archives

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

March 2020

  • Racing postponed due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: ARCA Menards Series officials have announced that races have been postponed through May 3rd due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read ARCA's full statement below:
    STATEMENT:     "Our top priority is the health and safety of our fans, competitors and racing communities. In conjunction with NASCAR, all ARCA Menards Series race events – including the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West – are postponed through May 3. We will share future rescheduling information as it is determined." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-16-20)
  • Brad Smith unable to compete at Phoenix due to engine compatibility issues: Veteran driver Brad Smith was unable to race in the General Tire 150 at Phoenix due to engine compatibility issues after losing his only Ilmor 396 motor at Daytona. Smith took to Twitter to explain why the team withdrew from the event.
    Smith:     "We're very disappointed in having to miss @phoenixraceway. After losing the Ilmor in Daytona we had to revert to a used Legacy motor we had. Although swapping engines is routine in racing, changing from an Ilmor to a Legacy is not. They're architecturally different. Different fuel systems different oiling systems different ignition systems, and different wiring. Although we overcame all the obstacles as we encounterd them we simply ran out of time. It took more a analyzation in what needed to be changed in the underdash wiring & we simply ran out of time. Thanks to everyone for your help and support! See you at @Salem_Speedway!" (In part from Twitter.com) (03-09-20)
  • Chandler Smith wins the General Tire 150 at Phoenix: [Chandler Smith] used pit strategy to get his No. 20 JBL Toyota out front of the ARCA Menards Series field, and he held off Ty Gibbs and Michael Self in a two-lap sprint to the finish to win Friday night’s General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway. The race was also the first of 10 races in the Sioux Chief Showdown. On the last pit stop, Smith’s team elected to change just two tires, which allowed him to start at the front. The victory was Smith’s eighth in 21 ARCA Menards Series starts. He is running the full Sioux Chief Showdown schedule, as well as the ARCA Menards Series races at Kansas, Pocono and Springfield. Michael Self, the Daytona winner, overcame early electrical issues to nip Gibbs at the line by .022 seconds for second. Gibbs, who was fastest in practice and won the General Tire Pole Award, settled for a disappointing third-place finish. “I kicked their butts all day, the car was just so good,” said Gibbs, who led two times for a race-high 22 laps. “We drove away from them and at the end there, we just got jacked. I was happy with how we ran. It just sucks what happend at the end.” (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-09-20)
  • Thad Moffitt returns to DGR-Crolsey for Phoenix: Thad Moffitt is excited to head to Phoenix Raceway for Friday’s General Tire 150 after earning his best career ARCA Menards Series finish at Daytona International Speedway last month. Moffitt drove his No. 46 Richard Petty Performance Plus Motor Oil Ford Fusion to a fifth-place finish in his first start with DGR-Crosley and only his second start at Daytona. This race will be a new experience for Moffitt since he has never raced at Phoenix Raceway. To prepare, he has spent many hours watching film of past races, practicing on the simulator and talking to his teammates and co-owner, David Gilliland, about what to expect at the one-mile oval. Moffitt will also be sporting a new look at Phoenix after getting his long red locks cut off last week for a good cause. Moffitt donated his hair to “Children With Hair Loss” last Tuesday while at Victory Junction. Six-time Victory Junction camper Kaylin Allison had the honor of cutting off 10 inches of his curly red hair for the donation. (In part from DGR-Crosley PR) (03-05-20)
  • MRN To Broadcast Select ARCA races: Race fans will have even more ways to follow all the action from the ARCA Menards Series. MRN will broadcast 10 more races, including Friday’s General Tire 150 from Phoenix Raceway, from the 2020 schedule. The season kicked off with flag-to-flag coverage of the season-opening Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire from Daytona International Speedway in February, and will include four races that are part of the Sioux Chief Showdown. Fans will be able to listen on MRN.com, through the Race Center page on ARCARacing.com, and NASCAR.com. The MRN broadcasts will also air on SiriusXM on their play-by-play channel, 385, and online/app at 985. [Races include Phoenix, Talladega, Charlotte, Mid-Ohio, Michigan, Chicagoland, Pocono, Watkins Glen, Bristol, and Kansas]. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-05-20)
  • ARCA Daytona Season Opener Moves to February 13th in 2021: Daytona International Speedway has announced adjustments to the traditional 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season-opening race week – changing the course of the popular Busch Clash race and condensing the schedule of Daytona Speedweeks. Among the changes, the traditional ARCA Menards Series season opener will become a double-header with the NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener on Saturday, Feb. 13, with the “The Great American Race,” the Daytona 500, will take place Feb. 14, putting an exclamation point on the week of speed. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-05-20)