archives

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

March 2022

  • Daniel Dye secures sponsorship from Champion Container Corporation for three races: GMS Racing’s Daniel Dye is pleased to welcome Champion Container Corporation as a primary partner on the No. 43 Chevrolet for three events in 2022. The Edison, New Jersey based company, will ride along with Daniel at Pocono Raceway, Watkins Glen, and Bristol Motor Speedway. "It is a tremendous honor to have Champion Container onboard with us later this season at three prominent and internationally known racetracks in Pocono, Watkins Glen, and Bristol," commented driver Daniel Dye. "We showed really good speed at Bristol last year, and I was able to test well at Pocono and feel like we should be upfront and represent Champion Container very well at each of those three races as we chase the ARCA title." Dye, an 18-year-old high school senior from Daytona Beach, Florida, finished third at Daytona and second in Phoenix to open the ARCA Menards Series national season and now sits first in the championship point standings. GMS Racing fields the No. 43 Chevrolet SS for Dye. (In part from GMSRacing.net) (03-22-22)
  • David Gilliland Racing acts quickly to race at Phoenix: On the morning of Tuesday, March 8, David Gilliland took a phone call no race team owner or human being ever wants to receive. Three days later, he and his organization found themselves in Victory Lane at Phoenix Raceway after what Gilliland called “the most special win (he’s) ever been a part of” in his motorsports career. This is the result of an astonishingly concerted and heavy-hearted effort on the part of David Gilliland Racing in the wake of a traffic accident that took the life of team hauler driver Steven Stotts early that Tuesday morning. Stotts was transporting Taylor Gray’s No. 17 Ford and DGR’s ARCA Menards Series equipment to Phoenix for the General Tire 150. Two more team members, John Zaverl and Michael Mizzelle, were injured in the accident. Just a few hours after Gilliland received that phone call Tuesday morning, another DGR hauler was on its way to Phoenix loaded with equipment and another No. 17 Ford. Full Story (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-15-22)
  • Matt Wilson joins CCM Racing with Laravel sponsorship: Laravel will be partnering with CCM Racing driver Matt Wilson, also an Arkansas native, in a select number of races in the ARCA Racing Series this season, with the official schedule to be released at a later date. “Laravel is thrilled to partner with CCM Racing and we can’t wait to see what Matt and the team accomplish on the track this year,” said [Taylor] Otwell, founder and CEO of Laravel. Wilson participated in the pre-season ARCA Racing Series test at Daytona International Speedway in January and currently competes in the COMMA Racing Series at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in Jennings, Oklahoma. “It’s very cool having Laravel on board this season,” said Wilson. “Taylor and I have been friends since we were kids. We went to the same high school and even played on the drumline together. I have watched him build a company around his passion and enjoy tremendous success. So I couldn’t be more proud to represent Laravel at this level of motorsports.” (In part from CCM Racing PR) (03-13-22)
  • Taylor Gray scores emotional victory at Phoenix: Racing with a heavy heart after the loss of David Gilliland Racing hauler driver Steven Stotts in traffic accident on Tuesday, Taylor Gray earned his first ARCA Menards Series victory Friday night during the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway. The 16-year-old Gray had to withstand multiple challenges throughout Friday’s race. He first battled with defending ARCA Menards Series East champion Sammy Smith and later battled his way past GMS Racing’s Daniel Dye during a restart on lap 138 to take the lead for the final time. Gray retained the lead during two more restarts, including a green-white-checkered restart, in the final portion of the race to claim the victory at the one-mile tri-oval. “It felt like they didn’t want me to win tonight,” said Gray, who led a race-high 76 laps. “All those guys are really tough to beat. We just had a really good race car tonight.” Dye finished second after taking the lead during the second half of the race and, at one point, leading by more than four seconds. He blamed the decision to restart in the top lane on lap 138 for costing him a shot at the victory. Smith, driving the No. 18 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports, finished third after leading most of the first half of the race. Rajah Caruth finished fourth after running as high as second in the final laps. Jake Drew was the highest finishing ARCA Menards Series West regular in the field in fifth. Jesse Love, Nick Sanchez, Josh Berry, Derek Kraus and Connor Mosack completed the top-10. Full Results (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-12-22)
  • David Gilliland Racing transporter involved in accident UPDATE: David Gilliland Racing (DGR) has learned that our No. 17 ARCA team transporter was involved in an accident early this morning near Longview, Texas. The transporter was en route to Arizona for Friday evening’s ARCA Menards Series event at Phoenix Raceway. DGR and driver Taylor Gray’s participation in Friday’s event will be determined at a later time. (David Gilliland Racing PR) (03-08-22)
    UPDATE:     We are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of Steven Stotts, co-driver for our No. 17 ARCA team transporter, that was involved in an accident early this morning near Longview, Texas. Our deepest sympathies go out to Steven’s family and friends. John Zaverl and Michael Mizzelle, who were passengers in the transporter, have been treated and released from a local hospital. Our continued thoughts are with the driver of the second vehicle involved in the accident. (David Gilliland Racing PR) (03-08-22)
  • Krista Kelley, Mike Massaro join MAVTV’s ARCA coverage: Veteran motorsports announcer Krista Kelley will anchor MAVTV Motorsports Network’s live broadcasts of the ARCA Menards Series in 2022. Kelley replaces lap-by-lap race caller Bob Dillner, who had been part of the ARCA broadcasts on MAVTV since 2017. Dillner has stepped out of the booth to take an expanded role in the development of the motorsports network but will continue to work with the production team on the broadcasts. Long-time ARCA analyst Jim Tretow will join Kelley in the booth, while Mike Massaro will join the team to handle pit road duties. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-01-22)