
ARCA Racing SERIES NEWS AND RUMORS
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ARCA News and Rumors
- Kyle Benjamin wins pole for
Menards 200 at Toledo: #15 Kyle Benjamin won
the pole for the Menards 200 and became the youngest pole sitter in
ARCA Racing Series history. #52 Ken Schrader will start second, while
#32 Mason Mingus, #44 Frank Kimmel, and #77 Tom Hessert complete the
top five. #16 Kelly Kovski and #91 Robert Bujdoso wrecked in
qualifying. #42 Bo LeMastus wrecked in first practice and will not race
on Sunday since his team only brought one car this weekend. Starting
Lineup (05-18-13)
- 36 entries for the Menards 200 at
Toledo Speedway: 36 entries are currently
entered for Sunday's race at Toledo Speedway. Notable entries include
#06 Chris Bailey Jr, #10 Blake Hillard, #11 Kyle Weatherman, #16 Kelly
Kovski, #22 Austin Wayne Self, #40 Cody Lane, #52 Ken Schrader, #55
Taylor Ferns, #61 Jake Francis, #70 Spencer Montgomery, #89 Matt Tifft,
and #91 Robert Bujdoso. Bobby Gerhart has filed an entry for the event,
but it remains unclear if he will race after he placed his team for
sale
last week. Full
Entry List (05-15-13)
UPDATE:
Carter 2 Motorsports has withdrawn the No. 70 Dodge.
The car that Spencer
Montgomery
was scheduled to
drive was not repaired in time from the damage that it suffered at
Salem
Speedway. 35 cars are now entered.
(05-16-13)
- Jake Francis entered at Toledo: Jake
Francis is entered to return to ARCA Racing competion this weekend at
Toledo Speedway. The 23 year-old driver from Painesville, OH last raced
in the series in 2008 for Capital City Motorsports, making four starts
total. Francis drove for his family owned team in 2007 at Milwaukee
where he had a career high 12th place finish. He will drive his family
owned No. 61 Francis Engineering Chevrolet again on Sunday. (05-13-13)
- 52 Racing to debut at Pocono
Raceway? DENIED: JP
Malone, the owner of a new and used race parts company called Racing
Rivets, is rumored to be acquiring the assets of Bobby Gerhart Racing.
Malone plans to debut his new ARCA Racing Series team with a veteran
driver behind the wheel at Pocono Raceway. 52 Racing will have Racing
Rivets on the car as the primary sponsor. (05-12-13)
DENIED:
JP
Malone has denied the rumor that he is acquiring the assets
of Bobby Gerhart Racing. Malone states that he is not intersted in
owning an ARCA Racing Series team. (05-13-13)
- Win-Tron Racing to field second
car for Matt Tifft at Toledo: Win Tron Racing
brought two drivers, Mason Mingus and Matt Tifft, to test at Toledo
Speedway on Thursday in preparation for the Menards 200 on May 19th.
Newcomer Matt Tifft, the 16-year old driver from Hinckley, Ohio, took
his first laps in an ARCA car. "We've run some NASCAR
K&N cars but this is the first time ever in an ARCA car," Tifft
said. "They have a lot more power; they're a lot of fun to drive. It's
a really fun track. There's a lot of speed on the track - you can
really get after it here in these ARCA cars." Tifft is planning to make
his ARCA debut in a second Win Tron Racing entry at Toledo later this
month. (In part from ARCARacing.com) (05-10-13)
- Bobby Gerhart selling race team;
leaving
ARCA: Bobby
Gerhart has listed his complete race team on ARCARacing.com's
classifieds section. The classified states that the complete race team
is for sale, including 26 cars, 14 engines, 15 transmissions, and a
complete hauler. Gerhart also states that he will sell the team
completely or in parts. (05-07-13)
UPDATE:
We spoke to Bobby Gerhart this morning at Talladega and he was still
upset about his time being disallowed yesterday in post-qualifying
tech. Initially we asked him about what they found wrong with his car.
"I think they didn't like the color," replied Gerhart, a former winner
at Talladega. According to Gerhart, ARCA did not like how the
right-front spring sat in the helix early in the day yesterday, so his
team fixed it according to how the series officials wanted it done.
After qualifying ARCA found the infraction and penalized Gerhart. It
involved the same issue that was reportedly told to the teams earlier.
"I'm done," said Gerhart, an eight-time ARCA winner at Daytona Int'l
Speedway. "I'm not happy and the only way to show my displeasure is to
not show up. I'll race somewhere else." Gerhart planned to race in 12
events this year. (SPEED 51) (05-07-13)
- Allgaier Motorsports returning at
Toledo with Kovski: Allgaier
Motorsports will return to ARCA Racing Series competition on May 19th
at Toledo Speedway. Long time crew chief and driver Kelly Kovski will
be behind the wheel of the No. 16 Hoosier Tire Midwest Dodge. Kovski
typically runs ARCA's dirt track races, where he has finished in the
top five several times. (05-04-13)
- Frank Kimmel wins at
Talladega: #44 Frank Kimmel won the
International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway
after ARCA officials called the race due to rain. #32 Mason Mingus
finished second, while #55 Caleb Armstrong, #66 Mark Thompson, and #30
Terry Jones completed the top five. One major crash on lap 35 took out
contenders including #23 Spencer Gallagher, #25 Justin Boston, #35
Milka Duno, and #77 Tom Hessert. Several other cars received
significant damage that took them out of contention for the win. Full
Results (05-03-13)
- Milka Duno wins Talladega pole
after disqualifications: #35 Milka Duno won the
pole for the International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega
Superspeedway after her teammate's qualifying time was disallowed. #15
John Wes Townley had turned the fastest qualifying lap, but failed post
qualifying inspection along with #5 Bobby Gerhart, #22 Korbin
Forrister, and #66
Mark Thompson. #32 Mason Mingus will start alongside Duno on the front
row, while #90 Grant Enfinger, #25 Justin Boston, and #55 Caleb
Armstrong round out the top five. Only 36 cars were entered for the
event, meaning everyone will race. #0 Wayne Peterson and #7 Brent Cross
withdrew. #17 Dave Savicki did not make a lap in practice or
qualifying. Starting
Lineup (05-02-13)
- 39 entries for
Talladega: 39 cars are entered for the
International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Superspeedway,
which is one car short of full field (40). Notable entries include #08
Clay Campbell, #3 Drew Charlson, #5 Bobby Gerhart, #6 Ricky Ehrgott,
#10 Cody McMahan, #19 Donnie Neuenberger, #30 Terry Jones, #54 Matt
Kurzejewski, #55 Caleb Armstrong, #69 John Ferrier, #82 Sean Corr, and
#92 Brennan Newberry. Wes Gonder Racing and Cody McMahan will be using
owner points from Fast Track Racing (No. 10) , John Ferrier will be
using Kimmel Racing owner points (No. 69), while Barry Fitzgerald will
be using owner points from Darrell Basham (No. 94). Full
Entry List (04-30-13)
- Mason Mitchell secures
sponsorship: Mason
Mitchell has been working hard to secure a full-time sponsor for the
2013 ARCA campaign and today Mitchell can sleep a bit easier. The up
and coming driver has secured sponsorship with “Happy
Cheeks” beginning with the May 3rd race at the Talladega. I
am
very fortunate to secure this partnership with Happy Cheeks. Happy
Cheeks is a toilet seat cleaner. It comes in a spray bottle the size of
a Chap Stick tube, you spray it on the toilet seat and it kills all of
the bacteria on the seat. It’s great, especially for travel
and
in public restrooms. I can’t wait to put the Happy Cheeks
Ford in
victory lane.” Along with debuting new sponsor Happy Cheeks
at
Talladega, Mitchell will debut a new driving suit for the remainder of
the 2013 season. (In part from Mason Mitchell Motorsports PR) (04-30-13)
- Anderson Bowen released from
hospital: Anderson Bowen was treated and released from a
Salem hospital Sunday evening, following a hard crash in
Sunday’s Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200. Bowen, 15, finished
20th in the race. He and the 02 car driven by Josh Williams were
involved in a hard crash on lap 107. Bowen walked to an ambulance on
the infield of the Salem Speedway and was later transported for tests
and observation to a nearby hospital. “CT scans are
clear,” Bowen Tweeted tonight. “X-Rays are good as
well. We should be going home shortly.” Team public relations
personnel confirmed that Bowen was released. (ARCARacing.com) (04-29-13)
- ARCA official passes away UPDATE:
ARCA
Racing Series official John Cissell, of Belleville, Illinois, died
Thursday of a heart attack. He was 64. Cissell was scheduled to work
the event this weekend at Salem Speedway. Funeral arrangements are
pending. (ARCARacing.com) (04-27-13)
UPDATE:
Funeral services have been set for former ARCA Racing Series official
John H. Cissell, who died Thursday in Belleville, Ill. Cissell was
scheduled to work the ARCA race in Salem, Ind. this weekend. Visitation
will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at George Renner & Sons Funeral
Home, Belleville, Ill., where funeral services will be at 10 a.m.
Tuesday. Burial with military honors will be held at Jefferson Barracks
National Cemetery in St. Louis. (ARCARacing.com) (04-29-13)
- Tom Hessert wins at Salem
Speedway: #77 Tom Hessert made a last lap pass on #23
Spencer Gallagher to win the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200.
Hessert came from 16th starting position to earn his 3rd career ARCA
Racing Series victory. Gallagher finished second, while #68 Will
Kimmel, #11 Kyle Weatherman, and #69 Travis Swaim rounded out the top
five. #44 Frank Kimmel becomes the point leader after finishing sixth. Full
Results
(04-28-13)
- 29 cars entered for the
Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 at Salem UPDATE:
29
cars are currently entered for this Sunday's race at Salem Speedway.
The entry list includes Daytona winner John Wes Townley, who will drive
the No. 55 Zaxby's Toyota for Venturini Motorsports. #10 Blake Hillard,
#15 Kyle Benjamin, #34 Darrell Basham, #52 Brett Hudson, #69 Travis
Swaim, #70 Mark Meunier, and #80 Brian Finney are other notable
entries. (Full
Entry List on ARCARacing.com) (04-23-13)
UPDATE:
Kyle Weatherman and his Weatherman Motorsports team has been
added to the entry list, which increases the car count to 30. Weatherman
will drive the No. 11 Dodge in Sunday's race. (04-24-13)
- Ricky Ehrgott to join Eddie Sharp
Racing at Talladega: Eddie Sharp will partner with rookie
driver Ricky Ehrgott for the ARCA race at Talladega. Ehrgott, who
finished third in the Daytona opener driving for Coulter Motorsports,
is set to drive the No. 6 Chevrolet for Eddie Sharp Racing at Talladega
with primary sponsorship from Platinum Partners Plus. Veteran crew
chief Jamie Jones will serve as the team’s crew chief. (ARCA
Racing Series PR) (04-27-13)
- Mike Affarano returning for eight
races: Mike Affarano will return to ARCA Racing
Series competition in 2013 for at least eight events. Affarano made his
ARCA debut at Talladega last year, where his car flipped several times
in a violent crash. The Shorewood, IL driver made four other starts
last season and had a career high finish of 16th at Springfield.
(04-24-13)
- Weatherman Motorsports and Kyle
Weatherman begin partial schedule: 15-year old
Kyle Weatherman of Wentzville, MO will make his ARCA Racing Series
debut this weekend in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem
Speedway. Weatherman has been waiting to make his ARCA Racing Series
debut since last summer and will compete in at least seven events this
season [for his family owned team]. "I'm really excited about racing in
the ARCA Racing Series this year," Kyle Weatherman said. "Testing has
gone really well and I cannot wait for this weekend to get here. The
team is prepared and has worked really hard to make this happen. I am
looking forward to competing against the best drivers out there and I
know the race at Salem will be a great event." Other ARCA races include
stops this season include events at Toledo, Elko, Winchester, Berlin,
Madison, and a second trip Salem in the fall. Sponsorship and strategic
marketing partnership opportunities are currently available.
(Weatherman Motorsports PR) (04-24-13)
- Mark Thompson driving for Turner
Scott Motorsports at Talladega: 61 year-old
Mark Thompson will return to Turner Scott Motorsports for the
International Motorsports Hall of Fame 250 at Talladega Speedway on May
3rd. Thompson, who owns and serves as the president of Phoenix Air,
raced at Daytona earlier this year for Turner Scott where he started
16th and finished 8th. (04-23-13)
- Erik Jones to drive for Venturini
at Kentucky and Pocono races: Erik Jones will be teaming
back up with Venturini Motorsports for the June Pocono ARCA 200 and the
August Pennsylvania ARCA 125 at Pocono Raceway as well as the Kentucky
ARCA 200 at Kentucky Speedway. “I’m
really looking forward to teaming back up with Venturini Motorsports
for the ARCA races at Pocono and Kentucky,” stated Jones.
“I learned a lot with them last year and they are strong
contenders at any track they go to. I’ve never raced on a
track longer than 1-mile so I’m looking to gain some valuable
experience, and get used to racing at a track that's over a mile, and
hopefully bring home my first ARCA Racing Series win.” (In
part from Erik Jones Racing PR) (04-19-13)
- Team BCR Racing and Grant
Enfinger add Salem and Toledo sponsorship: Team
BCR and Grant Enfinger have proudly announced today that Hewes Concrete
Polishing will become a primary marketing partner for the Salem and
Toledo ARCA races. Hewes Concrete Polishing will also be an associate
marketing partner for the Talladega ARCA 250. "This is exciting news
for Team BCR and I," says Fairhope, AL Driver, Grant Enfinger. "This
means we are able to compete for a win at Salem Speedway, which
originally wasn't on our schedule." (In part from Team BCR Racing PR)
(04-15-13)
- Thomas Praytor joining forces
with Hixson Motorsports at Salem: Hixson
Motorsports will have Thomas "Moose" Praytor pilot their primary #2 car
at Salem Speedway on April 28th. "We really had not planned
on going to Salem but our first 2 races have put us in the top 10 in
points and we have a lot of momentum," offered Wayne Hixson of Hixson
Motorsports. "Thomas has done a really good job on the track and he's
working his tail off in the shop. We already have the cars and motors
and we're searching for sponsorship that can take us farther than
Talladega." Praytor is currently tied for 8th in the ARCA Series
standings after Daytona and Mobile. "As a driver all you can ask for is
a chance and I can't thank Mr. Wayne (Hixson) enough for giving me the
opportunity. A few months ago I didn't know where Soddy-Daisy Tennessee
was and I've spent so much time there this year I feel like it's a
second home," said Praytor. (Max Force Racing PR) (04-13-13)
- Travis Swaim to make ARCA debut
at Salem with Kimmel Racing: 2012 UARA-STARS Champion
Travis Swaim will make his ARCA Racing Series debut at Salem Speedway
on April 28th. He will drive the No. 69 Ford for Kimmel Racing. Swaim
and Michael Lira tested for the team at the track last Saturday,
completing at least one hundred laps apiece and practicing live pit
stops. (04-08-13)
- Korbin Forrister joining
Cunningham Motorsports at Talladega: Cunningham
Motorsports has announced that 20 year-old Korbin Forrister will drive
the No. 22 Dodge at Talladega Superspeedway in May. Cunningham
co-owner, Kerry Scherer, commented on the team's announcement. "We are
excited to have Korbin join us at Talladega. We look forward to he and
Tom (Hessert) working together to stay out front." Forrister finished a
career-best 14th at Mobile Int'l Speedway back in early March. "I'm
very excited to be racing for a team like Cunningham at Talladega,"
Forrister said. "I hope to continue with their proven success rate
they've had with all their drivers over the years. With the help of a
great sponsor like Fuzzy Vodka and a team like Cunningham, I feel we
can have a successful run at Talladega in May." (In part from
Cunningham Motorsports PR) (03-25-13)
- Ken Schrader returning for
partial schedule: Ken Schrader is preparing for
what will be his 61st career ARCA Racing Series start in the Menards
200 at Toledo Speedway Sunday, May 19. Federated, which sponsors most
of Schrader's racing endeavors, will also be the title sponsor on his
No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet. "We haven't raced Toledo in a
few years, and I'm really looking forward to it. It's always been one
of my favorite ARCA tracks. Tom (Hessert) put our Federated car on the
pole there a couple years ago, and won the race at Salem last year, so
we've got some good momentum. We'd like to be running the Federated
ARCA car everywhere, like we did with Tom; but our situation changed.
Even though we can't run the entire ARCA schedule, what the change did
do was allow me to come back and play more, and that's just fine with
me. I'm really looking forward to it." Schrader is slated to race in
four ARCA Racing Series events in 2013 to also include the Akona 250 at
Elko Speedway on June 1, the Southern Illinois 100 at the DuQuoin State
Fairgrounds (mile-dirt) on Labor Day, September 2, and the Kentuckiana
Ford Dealers 200 at Salem Speedway on September 14. (ARCARacing.com)
(03-20-13)
- Josh Williams penalized after
Mobile UPDATE: Josh
Williams, driver of the No. 02 Ford, has been penalized by ARCA for
allegedly using too many tires in Saturday's ARCA Mobile 200. Williams
had unofficially finished 8th on track, but is now scored as the last
driver that started the event (26th position). The ARCA Racing Series
uses a tire limit to help contain costs. (03-11-13)
UPDATE:
The Williams Motorsports #02 team was penalized for a procedural rules
infraction and will be credited with the last place finish position
(26th) and the corresponding reduction in prize money and championship
points. The team was also placed on probation through June 30. The
violation of 2013 ARCA Rulebook page 30, #18, which references Tires,
occurred when the team exceeded the maximum number of tires allowed for
use during the race event. (ARCARacing.com) (03-12-13)
- Bo LeMastus and Crosley Sports
Group fined and placed on probabtion: The Bo LeMastus #42
team has been fined
$250 and placed on indefinite probation for violating the ARCA Rulebook
page 4, Section 2, Item A-9 which defines the ARCA policy relating to
electronic image/video capture during an ARCA Racing Series race event.
(ARCARacing.com) (03-12-13)
- Team BCR and Grant Enfinger win
ARCA Mobile 200: Team BCR Racing driver #90
Grant Enfinger won the ARCA Mobile 200 after passing #15 Kyle Benjamin
on lap 172. Enfinger held off Benjamin on a late restart and earned his
first ARCA victory in his 45th start. Benjamin finished second,
followed by #22 Anderson Bowen, #32 Mason Mingus, and #44
Frank Kimmel. #32 Mason Mingus and #44 Frank Kimmel are now
tied for the ARCA Racing Series point lead after two events. View
Unofficial Race Results (03-09-13)
- Grant Enfinger will run full ARCA
schedule: Grant Enfinger will be running the
#90 Ford for the remainder of the 2013 ARCA Racing Series season in
celebration of Casite's 90th Anniversary. "I'm really excited to be
driving the #90 Triple K Construction Ford Fusion starting in Mobile to
celebrate Casite's 90th Anniversary," says Grant Enfinger. "We made
lots of improvements throughout the day yesterday. We were a little
free on the long runs but Team BCR brought a great short track car [for
Mobile] and I know we'll have a lot of success here today." (In part
from Team BCR Racing PR) (03-09-13)
- Mason Mingus wins ARCA Mobile 200
Pole UPDATE: #32 Mason Mingus won the pole for
the
ARCA Mobile
200
after setting the fastest lap in Friday qualifying. #90
Grant Enfinger will start second. #22 Anderson Bowen, #15
Kyle Benjamin, and #55 Taylor Ferns complete the top five. Rookie #42
Bo
LeMastus crashed on his qualifying attempt and will likely go to backup
car. #68 Will Kimmel and teammate #69 Korbin Forrister both ran off the
track, but completed qualifying laps. #17 Zach Ralston did not take
time. Full
Mobile ARCA 200 Starting Lineup (03-08-13)
UPDATE:
Will Kimmel,
driving the 68 Circle Track Magazine Ford, has withdrawn following a
mishap during qualifying, leaving the field at 26 cars. Kimmel did get
in a qualifying lap, however, and will be listed on the starting grid.
(ARCARacing.com) (03-09-13)
- ARCA Mobile 200 - 27 Cars on
Entry List: The ARCA Mobile 200 entry list
features 27 entries. Notable drivers include #15 Kyle
Benjamin, #22 Anderson Bowen, #55 Taylor Ferns, and #90 Grant Enfinger.
All drivers will qualify Friday night at 7:00 PM EST and each will race
on Saturday afternoon. See the full ARCA
Mobile 200 Entry List on ARCA Racing's website. (03-07-13)
- Chris Bailey Jr. to drive for
Hylton Motorsports? UPDATE Salem?: ARCA Truck
Series driver
Chris Bailey Jr. is hoping to secure sponsorship to drive for Hylton
Motorsports in the 2014 ARCA Racing Series season. James Hylton, who
will be retiring at season's end, is seeking a young driver for his
entry. “We’ve been searching for a young driver of
Chris’s caliber and the only thing holding us back is
sponsorship" explained Hylton. "We’re both looking to find
some funds so we can go racing together. I'm excited about the future.
I feel we have an honest-to-goodness chance to build the team to where
we can be competitive. Next time we come to Daytona, we will have a car
and driver capable of winning the race.” Bailey has one made
one previous start for Venturini Motorsports at Winchester in 2011,
where he started 30th and finished 31st. (In part from Chris
Bailey Jr. PR) (03-03-13)
UPDATE:
Chris Bailey Jr.
and his father Chris Bailey, Sr. are making the long trek to Mobile
this weekend to assist James Hylton with his No. 48 Radon.com Ford.
"Chris and his father are coming to Mobile to assist with our effort,
which I thought was very becoming of them" explained Hylton.
"It'll give us a chance to work together. If we can find some
sponsorship, I'd be glad to put him under the wheel, maybe as early as
Salem (April 28)." (In part from ARCARacing.com) (03-04-13)
- Hixson Motorsports returning at
Mobile UPDATE Withdrawn: Hixson
Motorsports has filed an entry to compete in the Mobile ARCA 200. The
team will have veteran driver Ron Cox behind the wheel of its No. 3
Chevrolet for the event. (02-22-13)
UPDATE:
Hixson Motorsports
has withdrawn its entry for the Mobile ARCA 200. Cody Lane and his
family owned team will use Hixson's owner points instead.
(03-01-13)