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

December 2019

  • KBR Development relocates; hires Frank Kimmel as general manager: Following a successful first full season of competition in the ARCA Menards Series, KBR Development is pleased to announce a number of changes for the program moving into 2020. KBR has relocated its ARCA team headquarters from Michigan, to Statesville, North Carolina. The existing relationship with GMS Racing and KBR will strengthen in 2020, with KBR operating from the GMS shop and working closely as a satellite team. Long time ARCA competitor Frank Kimmel has been hired to serve as team General Manager. The Clarksville, Indiana native is a highly decorated driver, having collected an astounding 10 ARCA titles and 80 victories in his career. "I’m really excited to be joining KBR Development," Kimmel stated. "They’re a first-class outfit, and I’m looking forward to helping them succeed. Mike and everyone at KBR wants to continue to grow the program and improve on the racetrack, and believe fully in everything they are doing." KBR Development will again compete full time with the ARCA Menards Series in 2020, as well as template late model special events throughout the country. KBR is currently working on driving arrangements for 2020, with some ARCA and late model events still available. "I really couldn’t be any more excited about the changes and upgrades we’ve been able to put together," commented team President Michael Bursley. “Having an experienced veteran in Frank Kimmel to steer the KBR ARCA ship for us is monumental. In addition, the resources and support from everyone at GMS Racing and Chevrolet will be a game-changer. With the first ARCA season under our belt, we expect to be competing for wins every time we hit the racetrack in 2020." KBR Development will travel to Daytona International Speedway for the open ARCA Menards Series test on January 10. The race season kicks off at the ‘World Center of Racing’ in Daytona Beach on February 8, with the Lucas Oil 200. (From KBRDevelopment.com) (12-21-19)
  • Venturini Motorsports tabs Ryan Repko for five races in No. 20: In hopes of chasing after the 2020 ARCA Menards Series owner’s championship once more, Venturini Motorsports officials have signed Ryan Repko to their driver lineup on the No. 20 Toyota Camry. Repko will see action in five (5) ARCA intermediate and superspeedway style races throughout the season. "I am excited to have Ryan (Repko) join Venturini Motorsports for 2020 and pilot our No. 20 Toyota Camry for five races next season," commented Billy Venturini. "Ryan has proven himself a solid contender in all of the different facets of racing he has competed in and I believe he will play an integral part in helping our team achieve our expectations and goals this coming season." Sparking his interest in racing at a young age, the Denver, N.C. native grew up watching NASCAR races with his grandfather on TV, which eventually led to him running his first quarter midget race. Before he knew it, Repko had amassed over 115-wins and 20-championships across the country and the rising star was headed to race late models. Repko will be teaming up with veteran crew chief and VMS team owner, Billy Venturini as the newly paired duo work together to earn the No. 20 Toyota Camry another ARCA owner’s championship in 2020. Kicking off that quest, Repko will see his first start come at the famed 2.5-mile high banked Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 8th. Sponsor announcements will be forthcoming at a later date via team officials. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (12-20-19)
  • ARCA announces 2020 TV schedule: ARCA Racing along with FOX Sports and MAVTV announced today a comprehensive live broadcast television schedule that will cover all 20 races in the 2020 ARCA Menards Series, including the 10-race Sioux Chief Showdown. The schedule will kick off with the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb., 8 at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1, the first of eight races slated to air on FOX Sports networks. FOX Sports’ coverage will bookend with coverage of the championship at Kansas on Friday, Oct., 16 at 8:30 p.m. ET airing live on FS2 and with a re-air later that night on FS1. MAVTV, will air 12 races including the inaugural Sioux Chief Showdown championship race on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Memphis International Raceway. A three-year partnership extension between the ARCA Menards Series and MAVTV was announced in October. The Sioux Chief Showdown is a 10-race super series that brings together the best drivers of the ARCA Menards Series as well as the ARCA Menards Series East and West. The television schedule for the ARCA Menards Series East and West will be announced at a later date. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (12-20-19)
  • Chandler Smith returning to Venturini for 13 races:  After contributing to the Owners Championship in 2019, Venturini Motorsports officials announced that Chandler Smith will once again pilot the No. 20 Toyota Camry in 2020. Smith will handle the driving duties in the 13-races he will be age eligible throughout the season and rejoin with crew chief and team owner Billy Venturini. "Chandler (Smith) is an incredibly talented young driver who we have enjoyed having as part of our program since he first came to the ARCA Series," commented Billy Venturini. "My main goal next season with Chandler, is to win the most races, most pole awards and win the Sioux Chief Showdown. After that, I think we set our sights on defending our Owners Championship from 2019 and build off what we have already started." At a mere 17-years old, Smith is only eligible, per the ARCA rulebook, to compete on tracks less than one-mile in length and road courses. This will allow the young Toyota Racing Development driver the opportunity to compete in 13-races next season, including all of the intermediate 1.5-mile style tracks following his 18th birthday on June 26th. The sole season goal for the Billy Venturini led team; to defend their 2019 Owners Championship and put the No. 20 Toyota Camry in victory lane every chance they can. While the 2020 season kicks off at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 8th, Smith’s first scheduled start will be at ISM Raceway on Friday, March 6th. An announcement regarding sponsorship and additional teammates to Smith in the No. 20 will be forthcoming. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (12-19-19)
  • Taylor Gray to compete for DGR-Crosley in East & Showdown: DGR-Crosley announced today that Taylor Gray will rejoin the team for the upcoming 2020 campaign. Gray will drive the No. 17 Ford Fusion in the newly formatted ARCA Menards Series. Due to age restrictions, Gray will miss the start of the season. After his 15th birthday (March 25th), Gray will compete full-time in both the Sioux Chief Showdown Series and the ARCA Menards Series East (ARCA East) in 2020. In addition to his busy schedule, Gray will also pick up select late model races throughout the season. The 14-year-old Denver, N.C., native will make the transition to the ARCA Menards Series after competing in several Cars Tour races as well as additional Late Model Stock races for DGR-Crosley in 2019. In his first season with DGR-Crosley, Gray was able to capture five wins, including the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway. "I’m really excited for the opportunity to compete again with DGR Crosley in 2020," says Gray. "We had a lot of success together this year in the late model stocks and were able to pick up several wins. It’s going to be a challenge competing in multiple series next year, but I’m confident that with our new relationship with Ford Performance we will be a force to be reckoned with." (In part from DGR-Crosley PR) (12-18-19)
  • Drew Dollar and Venturini Motorsports team for 2020 season: Venturini Motorsports officials announced today that Drew Dollar has joined the storied organization to compete full-time in the ARCA Menards Series. Dollar will be joined by veteran crew chief Shannon Rursch and the No. 15 team in their 2020 championship bid. "With the addition of Drew Dollar to our driver development program in the ARCA Menards Series, the 2020 season looks to be picking up right where last season left off," said Venturini Motorsports’ owner Billy Venturini. "Drew is an incredibly talented young racer and I believe pairing him with Shannon (Rursch) and our No. 15 Toyota Camry team will create a true force to be reckoned with each and every week." Shannon Rursch a veteran crew chief in the ARCA and numerous NASCAR Series has been tabbed to call the shots atop the pit box. Rursch previously served as Michael Self’s crew chief during the 2019 season, earning four wins, four poles, 14 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes en route to a second-place championship run. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (12-18-19)
  • Hailie Deegan joins DGR-Crosley’s Driver Development Program: DGR-Crosley announced today that Ford Performance development driver Hailie Deegan will join the team for the 2020 season. Deegan will run the full 20 race ARCA Menards Series schedule in the seat of the No. 4 Ford Fusion. Deegan has two full-time seasons under her belt in the ARCA Menards Series West while also competing part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East. With three wins, 13 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes, Deegan has proven herself to be a rising star in the NASCAR ranks. In 2018 she became the first female driver in series history to win a race after a last-lap pass on her teammate at Meridian Speedway. While the young Ford Performance development driver will be running for Rookie of the Year honors in 2020, she does have six prior starts in the ARCA Menards Series. "I could not be more excited to join Ford Performance and DGR-Crosley next season," said Deegan. "Growing up watching my dad race a Ford, and now to be able to do the same thing is very cool. It's important to me to be teamed up with a hardworking group such as DGR-Crosley with like-minded visions and goals. We are all committed to working as hard as it takes to finish on top. I look forward to the upcoming season and learning as much as possible to get me closer to accomplishing my goals of winning races." (In part from DGR-Crosley PR) (12-17-19)
  • Mason Diaz joins Venturini Motorsports for East championship run: Officials from Venturini Motorsports formally announced today the signing of 19-year old Mason Diaz to become a part of their Driver Development Program. Diaz will compete full-time in the newly named ARCA Menards Series East throughout the 2020 race season. "I cannot begin to explain how truly honored and grateful I am for this once in a lifetime opportunity with Venturini Motorsports," commented Diaz. "Venturini (Motorsports) has become the leader in today’s driver development programs and to be asked to join their storied program and begin working with Toyota through TRD (Toyota Racing Development) is humbling. I want to thank everyone at Venturini Motorsports for helping this come together as well as my whole family and all of my fans for sticking by my side. I cannot wait to see what the 2020 season brings." Hailing from Manassas, VA, Diaz has become a household name throughout much of the Southeast. From an INEX Legends State championship title in 2015, to a track championship in Late Model Stock Cars (LMSC) in 2017 and numerous Rookie of the Year honors in between, he continues to earn high accolades across the region. He has also been called upon to run select NASCAR Xfinity (NXS) and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoor Truck Series (NGROTS) races along the way.  When he’s not winning races across the South, the Old Dominion University student is working his way to a bachelor’s degree in Business with a minor in Marketing. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for select races next season and a formal announcement regarding the team number and crew chief will be forthcoming. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (12-16-19)
  • Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway added to East schedule: A trio of high-profile short track racing events will be held at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2020. Track Enterprises and Promoter Bob Sargent will promote the three events, including the prestigious All American 400 Weekend. Track Enterprises has a well-established relationship with The Fairgrounds after promoting ARCA Menards Series events at the track the last five years. "We are excited for the chance to add to the rich history that The Fairgrounds track has built,” Sargent said.  “We've developed great relationships with many people in Nashville over our five years while hosting the ARCA race and we look forward to expanding that with additional events." The first races on the current 2020 schedule will be a huge doubleheader weekend of racing on Saturday and Sunday, May 2/3.  On tap Saturday night will be the ARCA Menards Series East and the Pro Late Models. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (12-16-19)
  • Sioux Chief sponsoring ARCA showdown: Sioux Chief Manufacturing, one of America’s leading rough plumbing components manufacturers, has signed on become the entitlement sponsor of the ARCA Menards Series Showdown in 2020. Sioux Chief has been the sponsor of ARCA’s former Short Track Challenge since the 2017 season and has agreed to increase its involvement to support one of the major initiatives of NASCAR’s acquisition of ARCA. The newly increased point fund, combined with race purses, owner plan, and contingency awards, will now offer racers a chance to compete for their share of over $920,000 in posted awards throughout the ten-race series. "The Sioux Chief Showdown will bring together the best teams from the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East and West to give racing fans a show they’ve never seen before and we are honored to be a part of it," said Sioux Chief Manufacturing Company president Joe N. Ismert. "We have seen a lot of great drivers and great races in the Short Track Challenge over the past three seasons and we’re excited to see what 2020 will bring." The Sioux Chief Showdown is a ten-race series within a series that will bring together the best of the best from the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West, formerly known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Those events, held on oval tracks 1.25-miles in length and under and road courses, offer drivers who may not be able or eligible to run the full 20-race ARCA Menards Series schedule the opportunity to run for a championship. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (12-16-19)
  • DGR-Crosley announces manufacturer change to Ford: DGR-Crosley announced a manufacturer change today as they join forces with the historic Ford Performance family, effective immediately. The David Gilliland led driver development program will field Ford entries across multiple racing series including late models, ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. The multi-year manufacturer agreement will help further develop Ford's pipeline of young talent to support their successful efforts in NASCAR's top series. "We're very excited to have DGR-Crosley come to Ford as part of our long-term efforts to develop drivers for NASCAR," said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. "We have just scratched the surface of what is possible in developing the next generation of Ford drivers with people like Chase Briscoe, and we believe a coordinated effort with a team like DGR-Crosley will help move that process forward successfully. David Gilliland was a trusted and valued Ford driver in NASCAR for many years, and we look forward to renewing that relationship with him in this new effort." The partnership will also provide DGR-Crosley and their drivers with assets that will help elevate their program to a championship caliber organization across multiple racing series. (In part from DGR-Crosley PR) (12-11-19)