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

January 2021

  • Venturini Motorsports adds Jesse Love for partial schedule: Venturini Motorsports shored up an already stout 2021 driver roster by announcing today the signing of 2020 ARCA West Champion, 16-year old, Jesse Love, who makes the trek East from Menlo Park, California. The latest driver to emerge out of the respected Toyota Racing Development program, Love is scheduled to pilot the No. 25 Mobil 1 Camry for nine races in the ARCA Menards Series along with a single ARCA East event at Dover. Paired with one of the ARCA Menards Series’ all-time leading crew chiefs, Kevin Reed, Love will showcase his ability short track style beginning with Toledo (5/22), Elko (7/10), Berlin (7/17), Iowa (7/24), Springfield (8/22), Milwaukee (8/29), DuQuoin (9/5), Bristol (9/16) and Salem (10/2). "Stepping up a level and running more races in the ARCA Menards Series gives me a great chance to gain more experience and continue improving my skills," says Love. "I’ve been very fortunate at a young age to race with some great teams. Running the full west schedule and coming back over to Venturini Motorsports means a lot. I feel when you have great people behind you it shortens the learning curve and helps the progression of my development. I’m thankful to TRD and Mobil 1 for giving me this opportunity." (In part from VenturiniMotorsports.com) (01-29-21)
  • Ty Gibbs to run full ARCA Menards Series schedule: Joe Gibbs Racing driver Ty Gibbs will compete for the ARCA Menards Series championship in 2021. "We want to build on the success that our team had last season," said JGR ARCA Menards Series crew chief Mark McFarland. "Ty works extremely hard to prepare each week, and it’s exciting to have him behind the wheel for every race and the opportunity to go after our goal of winning that championship." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-26-21)
  • Tim Richmond and Alex Clubb form Richmond Clubb Motorsports: With the 2021 ARCA Menards season comes the formation of a new team, Richmond Clubb Motorsports (RCM). The new venture will combine resources to have a team that is competitive on the track and earn the respect of the other teams in the garage. Our patriarch Wayne Peterson will still be fielding his #06 car at select tracks. When not fielding his #06 car Wayne will be found standing on top of the pit box. Alex Clubb and Brad Frye will split time at the crew chief role. The partnership will be a great thing for all parties involved as the team plans to compete in all 20 races. RCM has acquired a great fleet of 6 race cars with 1 purpose built super speedway car, 1 road course car, 2 intermediate cars, 1 short track car, and 1 dirt car. Drivers Tim Richmond and Alex Clubb will split the 20 race schedule 13-8 with one race having two cars at the track for both drivers. With three Ilmor motors and two Yates engines to accompany the fleet of cars the team feels very confident on a successful 2021 racing season in the ARCA Menards series. (In part from Facebook) (01-23-21)
  • David Gilliland Racing announces partial schedules for Taylor Gray; Thad Moffitt: David Gilliland Racing has announced that Taylor Gray and Thad Moffitt will return to the team this season in the ARCA Menards Series.
    Taylor Gray: 15-year-old Taylor Gray will return to the seat of the No. 17 Ford Performance Fusion for 2021. He will compete full-time in both the ARCA East and Sioux Chief Showdown Series with Chad Johnston atop the pit box. The younger Gray captured his first career win in ARCA West action at Kern County Raceway Park last season.
    Thad Moffitt:     Thad Moffitt also returns to DGR and the No. 46 Ford Fusion for at least 11 ARCA Menards Series races after earning three top-five and eight top-10 finishes last season. Derek Smith will crew chief the No. 46 [entry]. Moffitt will debut at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Feb. 13. (In part from DavidGillilandRacing.com) (01-23-21)
  • Taylor Gray penalized after Daytona test: ARCA officials announced today that David Gilliland Racing driver Taylor Gray has been penalized for 2021 ARCA Rulebook violations based on non-compliant activities during the ARCA Menards Series test at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Jan. 15. Gray, his team manager and crew chief were required to meet with ARCA officials Saturday morning after he recorded video via cell phone while driving in Friday’s test session. The violations include Section 20C – 6.7, which references the restriction of onboard devices, including cell phones. Gray has been fined $1,000 and placed on probation for the remainder of the 2021 season. (ARCARacing.com) (01-19-21)
  • Derrick Lancaster fastest overall in Daytona testing: Derrick Lancaster on Friday evening said he was thankful to have hooked up with Ty Gibbs for a draft late in Day 1 of the ARCA Menards Series test at Daytona International Speedway. That duo set the standard for lap times around the 2.5-mile superspeedway, as the 47-year-old Lancaster’s time of 48.939 seconds and the 18-year-old Gibbs’ time of 48.985 seconds topped the speed charts after Day 1 of the two-day test at the World Center of Racing. Those ended up being the only two laps recorded under 49 seconds all weekend. Lancaster (No. 29 Derrick Lancaster Racing Chevrolet) and Gibbs (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) stood through Saturday’s session at the top of the overall speed charts. Corey Heim logged the best lap Saturday in his No. 20 Venturini Motorsports Toyota at 49.134 seconds, also in a draft. The rest of the top 10 fastest lap times for the weekend (Drew Dollar, Derek Griffith, Jack Wood, Dave Mader III, Taylor Gray, Thad Moffitt and Bret Holmes) also were recorded during Saturday’s session. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-17-21)
  • Bret Holmes Racing to run limited schedule in 2021; Sam Mayer joins team: Bret Holmes Racing announced today they will field a part-time entry in the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with drivers Bret Holmes and Sam Mayer. The Mooresville, N.C., -based team will continue to run the No. 23 Chevrolet SS in the ARCA Menards Series and is slated to run the No. 32 Chevrolet Silverado in the Truck Series. Shane Huffman will return as crew chief for both Holmes and Mayer this season. “I’m really looking forward to this season with Bret (Holmes) and Sam (Mayer),” said Huffman. “We worked hard and learned a lot last season. That all paid off when we brought home the ARCA Menards Series championship. We will take all that and capitalize on it this year. I am so proud of this team and how much we’ve all grown over the last two seasons. By moving up to compete in the Truck Series, it shows how strong this team is. I’m honored to be part of this group and ready to get the season started with two very talented drivers.” Holmes is scheduled to compete in multiple ARCA Menards Series events this season, beginning with the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway in February. [Sam Mayer] is slated to compete in six ARCA Menards Series events this season, beginning with Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in June. At a later date, Sam’s full schedule will be available. (In part from Bret Holmes Racing PR) (01-14-21)
  • Young's Motorsports joins ARCA for partial season: Young’s Motorsports announced today that they have expanded their organization to now include the ARCA Menards Series. Acquiring equipment during the offseason will allow the Mooresville, N.C.-based team to offer an additional layer of development to their existing NASCAR Camping World Truck Series platform. Young’s Motorsports will make its debut in ARCA Menards Series competition by participating in this weekend’s series’ open-test session at Daytona International Speedway. “This is an exciting new chapter that we’re proud of,” said Young’s Motorsports principal Tyler Young. “As we continue to crave new ways of offering more seat time to our drivers, the addition of an ARCA fleet to our Young’s Motorsports stable allows us to enter a new territory and grow with the number one goal of winning.” As part of their growth, Young’s Motorsports plans to run a limited ARCA schedule in 2021 with a priority on the ARCA Menards Series national division with a focus on the larger track venues. While the team has an open slot for the Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire race on Feb. 13, 2021, Young’s Motorsports will take the green flag in ARCA competition this weekend with two drivers. Kris Wright who will contend for Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series aboard the flagship No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado will pilot the No. 02 Chevrolet SS on Friday and Saturday. Joining the 26-year-old Wright is Toni Breidinger who returns to the ARCA Menards Series scene for the first time since 2018. “I’m excited to be heading to Daytona to join Young’s Motorsports this week to test for ARCA,” said Breidinger. “Driving at Daytona has always been a dream of mine and I can’t thank Tyler (Young) and the entire Young’s Motorsports team for the opportunity.” (In part from Young's Motorsports PR) (01-14-21)
  • AM Racing absorbes Win-Tron Racing; Howie DiSavino III racing at Daytona: Howie DiSavino III is kicking off the 2021 season by taking his next major leap in his motorsports career by tackling the high banks of Daytona International Speedway for this weekend’s annual pre-season test. DiSavino III has been steadily ramping up his resume and aggressively moving through the ladder of different tracks and scenery – but preparing for his superspeedway debut next month at the “World Center of Racing” is the opportunity of a lifetime. “This is an awesome way to start 2021,” said DiSavino who will pilot the No. 32 Chevrolet. To kick off the 2021 ARCA season, DiSavino continues his relationship with Win-Tron Racing and crew chief Jamie Jones, but during the offseason – Win-Tron Racing was absorbed under the AM Racing banner, which offers the opportunity for both organizations to expand their horizons. Still housed at their Statesville, N.C. facility, AM Racing also fields a full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team – a path that DiSavino would eventually like to follow. Preparing to make his sixth career ARCA Menards Series start next month in the season-opening Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire, DiSavino knows he’ll have the equipment to contend for the victory. (In part from AM Racing PR) (01-14-21)
  • Derek Griffith joins Venturini Motorsports for Daytona & Kansas: Derek Griffith will be back behind the wheel this season in ARCA’s premier touring series for two races under the [Venturini Motorsports] banner. Griffith, a top-10 finisher at the Snowball Derby in December, will showcase his No. 55 SpotOn Toyota Camry during the series’ season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 13, and again at Kansas Speedway in May. Both races will be televised live on FS1. "Never give up," responded Griffith when asked about his offseason deal allowing his return to the track. "This is awesome. I’ve worked really hard during the offseason to make this moment happen. I can’t thank everyone at SpotOn enough for giving me this incredible opportunity. I’m excited to represent their brand and continue to build our relationship." (In part from VenturiniMotorsports.com) (01-14-21)
  • Niece Motorsports testing at Daytona; no plans to race: Niece Motorsports, which fields multiple full-time entries in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, will take part in the ARCA Daytona open test on Friday, January 15th and Saturday, January 16th. However, the team has no plans to compete in the season opening Lucas Oil 200 on February 13th. Niece Motorsports is participating in the open test to gain approval for Carson Hocevar to race in the NASCAR Truck event on February 12th. (01-13-21)
  • Gracie Trotter joins Venturini Motorsports for 10 ARCA races: Gracie Trotter has signed with Venturini Motorsports to a 10 race ARCA schedule for the upcoming 2021 season. Trotter, 19, became the first female driver in history to win an ARCA sanctioned event after capturing the checkered flag in 2020 during the ARCA West race at The Bullring at Las Vegas. With her sights set on the future, Trotter is scheduled to make ten starts splitting time behind the wheel of VMS’ No. 15 Toyota Camry and iconic No. 25 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry in the ARCA Menards Series, starting with the series’ season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 13. After making her superspeedway debut at the beach, the Denver, NC driver will compete at Phoenix (3/12), Talladega (4/24), Toledo (5/22), Elko (7/10), Berlin (7/17), Michigan (8/20), Milwaukee (8/29) and Salem (10/2). Trotter and VMS will close out the season running the ARCA West event at Phoenix on November 6. “I couldn’t be more excited. I’m so thankful to everyone at Toyota Racing Development, Mobil 1 and VMS for giving me this surreal opportunity to continue living out my dreams,” says the former NASCAR diversity driver. “Toyota has been incredibly important to my development over the last four years. They’ve guided me so much, helping me move up at the right pace with the right people.” (In part from VenturiniMotorsports.com) (01-13-21) 
  • Lira Motorsports testing at Daytona with equipment and personnel from Josh Williams Motorsports: Lira Motorsports will return to the ARCA Menards Series for this weekend's Daytona open test. The team, which last raced in ARCA competition several years ago, will use equipment and personnel from Josh Williams Motorsports. Drivers Juan Manuel Gonzalez and Andrik Dimayuga will take laps in the No. 60 Ford. Logan Misuraca appeared on the original Daytona entry list, but it is rumored that her alkaline CBD water sponsorship was not approved by NASCAR.
    Juan Manuel Gonzalez:     Juan Manuel Gonzalez has competed full time in NASCAR Mexico's FedEx Challenge since 2017, where he earned the championship in 2019. Gonzalez also raced in ten NASCAR K&N Pro Series East events in 2018 with NextGen Motorsports. The Mexico City driver made one start in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing at Iowa in 2019, where he finished 30th.
    Andrik Dimayuga:     Andrik Dimayuga raced part-time in the NASCAR Mexico's FedEx Challenge series in 2020, along with various Mexico Truck events. Dimayuga scored one podium finish in NASCAR FedEx Challenge competition at Autódromo Miguel E. Abed in Puebla, Mexico last month. (01-12-21)
  • Drew Dollar returns to Venturini for limited schedule: Coming off a successful 2020 season in the ARCA Menards Series, highlighted with his first career victory at Talladega Superspeedway and finishing fourth in the series’ championship driver point standings, Drew Dollar, returns to Venturini Motorsports to pilot the No. 15 Toyota Camry for a limited 13-race schedule. Dollar will begin his season assault in the ARCA Menards Series’ season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 13. Afterwards, he will compete in ARCA scheduled events at Phoenix (3/12), Talladega (4/24), Kansas (5/1), Charlotte (5/29), Mid-Ohio (6-4), Pocono (6/25), Watkins-Glen (8/6), Michigan (8/20), Bristol (9/16) and the season finale at Kansas (10/23). In addition to running 11 races in ARCA’s premier series, Dollar and VMS will combine in the ARCA East Series at Dover (5/14) and the ARCA West Series race at Phoenix (11/6). "Returning to the ARCA Series with Venturini Motorsports is such a huge opportunity for me at this stage in my career," says Dollar. "Last season was my second-year running stock cars and the experience I gained was exactly what I needed to progress - I’m excited for another opportunity to continue and contribute to the overall success of such a great team." (In part from VenturiniMotorsports.com) (01-12-21)
  • Venturini Motorsports signs Corey Heim for full season: Venturini Motorsports announces today the signing of Toyota Racing Development driver, Corey Heim, to a full-time schedule behind the wheel of the No. 20 JBL Toyota Camry for the upcoming 2021 ARCA Menard Series season. Hailing from the driver rich state of Georgia, Heim made his ARCA debut in 2019 as a sixteen year-old running short track events. Showing speed early in his career, the talented driver joined VMS last season and further put his name on the map after capturing his first career series win in the 2020 season finale at Kansas Speedway. “It’s been a long time coming, but I’m excited to get my shot running for championship in the ARCA series,” says Heim. “It’s a great honor to race under the Venturini Motorsports banner with the confidence of Toyota behind me. I’ve got high expectations.” VMS crew chief, Shannon Rursch, will call the shots atop the pit box for Heim in 2021. The two will officially begin their journey together starting this weekend (January 15-16) when the ARCA Menards Series kicks-off the season with open testing at Daytona International Speedway. (In part from VenturiniMotorsports.com) (01-11-21)
  • Mullins Racing confirms Daytona ARCA test driver roster: When Mullins Racing heads to Daytona International Speedway for the annual pre-season ARCA Menards Series test on Jan. 15-16, Virginia’s Dominion Raceway will be well represented. Joining team owner and driver Willie Mullins to take part in the test will be a pair of Dominion Raceway mainstays - Robert Bruce and Davey Callihan. NASCAR-sanctioned Dominion Raceway is Mullins’ local track and he be found there on most race weekends helping local drivers like Bruce and Callihan as they battle for supremacy at the four-tenths-mile asphalt oval located in Woodford, Va. "We are super excited to have local Dominion Raceway talent in our car at the Daytona test,” said Mullins. "My wife Dinah and I are heavily involved with Dominion, so we can't think of a better way to represent our local track than have all three of us testing at Daytona. "Robert Bruce has tested with us before and has run two short track races with us. It’s also great to add Davey Callihan to our roster," Mullins went on to say. "He deserves a shot running in good equipment. He has wins in a modified, the Virginia Racer class and in a late model stock car. He is the total package." (In part from Mullins Racing PR) (01-11-21)
  • Chad Bryant joins GMS Racing as crew chief: Chad Bryant joins GMS as crew chief for the No. 21 ARCA entry piloted by Jack Wood. Bryant has been a fixture in the ARCA Series for the last eight years and has two wins in 41 starts as crew chief in that time. “We are excited to have our crew chiefs return for the 2021 season with the addition of crew chief, Jeff Hensley,” said Mike Beam, President of GMS Racing. “Hensley returning to GMS will bring more veteran knowledge to our powerhouse crew chief line up. Chad Norris fulfilling the Competition Director role will be a great addition to our management team. Norris will work along-side Technical Director, Tom Ackerman, to elevate our truck program and to make it more competitive. We are also happy to welcome Chad Bryant to our ARCA program. Bryant brings a wealth of knowledge and also has a passion to develop young talent that will make our Drivers Edge Program thrive. I have great faith in each one of these individuals and I can’t wait to see what the 2021 season has in store.” (In part from GMSRacing.net) (01-10-21)
  • Brad Smith planning on returning for full season: Veteran owner/driver Brad Smith plans on returning to the ARCA Menards Series full time this season. Smith finished sixth in driver points last year and scored a career high finish at Winchester Speedway in September. Although Smith is planning to compete full time, the team needs sponsorship. Interested parties can reach out to Smith Brothers Racing through contact information on the team's website for sponsorship rates. (01-09-21)
  • Mariah Boudrieau searching for sponsorship; testing for Fast Track: [19 year-old] Colorado race car driver Mariah Boudrieau applied for an ARCA Menards Series license for the 2021 season, and was approved to run tracks one-mile and under as well as the road courses on the ARCA Menards Series calendar in 2021. "While I am only approved to run the short tracks so far, I have a test in January at Daytona that will determine if I can upgrade my license to run the other tracks on the schedule" Boudrieau explained. “I obviously couldn’t do any of this without the support of everybody important in my life. The support of Duane Schram, the Simmons family, my fiancé Ethan Gillett, and finally my parents has been something I could only dream of. They have always pushed me to be my best, and I am proud to have all their support. I also have some great sponsors such as Car Worx Warehouse that backed me this season and I’m looking to continue to build a relationship with them next season.” As the 2021 ARCA Menards season approaches, Mariah is still searching for sponsors who want to join her on this journey. (In part from MDR Sports Management PR) (01-09-21)
  • Derrick Lancaster to run partial ARCA schedule after recovering from injuries: Virginia's Derrick Lancaster will return to ARCA Menards Series competition at Daytona in February after recovering from serious injuries that he sustained at Kingsport Speedway last summer. Lancaster, who was racing in a late model event at the Tennessee track in August, suffered a hairline fracture at the base of his skull after an almost direct impact with the track's concrete wall. This injury, also called a "hangman’s fracture," is similar to the injury that Dale Earnhardt succumbed to in February 2001. Lancaster, who almost stopped racing, has healed and plans on racing at Daytona and Talladega this season. The 47 year-old also hopes to enter Charlotte and may compete at Pocono, Michigan, and Kansas as well. While Lancaster will test three cars next weekend at Daytona, he only plans on fielding one in February. Lancaster is considering entering more cars if funded drivers can be found. (01-08-21)
  • Nick Sanchez to run full ARCA schedule for Rev Racing: 19 year-old Nick Sanchez, who competed in the ARCA Menards East Series last year, will run the full ARCA Menards Series national schedule this season for Rev Racing. Sanchez will also have a teammate in the three national/Showdown races, as Rev Racing will field a car full time in the ARCA East Series for a driver that will be announced at a later date. Rev Racing, owned by Max Siegel, was founded in 2010 and primarily fields entries for drivers in the Drive for Diversity program. (01-08-21)
  • Charles Lacarre to test with Fast Track Racing at Daytona: Charles Lacarre is a 21-year-old racecar driver based out of Nimes, France. Lacarre has been racing for over half of his life as he stepped behind the wheel of a car for the first time when he was just ten-years-old. Lacarre was “bit by the racing bug” at eight when he was watching television and witnessed the “big one” at the 2008 NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, which saw over ten cars involved in a mid-race pile-up. Lacarre regrets that he used to cheer for accidents during races, but he eventually grew out of that practice and has become a lifelong racing fan that is trying his hardest to break into NASCAR. As 2021 slowly approaches, Lacarre is preparing for the opportunity of a lifetime as he gets to take part in the ARCA Menards Series annual preseason tests at Daytona International Speedway. Lacarre will test for longtime ARCA team owner Andy Hillenburg. Prior to the test, Lacarre has already been approved to race at tracks under a mile and has several opportunities to race if funding is found. If Lacarre performs well in the test, it will upgrade his ARCA license to include both Daytona and Talladega. As the 2021 ARCA Menards season approaches, Lacarre is still searching for sponsors who want to join him on his journey. If you have any interest in sponsoring one of the few French race car drivers with an outstanding personality, then Charles Lacarre is the guy for you. Lacarre will arrive from France and live in Spartanburg, S.C beginning the first week of January and leave approximately a month later. (In part from MDR Sports Management PR) (01-08-21)
  • Empire Racing Group signs Rich Bickle for Daytona: NASCAR veteran Rich Bickle has signed an agreement with Empire Racing Group, LLC to run the upcoming ARCA race at Daytona International Speedway on February 13. Bickle will pilot the No. 45 Chevrolet with Mike “Grumpy” Cheek as the crew chief. He will be a teammate to Sean Corr, who will drive the team’s No. 8 Chevrolet. A native of Edgerton, WI, Bickle is a three-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race winner with a combined 186 NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series starts. His last NASCAR event was an NCWTS race at Nashville Superspeedway in 2005. Bickle also has 12 ARCA starts with five top-5’s and two poles to his credit. "This is pretty cool to be able to put this deal together with Mike Cheek and race with him again," Bickle said. "We worked together at Richard Petty Motorsports and we’re looking to repeat that success. I made a deal with myself that when I turn 60, which is in May this year, I would stop racing that year. It will be my 45th year driving and No. 45 has been my car number for years. I’m starting this final year racing snowmobiles at Eagle River, WI this weekend, and I’m ending it at the Snowball Derby." In regards to marketing partnerships for the race, serious inquiries are being accepted on all levels to be part of this event. (In part from EmpireRacingGroup.com) (01-07-21)
  • David Gilliland partners with Johnny Gray; forms David Gilliland Racing: It was announced today that veteran NASCAR driver David Gilliland has formed a new partnership with businessman Johnny Gray to form David Gilliland Racing (DGR). The team will remain based in Mooresville, N.C., competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series and the CARS Late Model Stock Tour with factory support from Ford Performance. Former co-owner and CEO of Crosley Brands, Bo LeMastus, will remain with DGR in a marketing and sponsorship capacity. Although Gray made his career in the business world, he is a lifelong racer who has driven competitively in various arenas, including go-karts, late models and dirt sprint cars, NHRA's Lucas Oil sportsman series, and as a professional Pro Stock and Funny Car driver in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The successful businessman from Artesia, N.M., joined the professional driving ranks in 1993 and garnered his first win in 2011 in Brainerd, Minn. “I have been a part of DGR for the past two years with my grandsons, Tanner and Taylor Gray, and I’m impressed with the growth and progress the team has made in such a short amount of time,” said Johnny Gray. “Being able to invest in a growing organization is a great opportunity and I’m looking forward to being a part of helping the drivers reach their full potential." (In part from David Gilliland Racing PR) (01-05-21)
  • Kyle Sieg to run partial ARCA schedule: RSS Racing is pleased to announce its expansion into the ARCA Menards Series in 2021. Kyle Sieg, younger brother of Ryan, will drive the team’s entry in a limited schedule beginning with the opening race at Daytona International Speedway. Kyle Sieg made multiple starts last year in the ARCA series including a top 10 finish in his first career start at Lucas Oil Raceway. The team will compete in the open test at Daytona Speedway to prepare for the race in February. The exact schedule of races and sponsorship will be announced in the coming weeks. (RSS Racing PR) (01-05-21)