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

January 2022

  • Jamie Little and Phil Parsons to lead ARCA FOX broadcast team: After making history in 2021 as the first female broadcaster to serve as lap-by-lap announcer for a national motorsports series, Jamie Little will return to the booth for ARCA Menards Series telecasts on FS1 in 2022. Little, who also works pit road for FOX Sports’ coverage of NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series broadcasts, will be joined by former Cup Series winner and long-time ARCA broadcaster Phil Parsons in the booth with Kate Osborne returning to pit road. Osborne will be joined on pit road at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 19 by newcomer Josh Sims, who will make his debut in the season-opener. “I am thrilled to be back in the FOX Sports booth for the ARCA Menards Series,” Little said. “Last year was a dream come true, calling races from the booth. I can’t wait to sit alongside Phil Parsons again and bring the action of the ARCA Menards Series to the fans at home. It’s the home of the future NASCAR superstars — truly where champions are built.” (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-28-22)
  • Josh White adds sponsorship from Raysir Apparel: Josh White is happy to announce a partnership for 2022 with Raysir Apparel, who will sponsor his No. 03 Clubb Racing Inc. Toyota for three races in the upcoming ARCA Menards Racing season. Raysir Apparel is an industry-leading supplier of custom-made motorsports racewear including karting, teamwear, sim racing and fashion race apparel. Along with sponsoring White’s three-race deal, they will also be suppling him with the race suit he will race with in 2022 along with his custom gloves and race shoes. “I’m really happy to welcome Raysir to my program for 2022,” White said. “I’m very excited for what we have in store this year, I think we have the kind of relationship that can last for many, many years. [Raysir CEO] Judd Danielson is an awesome guy, we get along great and share a lot of the same ideas. I’m very excited to help him and his company grow in NASCAR.” (In part from Josh White Racing PR) (01-28-22)
  • Brayton Laster joins Mullins Racing for Daytona: When Brayton Laster followed Dinah Mullins on TikTok, he had no idea it would eventually lead to the opportunity of a lifetime. Laster, a 19-year-old racer from Greenwood, Ind., will join Mullins Racing to compete in the ARCA Menards Series Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire on Feb. 19 at Daytona International Speedway. “I’m a small town dirt track guy. We’re not supposed to make it to Daytona,” said a very excited Laster. “The Mullins Racing team is an awesome group of people. I’m so thankful to be able to work with them and actually be able to race for them at Daytona. It’s so cool to work for a team that I share a lot of my values and ideals with.” The Liberty University freshman, who is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree in business, joins Mullins Racing after spending the last four seasons racing primarily on dirt. “I didn’t really know them before we put this whole deal together,” Laster said. “I knew Dinah from TikTok. That’s how I knew they were looking for some drivers for the practice. So I reached out to them and that’s how we ended up going to the practice." Laster’s No. 03 Mullins Racing Ford will carry sponsorship from a number of supporters, including IndyAutoRecyclers.com, EDCO, One Way Auto Parts, Image 13 Photography, C.J. Rayburn Race Cars, USA Insulation and Jimmy’s Diner. (In part from Mullins Racing PR) (01-27-22)
  • ARCA announces 2022 Sioux Chief Showdown schedule: The 10 dates for the 2022 ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown have been announced, starting with the March 11 event at Phoenix Raceway and culminating with the finale at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 15. The Sioux Chief Showdown is a series within the overall ARCA Menards Series that allows drivers as young as 15 to compete for a championship. The ten races are held on paved ovals one mile in length or shorter, road courses and, in 2022, a dirt track. [Races include Phoenix, Iowa, Berlin, Elko, Mid Ohio, Lucas Oil, Watkins Glen, Milwaukee, DuQuoin, and Bristol.] (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-25-22)
  • Sprecher becomes official craft soda of ARCA: Sprecher Brewing Co. and the Automobile Racing Club of America announced today that Sprecher will become the official craft soda of the ARCA Menards Series in 2022. “Sprecher is proud to increase our partnership with ARCA and Menards for 2022,” said Sharad Chadha, CEO of Sprecher. “Sprecher is Milwaukee’s original craft brewery and the birthplace of Sprecher’s award-winning root beer and craft sodas. We enjoyed our first foray into the ARCA Menards Series last year when racing returned to the Milwaukee Mile, and we’re excited to see what 2022 has in store.” The official partnership status will see Sprecher craft soda enhance their presence at all ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West Races in 2022, beginning with the season-opening race for the ARCA platform at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway on Feb. 16, just days before the ARCA Menards Series takes to the World Center of Racing in the Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 19. In addition to the official craft soda designation, Sprecher will support all ARCA Menards Series platform television broadcasts, including FS1 and MAVTV, as well as become the sponsor of the Sprecher Lap Leader Award, which will go to the driver who leads the most laps in each race across the ARCA Menards Series platform throughout the season, and an overall season-long award for the driver who leads the most laps in each series throughout the year. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (01-21-22)
  • Greg Van Alst fastest overall in Daytona testing: #35 Greg Van Alst was fastest overall in the two day test session at Daytona International Speedway. #44 John Ferrier, #43 Daniel Dye, #3 Willie Mullins, and #25 Toni Breidinger completed the top-five. Full Results (01-15-22)
  • Toni Breidinger to race full time with Venturini Motorsports: Toyota Racing Development, Venturini Motorsports announced today the selection of 22-year-old female athlete, Toni Breidinger, as their full-time driver for the team’s No. 25 Toyota Camry for the upcoming 2022 The NASCAR ARCA Menards Series season. “This is a proud moment not only for me but also my family. I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to run my first full season in NASCAR’s ARCA with Venturini Motorsports and Toyota,” said the first Arab American female driver to compete in NASCAR, and will be the first to compete in a full season. “I’ve worked a lifetime to get to this point in my career. It’s taken a lot of hard work and support from countless people.  Racing is a business. It takes more than just desire. I truly cannot thank my supporters and business partners enough for believing and providing the support to get me to this stage. There’s still a lot of work ahead but I’m ready to get this season started at Daytona.” Ready to embark on her highly anticipated 2022 racing campaign next month on racing’s brightest stage, Daytona International Speedway, Breidinger carries support from Hairclub and Pit Viper Sunglasses. (In part from Roman Empire PR) (01-13-22)
  • Tom Hessert returning part-time with Venturini: Tom Hessert will make his long-anticipated return to the seat with Venturini Motorsports for three short track events in 2022. Earning the reputation as a tenacious short track competitor, Hessert returns with a tailor made schedule at Berlin Raceway, Elko Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway. A mainstay fixture and respected personality on tour with the ARCA Menards Series from 2007 to 2018, Hessert has compiled 186 career series starts. Finishing a career best, runner-up, in ARCA’s 2016 National Championship points standings, the second-generation driver from Cherry Hill, NJ has turned nearly 25,000 laps and accomplished 6 series wins, 55 top-5 finishes and 111 top-10 finishes. With a lifetime of racing seemingly in his rear-view mirror, Hessert left the track in 2018 to resume his day-to-day life raising his four young children with his wife while running day-to-day operations for his family’s north Philadelphia auto dealership. “So yeah, It’s been a minute since I was in the seat,” said Hessert laughingly when asked about coming back to the track after four years. “Our last full season was 2016 and after that we ran a couple of partial seasons. Since then, my focus has been on being a dad and growing my family with my amazing wife Meghan. This whole idea kinda just came together back in September when I was talking with Billy (Venturini) about Lucas Oil being back on the ARCA schedule and how I’d love to go back one more time. Indianapolis is one of my favorite places. And after we made the decision to run, we started looking further up the schedule and found a few more races we thought would help knock off the rust,” added Hessert. “I definitely miss the racing and being competitive, but getting back to the track and seeing everyone in the garage is going to be special. As far as the racing, there are some unknowns after being away for so long, I just know were gonna make the most of it and have some fun.” (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (01-12-22)
  • Venturini Motorsports signs Parker Chase for ten (10) races: Venturini Motorsports announced today the resigning of 20-year American sports car driver, Parker Chase, to a ten-race deal for the upcoming ARCA race season. Chase, the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge Champion, will continue his stock car development after a successful debut with Toyota Racing Development’s VMS in the ARCA Menards Series in 2021. Coming out of the Lone Star state, Chase will pilot the No. 15 Toyota Camry for nine events in the series’ premier division; the ARCA Menards Series along with a sole effort in the ARCA West Series. Beginning with the ARCA Menards Series season opener at the famed Daytona International Speedway on February 19, Chase will test his skills on a mix of short tracks, road courses and superspeedways including Phoenix, Talladega, Charlotte, Mid-Ohio, Pocono, Watkins-Glen, Kansas and Bristol. “I’m excited more and more as the season approaches. I grew up watching NASCAR races at places like Daytona, Talladega and Pocono, and now I’ve got my chance to compete on those same tracks,” said Chase. “I can honestly say throughout all my years of racing this season is going to be one of the most exciting years yet. There’s still a lot for me to learn as I continue to work in the TRD driver development program and I feel we made a lot of progress last year running a handful of ARCA races and they really prepared us for this year’s schedule.” (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (01-10-22)
  • Landon Pembelton to race for Venturini in multiple events: Venturini Motorsports  announced today the signing of 16-year old Landon Pembelton. Pembelton, who made headlines in 2021 after winning the Nation’s Premier Late Model Race at Martinsville Speedway, will compete in four ARCA races under the team’s Toyota Racing Development banner in 2022. The Amelia County, Virginia born driver will pilot VMS’s Toyota Camry in the ARCA Menards Series at Elko Speedway, Milwaukee Mile and Toledo Speedway, as well as the Fall Phoenix event in the ARCA West Series. “I am grateful for the opportunity with Venturini Motorsports and will make the most of the time. I am given to learn as much as I can,” said Pembelton. “Toyota and Venturini Motorsports are both proven winners in ARCA and I am excited for the challenge. I’m ready to rely on their leadership and knowledge to give me the best opportunity to succeed. I’ve got high expectations for myself. With the good equipment underneath me and knowing what I’m capable of, there’s no reason we can’t start off running top five.” (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (01-06-22)
  • Venturini Motorsports adds Connor Jones for partial schedule: Venturini Motorsports  announced today the signing of 15-year old Fredericksburg, Virginia driver, Conner Jones to a three-race schedule in 2022. Jones, who comes to the team with the mindset of gaining experience while furthering his young career at the next level will compete in the ARCA Menards Series events at Iowa Speedway (6/11) and Salem Speedway (10/1). The high school Sophomore will also team with VMS at Dover for the ARCA Menards East race in April. “It’s exciting to take the next step in ARCA with a team like Venturini Motorsports,” said Jones. “They’ve been one of the most dominant teams in ARCA for a long time. It gives me added confidence knowing I’m surrounded by a lot of successful people and racing really good equipment. I’m looking at this as an opportunity to learn as much as I can for the future. I’ll be really happy if I can go out and run top five, top ten each week.” (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (01-05-22)
  • Jonathan Shafer joins Venturini for five races: Venturini Motorsports announced today the signing of 16-year old driver, Jonathan Shafer to a limited five-race ARCA schedule in 2022. Ready to embark on the next step of his career, Shafer will get his first taste at the next level when he joins VMS at Iowa, Lucas Oil, Bristol and Salem in the ARCA Menards Series, along with the springtime Dover race in the ARCA East Series. “This is such a great moment in my career. A lot of hard work has gotten me to this point,” said Shafer, the Ashland, Ohio native when asked about taking the next step in his racing career. “I can’t thank Venturini Motorsports and Toyota enough for giving me this opportunity. I’m excited to have this chance and continue to develop as a driver. Knowing I’ll be running great equipment with a team as good as Venturini Motorsports gives me a lot of confidence going into my first start at Iowa.” Following the typical path nowadays, Shafer began driving quarter midgets at the age of five and has methodically moved his way up the speed ranks with age. With nearly 300 feature wins along the way, the high school junior has concentrated on a heavy dose of midget racing and late models in recent years. Along with running with Toyota’s Keith Kunz Motorsports he has spent the last three seasons in the JEGS CRA Series and CARS Tour. Shafer will make his debut with Venturini Motorsports at Dover Int’l Speedway on April 29, 2022 in the ARCA East event. He will make his ARCA Menards Series driving debut behind the wheel of VMS’ No.15 Toyota Camry at Iowa Speedway on June 11, 2022. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (01-04-22)
  • Rette Jones Racing signs Amber Balcaen for full season: Rette Jones Racing announced today that professional race car driver Amber Balcaen has joined the organization to campaign a full season ARCA Menards Series championship effort beginning at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 19, 2022. Canadian-based ICON Direct will continue its support of Balcaen and join her at Rette Jones Racing for the 20-race schedule from February to October 2022. Balcaen, also a Canadian native is a third-generation race car driver who made history in 2016 when she became the first Canadian female to win a NASCAR-sanctioned race in the United States of America. The Winnipeger’s new endeavor at Rette Jones Racing will also be supported by Glenn McLeod and Sons – cementing a full Canadian roster of partners for her ARCA Menards Series rookie season. “It is really special for me as a Canadian competing in the United States to be representing all Canadian companies on my car with Rette Jones Racing,” said Balcaen. “To have the hometown support is amazing. I couldn’t do this without them.” Balcaen expands her ARCA Menards Series footprint after competing in a limited ARCA Menards Series West schedule last season upon her successful and impressive participation in Bill McAnally Racing’s Drivers Academy, a driver development program. Longtime RJR partners Ford Performance, Goodridge Fluid Transfer Systems, Jones Group Demolition and Abatement and JRi Shocks will continue their relationship with the team in 2022 and serve as associate partners on Balcaen’s No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion. (In part from Rette Jones Racing PR) (01-03-22)
  • Jesse Love and Corey Heim to split Venturini's No. 20 in 2022: Venturini Motorsports announced today the return of a formidable pair of Toyota Racing Development drivers, Jesse Love and Corey Heim, who’ve been selected to co-pilot the team’s No.20 Toyota Camry for the upcoming 2022 ARCA Menard Series season. Sharing the wheel for a championship bid, 17-year old Jesse Love will handle the lion’s share with fourteen races in command of VMS’s No.20. Love, with back-to-back ARCA Menards Series West Championships (2020 & 2021), will handle the driving duties in 14 of the 20 ARCA Menards race schedule; Phoenix, Iowa, Berlin, Elko, Mid-Ohio, Pocono, Lucas Oil, Watkins-Glen, Springfield, Milwaukee, DuQuoin, Bristol, Salem and Toledo. In addition, Love will also drive for Venturini Motorsports at Dover (ARCA East) and Phoenix (ARCA West). “This is a great opportunity and very exciting time in my life,” said Love. “I’ve been really fortunate to have a lot of great support over the years and it continues this year again with Toyota and Venturini Motorsports. Corey Heim will take the reins for six races beginning with Daytona, Talladega, Kansas (Spring), Charlotte, Michigan and Kansas (Fall). Heim, who drove full-time for VMS in 2021, was runner-up in the series’ championship point standings, tallying six victories over twenty races. “I’m excited to be back with Venturini Motorsports,” said Heim. “We won a lot of races last season and had a great year overall. Although the goal of winning remains the same, I’m looking forward to taking on more of a leadership role with some of the other young drivers on the team. Sharing the twenty-car with Jesse (Love) is going to be a lot of fun.” Shannon Rursch will resume his duties as crew chief for the young drivers and look to continue his success with the team in 2022. (In part from Venturini Motorsports PR) (01-03-22)
  • Josh White joins Clubb Racing Inc. for three races: Josh White Racing has announced that 30 year-old Josh White will join Clubb Racing Inc. for three races in the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season. White is scheduled to be behind the wheel of the No. 03 Toyota at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Springfield, and Bristol Motor Speedway. Sponsorship announcements will follow. Fan and additional sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting MDR Sports Mgt at 704-723-1238. (In part from Josh White Racing PR) (01-01-22)