archives

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

May 2021

  • Ty Gibbs wins the General Tire 150 at Charlotte: [Ty] Gibbs led all 100 laps of the General Tire 150 hours after he took the checkered flag in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at the 1.5-mile quad oval in Concord, North Carolina. Gibbs now has won four of the six races the ARCA Menards Series has contested in 2021. The Saturday sweep makes Gibbs the first driver two win both an ARCA Menards Series race and a NASCAR national series race since Sam Mayer did so with ARCA Menards and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series wins at Bristol Motor Speedway last season. “What a hell of a day right there,” said Gibbs. “I can’t thank everybody enough. I guess we gotta bring out the broom now; that’s two in one day. I’m tired. I might take this (car) back to my house and just take a nap.” Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (05-30-21)
  • Menards returning at Elko Speedway race sponsor: After a one-year hiatus, the full-bodied stock cars of the ARCA Menards Series will return to Elko Speedway on Saturday, July 10, for the Menards 250. Menards, the Eau Claire, Wisconsin-based home improvement warehouse chain that has served as the presenting sponsor and now the entitlement sponsor of the series for the past 13 years, is based just 90 minutes east of Elko, which is located just south of the Twin Cities in central Minnesota. "We are thrilled the ARCA Menards Series is returning to Elko Speedway," said Jeff Abbott, promotions manager for Menards. "We sponsored the race in 2019 and have had several of our vendor partners as sponsors in previous years. We love it because it’s the type of short track racing that has been the hallmark of the ARCA Menards Series since 1953. There’s someone trading paint just about every lap, and we’ve seen some of the most exciting finishes over the years, too. It’s a great place to see a great race, and we’re looking forward to seeing all of our upper Midwest racing fans back at the track again." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (05-27-21)
  • Andy Jankowiak to honor fallen soldiers at Charlotte: Andy Jankowiak and his AJ Racing team plan to honor members of the Western New York community who gave their lives while serving the United States when he makes his Charlotte Motor Speedway debut in the General Tire 150 for the ARCA Menards Series on Saturday. With the permission of the fallen soldiers’ families, all members of the team will carry service member names on their helmets. "First Sergeant Adam Brown, USMC (ret), is a crew member on our team, and he guided us on how to honor these men and women," said Jankowiak. Brown will serve as the team’s fuel carrier on pit road Saturday. "I want to thank Army specialist Craig Cassick for his help in organizing this tribute, as well," added Jankowiak. The team’s No. 73 car will feature a special Memorial Day paint scheme that was designed and created by Don Adamczyk and Justin Gumley. "This is a brand new car to our race team that we put together for this race, and it looks amazing," added Jankowiak. "I am just thrilled with the way everything turned out. We are all proud to have this opportunity to do this tribute. It was a team effort to put this all together, and we are all looking forward to Saturday night." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (05-26-21)
  • Ty Gibbs wins at Toledo Speedway: Ty Gibbs won Saturday night’s Herr’s Potato Chips 200 at Toledo Speedway to pick up his third ARCA Menards Series victory of the 2021 season. Gibbs led the first 131 laps at Toledo before his top rival in the 2021 championship race, Corey Heim, nudged him up the race track and out of the lead with 68 laps to go. Gibbs dropped back to third. The slip did not matter. The driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota charged back to Heim’s bumper and, on Lap 179, took back P1 for good. We had a really good night," said Gibbs. "Had issues there at the end, kind of getting moved. That’s just racing hard there. I can’t thank my guys enough for working on this thing so much and loving racing. These guys put in a lot of work. All the credit to them." With his win in the fifth race of the season, Gibbs sits second in the ARCA Menards Series standings, now 17 points behind Heim. Saturday’s race also was the first in the 2021 Sioux Chief Showdown, giving Gibbs the early edge in the standings for ARCA’s series within the series. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (05-23-21)
  • Toni Breidinger will NOT race at Toledo Speedway: Toni Breidinger, driver of the No. 02 Chevrolet for Young's Motorsports, will not race at Toledo Speedway as originally planned. Breidinger was to "run the first five ARCA events of the 2021 season with hopes of a full-season slate," but only competed in the first four events of the season. Team and driver PR represenatives have stated that Breidinger will return at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the General Tire 150 on Saturday, May 29th. (05-22-21)
  • 14 cars entered for Toledo Speedway: Fourteen cars are entered for Saturday's Herr’s Potato Chips 200 at Toledo Speedway. Notable entries include #11 Tony Cosentino, #15 Jesse Love, #25 Gracie Trotter, #30 Adam Lemke, and #40 A.J. Moyer. Drivers and teams NOT entered include #02 Toni Breidinger/Young's Motorsports, #17 David Gilliland Racing, #21 Jack Wood/GMS Racing, #23 Brett Holmes/Brett Holmes Raicng, and #28 Kyle Sieg/RSS Racing. Full Entry List (05-21-21)
  • Adam Lemke signs with Rette Jones Racing for select ARCA races: Officials from Rette Jones Racing [have] announced that former USAC Midget standout Adam Lemke has joined the team for select races in the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown beginning at Toledo Speedway on May 22. The Hollister, Calif. native joins the Mooresville, N.C.-based team on the heels of two years of CARS Late Model Stock competition where he earned a career-best third at Orange County Speedway in 2019. Most of Lemke’s racing efforts for 2020 were sidelined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he did compete in a few CARS Tour races, as well as competed for Hawk McCall Motorsports in the NASCAR Advanced Auto Parts Weekly Series. This year in addition to running the ARCA Menards Series Chief Showdown Series and select ARCA East and West event for RJR, he will continue a modest presence on the West Coast in Pro Late Model races with Naake-Klauer Motorsports. "I'm grateful for this opportunity to join Rette Jones Racing and compete in the ARCA Menards Series this season," said Lemke. "The team has already won this year, so it is a goal of mine to keep adding checkered flags to their year. I am going to be racing at tracks where I don’t have any experience, but I have confidence in Mark and the team and our ability to be successful right out of the box. I’m looking forward to Toledo and the rest of the races in 2021.” Co-team owner and crew chief Mark Rette is looking forward to working with Lemke and putting results on the table. "Rette Jones Racing is thrilled to welcome Adam to the team," offered Rette. "He is focused on making his transition to ARCA a successful and we are honored that he has entrusted Rette Jones Racing to lead his career. Toledo has been a good track to Rette Jones Racing over the year and we look forward to continuing that same path in a few weeks – as well as the rest of the 2021 season." (In part from Rette Jones Racing PR) (05-14-21)
  • Parker Chase joins Venturini Motorsports for partial schedule: Venturini Motorsports announced today the signing of 20-year American sports car driver, Parker Chase, to a five-race schedule in the ARCA Menards Series. Chase, the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge Champion, will take the next step in his career by further developing his craft on a mix of diverse speedway and short track ovals beginning with the ARCA General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 29. Set to drive the No. 25 NXTLVL Marine Toyota Camry, the New Braunfels, Texas native will also compete in ARCA’s top division at Winchester Speedway (7/31), Bristol Motor Speedway (9/16), and Kansas Speedway (10/23) before finishing his schedule driving in the ARCA Menards Series West finale at Phoenix Raceway (11/6). "I’m excited for the challenge and ready to take this next step with Toyota Racing and Venturini Motorsports,” says Chase. “Although I’ve been racing since the age of 13, everything I know revolves around road course racing. Joining VMS gives me a great opportunity to gain experience and learn the differences of driving a stock car." (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (05-04-21)
  • Derrick Lancaster transported to Alabama burn unit with injuries UPDATES: Derrick Lancaster, who was involved in a late race accident at Talladega, was transported to an Alabama burn unit with injuries. Lancaster's wife, Beth, posted the following update on her Facebook page:
    BETH LANCASTER: "I'll try to keep everyone updated. Right now he is on a ventilator until they access the lung damage. He will be on it for at least 48 hours. 2nd and 3rd degree burns to both arms, neck and face. Nothing internal as far as breaks or bleeding. They will debread his arms and take him to trauma unit where I'll be able to lay eyes on him and touch him. He will not know I'm there but that's ok. Please continue to pray." (In part from Facebook) (04-24-21)
    APRIL 25th: "A little update: critical but stable. No burns to the trachea or lungs praise God!! He will be on the vent for 48 to 72 hours to allow the lungs to recover from the extreme heat and so they can suction the soot out. Labs are looking better every hour. My family wants to thank you all for your prayers and support during this difficult time. We all stick together like glue so being 8 hours away is really hard on all of us. Please lift Derrick's parents up in prayer as well. They are having a very hard time not being able to be with him. Thank you all again and keep those prayers coming. Much Love, Beth." (In part from Facebook) (04-25-21)
    APRIL 25th - UPDATE 2: "Update April 25th 11:20 my time 12:20 back home. Still critical but stable. A little difference from last update, there are in fact a couple slight burns in the throat but the plan is still the same. Ventilator 48 hours with slow weaning starting tomorrow. Burns remain the same. So far no graphs appear to be warranted at this time. The nurse lowered his sedation medication to see if he could follow simple commands and he did! Opened his eyes, squeezed her hand both sides and wiggled all toes! Thanks be to God! We're all feeling the prayers being sent to our family. We ask that you keep them coming! They are working! Also, the information on my post, my Facebook page is the word so to speak. Rumors aren't necessary. Please be respectful of our family. In true Lancaster fashion, we WILL get thru this just like we do everything else that's been thrown our way" (In part from Facebook) (04-25-21)
    APRIL 26th: "I want to thank everyone again for their prayers and support. Derrick remains hospitalized in critical, but stable condition, and he is still on a ventilator. The doctors say he will likely remain on the ventilator for another 2-4 days, but they will begin weaning him from it when the time is right. I will share another update tomorrow, and continue to lean on your prayers and support." (In part from Facebook) (04-26-21)
    APRIL 27th: "Again, I’m so appreciative of the prayers, love and support that keep pouring in for Derrick and I. He’s still in critical, but stable condition, but doctors are decreasing the sedation as they wean him off the ventilator and he’s opening his eyes. He knows I’m here. I’ll share another update tomorrow, and keep you posted on his progress. Thank you again." (In part from Facebook) (04-27-21)
    APRIL 28th: "Sorry this is a little later than usual, it's been a eventful afternoon. Derrick is off the ventilator!! He's alert and knows he's in a hospital in Alabama. God is so good!! I ask you to continue your prayers as we still have a long journey ahead but that light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter. We love you all" (In part from Facebook) (04-28-21)
    APRIL 30th: "Progress! Your prayers are helping. Derrick is in stable condition as he continues his recovery in the hospital. He started hydrotherapy for his burns on Thursday and his pain is well controlled as he’s working through physical and occupational therapy. As always the prayers and support are very much appreciated. To say we are grateful is an understatement. I want to thank everybody in the ARCA Menards Series garage for placing those No. 29 decals on their cars for tomorrow’s race. You will see them on the broadcast tomorrow, which begins at 1:30 pm ET on FS1. Derrick and I will be watching!" (In part from Facebook) (04-30-21)
    MAY 2nd: "Derrick remains hospitalized in stable condition, but has spoken with family and friends back home. He'll undergo more physical, occupational and hydrotherapy in the next few days as we get closer to returning home. Thank you again for your generous prayers, love and support." (In part from Facebook) (05-02-21)
    MAY 4th: Beth Lancaster has posted that her husband, Derrick Lancaster, has been released from the hospital and is returning home to Virginia. (In part from Facebook.com) (05-04-21)
  • Thad Moffitt picks up primary sponsorship for Mid-Ohio: David Gilliland Racing announced today that Dirteeze will serve as the primary partner of Thad Moffitt’s No. 46 Ford Fusion for the Mid-Ohio 150 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, when the ARCA Menards Series tackles the 13-turn, 2.258-mile road course on June 4. “We are thrilled to partner with Thad and the lineage he represents of a solid and proven winning tradition,” Roy Scharrer, Dirteeze director, said. “Thad and David Gilliland Racing embody the same drive and winning principles of the Dirteeze brand and products: toughness and tenacity. Equally, we feel this opportunity serves as a great platform to leverage awareness of our brand to a broader consumer base. We look forward to evolving and sustaining this partnership with Thad as a representative of the Dirteeze brand.” (In part from David Gilliland Racing PR) (05-03-21)
  • Ty Gibbs dominates at Kansas Speedway; secures Dutch Boy 150 victory: Ty Gibbs entered Saturday’s Dutch Boy 150 at Kansas Speedway hoping to prove his 27th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway the week prior was an anomaly as it relates to his speed in 2021. He could not have done more to prove just that. Driving the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, the 18-year-old Gibbs started the fourth race of the ARCA Menards Series season on the General Tire Pole and led every lap of the race en route to his second victory of the year. Gibbs dedicated his win Saturday on the 1.5-mile oval in Kansas City, Kansas, to a childhood hero, the late Ayrton Senna, who won Formula 1 world championships in 1988, 1990 and 1991. Senna died at age 34 on May 1, 1994, eight years before Gibbs was born. “It’s (been) 27 years since we lost, I feel like, the best ever: Ayrton Senna,” said Gibbs after performing another epic victory burnout. “This was for him and all his fans. And I want to say, the man above, I really feel like I’ve changed my life in the last couple weeks. I’m really focused on what’s right, and not what’s wrong.” Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (05-01-21)