mile track as well. Dollar was able to get some test laps under his belt before heading to Gateway for the race. “Really looking forward to making my first visit to Gateway! This will also be my first time in the ARCA car, but I’m confident that this DGR-Crosley will bring a fast car and help me get up to speed quickly. Excited to get out there and see what we can do” [said Dollar]. (In part from DGR-Crosley PR) (06-18-19)
  • Gavin Harlien running Autism Awareness paint scheme at Gateway: Nineteen year-old Gavin Harlien from Phoenix, Arizona will make his highly anticipated ARCA Menards Series debut behind the wheel of Venturini Motorsports’ No. 55 Autism Awareness #4Presley Toyota on Saturday, June 22 in the Day to Day Coffee 150 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. The first of three scheduled ARCA starts, Harlien is excited and will use his series debut to pay tribute to his sister and help bring Autism Awareness to the forefront of Saturday night’s national audience. "Making my first ARCA start is obviously really an exciting opportunity for me and one I’ve been looking forward to since our deal came together," said Harlien. "But I’m probably most excited about sharing this moment with my sister, Presley, and running the Autism Awareness paint scheme on my Toyota Camry." (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (06-18-19)
  • Chandler Smith wins the Shore Lunch 200 at Madison: After dominating the first three quarters of the Shore Lunch 200 at Madison International Speedway, Chandler Smith (No. 20 Craftsman Toyota) had to utilize pit strategy and some hard racing to earn his second straight series victory. Smith won the last time he raced at Toledo Speedway in May. Smith, who started from the General Tire Pole after setting a track record in qualifying, stretched out nearly a half-lap lead as the field raced the first 112 laps caution-free. Smith was ecstatic with his win, even if he had to knock fenders to do it. “We’re in victory lane and that’s what matters,” he said. “If those guys are upset, I am sorry but it was rough out there tonight. I had people run into me all night long. That’s just how it was.” Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (06-17-19)
  • Michael Self; Venturini Motorsports penalized after Michigan win: Based on ARCA Menards Series post-race technical inspection at the VizCom 200 at Michigan International Speedway Friday June 7, [Venturini Motorsports has] been penalized for 2019 ARCA Rulebook violations. Shannon Rursch, crew chief of the #25 Venturini Motorsports team, was fined $3,000 for violation of 2019 ARCA Rulebook page 31, #3, Body, Composite, which references unapproved modification/alteration of stock body part dimension, contour and appearance. In addition, driver Michael Self and team owner Cathy Venturini were each penalized with the loss of 50 championship points and applicable team special award points. This was the team’s second post-race technical inspection violation of the season. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (06-17-19)
  • Tanner Gray and DGR-Crosley penalized after Michigan: Based on ARCA Menards Series post-race technical inspection at the VizCom 200 at Michigan International Speedway Friday June 7, [DGR-Crosley has] been penalized for 2019 ARCA Rulebook violations.Seth Smith, crew chief of the #54 DGR-Crosley team, was fined $1,500 for violation of 2019 ARCA Rulebook page 31, #3, Body, Composite, item i, which references minimum and maximum roof height. In addition, driver Tanner Gray and team owner David Gilliland were each penalized with the loss of 25 championship points and applicable team special award points. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (06-17-19)
  • Michael Self wins the VizCom 200 at Michigan: Michael Self (No. 25 Sinclair Lubricants Toyota) dominated the first 90 laps of the VizCom 200 at Michigan, but needed a last lap pass to score his third series win of the season. Self snuck past Ty Majeski (No. 22 Crestliner Boats Ford), who was attempting to run the final 50 laps of the race on one tank of fuel, in turn three of the final lap. Self led at will over the first 90 laps of the race, at times building a nine-second advantage over the field. He made his final pit stop of the night on lap 90, giving the lead to Majeski. With wins at Charlotte and Pocono, Majeski was looking for his third consecutive series victory and it looked like he had a chance to pull it off. But as he entered the final set of corners on the final lap his fuel tank ran dry and Self blew by to take the lead and the win. "Any time you’re up against a driver like Ty and his team you know it’s going to be tough," Self said. "When my spotter told me the 22 was going to try to stretch it, I knew they had a good chance of making it because they’re that good. They came on the radio and said he sputtered a little when he came across the stripe to take the white, but he was still under power off of turn two and it made my heart sink a little bit. But then we got to three and he had run out of fuel and I knew we had him. He did what he needed to do and tried to block me but there’s just too much room here and we were able to get by." Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (06-08-19)
  • 18 cars entered for Michigan: Eighteen cars are entered for today's VizCom 200 at Michigan International Speedway. Entries include #06 Tim Richmond, #09 C.J. McLaughlin, #11 Morgen Baird, #20 Myatt Snider, #28 Brandon McReynolds, #46 Thad Moffitt, #54 Tanner Gray, and #69 Scott Melton. Full Entry List (In part from ARCARacing.com) (06-07-19)
  • Former Owner / Driver Roger Carter Sentenced to Prison: A man involved in a RV fraud incident in Chippewa County has been sentenced to prison. Roger Lee Carter, a North Carolina parole absconder, pleaded guilty to Larceny by Conversion $20,000 or more and habitual offender, second offense. Carter and his wife, Dana Upright Royal, were arrested after they fled to Chippewa County after the Hamburg Township Police Department were investigating the theft of a 2012 motor home valued at $60,000. It was also reported to Hamburg Township Police that Roger and Dana were using a fake business front of RVNow.com. Last July, Chippewa County detectives learned of the suspect’s current location. The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office then contacted the Michigan State Police Tri-City Post who were able to locate and arrest both suspects. Carter was sentenced to 2 to 15 years in prison. His wife, Dana Upright Royal was sentenced already in Bay County, Michigan to a year of probation for check, non-sufficient funds. She was ordered to go to substance abuse counseling. (In part from UpperMichigansSource.com) (06-05-19)
  • Myatt Snider joins Venturini Motorsports for Michigan: Myatt Snider will make his first series start in nearly two years when he joins Venturini Motorsports in Friday's VizCom 200 at Michigan International Speedway. Snider, 24, will inherit the seat of VMS' series leading (Owner Points) No.20 Cometic Toyota when he makes his second career start at Michigan. In his only other track appearance in 2016 he started from the pole position. Snider becomes the fourth driver to pilot VMS' No.20 in 2019 joining Chandler Smith, Harrison Burton and Brandon Lynn. "Glad we could put this deal late in the game so I could make a return to the 2-mile superspeedway," said Snider. "Michigan is one of the toughest tracks on the ARCA circuit. But that's what makes it so fun. Really excited for the weekend." The son of NASCAR on NBC pit reporter Marty Snider, Snider (Myatt) has made 10 career ARCA starts earning three top-5 and six top-10 finishes.  Snider's solo series win came at Toledo Speedway in 2016. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (06-04-19)
  • Morgen Baird to drive at Michigan with Fast Track Racing: Morgen Baird has announced on Facebook that he will compete in the VizCom 200 at Michigan International Speedway.
    Baird: "I am pleased to announce that I have partnered with Founders Brewing Company for the NASCAR ARCA race at Michigan International Speedway on June 7th. We will be promoting Founders Solid Gold in our campaign. I am excited and honored to represent one of the top brewing companies in America this weekend at my home track. I will be driving the #11 Founders Brewing Toyota Camry for Fast Track Racing and team owner Andy Hillenburg. The race will be broadcasted live on FS1 at 6pm Friday, June 7th! Be sure to tune in and grab a case of Founders Solid Gold this week!" (In part from Facebook.com) (06-04-19)
  • VizCom Media to sponsor Michigan race: Michigan International Speedway is excited to announce VizCom Media as its entitlement sponsor for the ARCA Menards Series VizCom 200 on June 7. “VizCom is thrilled to be the title sponsor for the VizCom 200,” VizCom President Scott Benton said. “The team at Michigan International Speedway has been fantastic to work with – very organized and cooperative while giving VizCom the opportunity to feel truly involved in the production of putting on a professional race. We hope this is just the beginning of a great partnership for years to come.” VizCom Media and Michigan International Speedway have created a partnership that goes beyond the track. The Grand Rapids-based company is the track’s printer and has already begun hanging signage around NASCAR’s Most Entertaining Track. Guests can enjoy the company’s work as they experience all of the entertainment at MIS. “We are excited to welcome VizCom as the entitlement partner for our June ARCA Menards Series race,” MIS President Rick Brenner said. “We take pride in creating business-to-business opportunities for our partners and it is great to work with a company that shares the same philosophy.” (In part from MISpeedway.com) (06-01-19)