Automobile Racing Club of America

Last updated
Automobile Racing Club of America
ARCA logo.png
Sport Stock car racing
JurisdictionUnited States
AbbreviationARCA
Founded1953
Affiliation NASCAR
Headquarters Toledo, Ohio
President Ron Drager
Official website
www.arcaracing.com
Flag of the United States.svg

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. A subsidiary of NASCAR since 2018, [1] the current president of ARCA is Ron Drager, who took over the position in 1996 following the death of Bob Loga. [2] The ARCA Menards Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Cup Series, and indeed most cars used in the Menards Series were previously used in NASCAR. ARCA contains a mix of both professional racers and hobby racers alike, in addition to younger competitors trying to make a name for themselves, sometimes driving as part of a driver development program for a NASCAR team. ARCA Menards Series races are broadcast on Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2 or MAVTV, and they have been previously broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, USA Network, TNN, Prime Network, CBS Sports Network, NBCSN, TBS, TNT, SpeedVision/Speed and Fox Sports Net.

Contents

ARCA owns both the Toledo Speedway and Flat Rock Speedway. ARCA formerly sanctioned the ARCA Midget Series from 1988 until 2002 and a truck-racing series called the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series from 1999 to 2016.

History

John Marcum founded the Midwest Association for Race Cars (MARC) in 1953 as a regional stock car racing series after working as an official for NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. In 1964, the name was changed to the "Automobile Racing Club of America" when the series became national by racing on superspeedways. [3] This ARCA is not to be confused with the organization founded in 1933 with the same name. ARCA started racing at Daytona International Speedway in 1964, during the Daytona Speedweeks, at the request of Bill France Sr., who had raced against Marcum in the 1940s.

The ARCA/NASCAR relationship continues today. The series frequently schedule events at the same track on the same weekend. The ARCA event is frequently the Saturday support race to the Sunday NASCAR Cup event. [3] For several decades, ARCA used older NASCAR Cup race cars at their events, and with the advent of the Car of Tomorrow, teams were able to sell off their older cars to ARCA teams; current NASCAR Cup driver Joey Logano drove in ARCA in 2008, driving veteran NASCAR Cup cars after the Cup move to the COT. [3]

On April 27, 2018, NASCAR acquired ARCA. [4] [5]

In 2019, it was announced that the NASCAR K&N Series East and West would be moved under the ARCA banner as the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West for 2020. [6]

Former NASCAR drivers, such as Benny Parsons, Kyle Petty (who won the 1979 Daytona ARCA 200, the first race he ever competed in), Ken Schrader and others, have competed in and advanced through the ARCA series on the way to successful NASCAR careers. [3] ARCA has been used throughout its history as a stepping stone for hopeful NASCAR drivers. [7] [8]

Points scoring system

ARCA uses a relatively simple point system to determine champions.

Year1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th18th19th20th21st22nd23rd24th25th26th27th28th29th30th31st32nd33rd34th35th36th37th38th39th40th+
2009–20182001951901851801751701651601551501451401351301251201151101051009590858075706560555045403530252015105

Note:

Series


Former series

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Schrader Racing</span> American stock car racing team

Ken Schrader Racing was an American professional stock car racing team that last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, fielding the No. 52 for Natalie Decker. The team was owned by longtime NASCAR driver Ken Schrader. Over the years, Schrader has also fielded his team in the NASCAR Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series in addition to in ARCA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ARCA Menards Series</span> American stock car racing series

The ARCA Menards Series is an American stock car series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor, semi-professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three national touring series of NASCAR, and hosts events at a variety of track types including superspeedways, road courses, and dirt tracks. It also provides hobby drivers a chance to experience racing at large tracks used in the three national touring series in NASCAR. The series has had a longstanding relationship with NASCAR, including using former NASCAR Cup Series cars, hosting events in the same race weekend such as Daytona Speedweeks, and naming an award after NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr. However, the series was not officially affiliated with NASCAR until its buyout on April 27, 2018. 2020 was the first season that the series was sanctioned by NASCAR.

Francis James Kimmel is an American former stock car racing driver. He competed primarily in the ARCA Racing Series, from 1990 through 2016. Kimmel is the most successful driver in ARCA history. He has won the ARCA championship ten times, including eight consecutive. He won the championship in 1998 and also won the 2000 through 2007 championships, and again in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeb Burton</span> American racing driver (born 1992)

John Edward "Jeb" Burton IV is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 27 Chevrolet Camaro for Jordan Anderson Racing and part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 50 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Team AmeriVet. He is the son of Ward Burton, the nephew of Jeff Burton, and the cousin of Jeff's son Harrison Burton. He competed for several seasons as a regular driver at South Boston Speedway, an American racing circuit where his family is historically known for competing, as well as at Ace Speedway. Burton has raced in each of NASCAR's three national series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grant Enfinger</span> American racing driver (born 1985)

Grant McArthur Enfinger is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Silverado for CR7 Motorsports. Before moving up to the Truck Series, Enfinger won the 2015 ARCA Racing Series series championship with GMS Racing.

Will Kimmel III is an American stock car racing driver. He is the son of Bill Kimmel, Jr. and nephew of Frank Kimmel. He currently competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series for the family-owned Kimmel Racing. He previously competed part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Win-Tron Racing</span> Stock car racing team

Win-Tron Racing was an American professional stock car racing team that competed in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series. The team merged into Truck Series team AM Racing beginning in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GMS Racing</span> American stock car racing team

GMS Racing was an American professional stock car racing team that competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, fielding three Chevrolet Silverado trucks: the No. 23 for Grant Enfinger, the No. 24 for Rajah Caruth, and the No. 43 for Daniel Dye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Boston</span> American racing driver

Justin Michael Boston is a realtor broker and an American former professional stock car racing driver. A former development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, he most recently drove the No. 54 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Boston was the Rookie of the Year in the ARCA Racing Series driving for Venturini Motorsports in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Lira (racing driver)</span> American racing driver

Michael Lira is a Peruvian-American professional stock car racing driver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh White (racing driver)</span> American stock car driver and Marine

Joshua White is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 03 Ford for Clubb Racing Inc. He has also competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in the past. White is a former lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and is believed to be the second U.S. Marine to compete in a NASCAR national series event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanner Gray</span> American racing driver

Tanner Sean Gray is an American professional racing driver who has competed in drag racing and stock car racing. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 15 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. Gray is the youngest professional driver to win a national event in NHRA history, and the youngest driver to win a solo NHRA season championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fast Track Racing</span> Motor racing team

Fast Track Racing is an American professional stock car racing team that currently competes full time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East, fielding the Nos. 01, 10, 11, 12, and 99 for various drivers. They also compete part-time in the ARCA Menards Series West. The team has also competed in NASCAR's top 3 Series as well as the IndyCar Series in the past.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 ARCA Menards Series</span> 68th season of the ARCA Racing Series

The 2020 ARCA Menards Series season was the 68th season of the ARCA Menards Series. It began on February 8 with the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona International Speedway and ended on October 16 with the Speediatrics 150 at Kansas Speedway. 2020 was the first season that the series was sanctioned by NASCAR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toni Breidinger</span> American model and racing driver (born 1999)

Antoinette Marie Breidinger is an American stock car racing driver and model. She competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, and part-time in the East and West Series, driving the No. 25 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 1 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 ARCA Menards Series</span> 69th season of the ARCA Menards Series

The 2021 ARCA Menards Series season was the 69th season of the ARCA Menards Series, a stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began at Daytona International Speedway with the Lucas Oil 200 on February 13 and ended with the Reese's 150 at Kansas Speedway on October 23. Ty Gibbs was crowned the series champion, having won ten times and finished in the top four in 19 of 20 races.

Devon Rouse is an American professional dirt track and stock car racing driver who primarily competes in sprint cars at local tracks in Iowa. He also competed part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 43 Chevrolet Silverado for Reaume Brothers Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 ARCA Menards Series East</span> 37th season of the ARCA Menards Series East

The 2023 ARCA Menards Series East was the 37th season of the ARCA Menards Series East, a regional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began on March 25 with the Pensacola 200 at Five Flags Speedway and ended on September 14 with the Bush's Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

References

  1. ↑ Dale, Holly (April 27, 2018). "NASCAR acquires ARCA, affirming commitment to next generation of racers". NASCAR . Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  2. ↑ Kernan, Sean. "ARCA's Drager Willing to Delegate". Daytona Beach, FL: The Daytona Beach News-Journal , February 7, 1997. Page 02R.
  3. 1 2 3 4 ARCA at 50 Archived February 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine ; Stock Car Racing magazine , accessed 2008-02-26.
  4. ↑ Dale, Holly (April 27, 2018). "NASCAR acquires ARCA, affirming commitment to next generation of racers". NASCAR . Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  5. ↑ "NASCAR Welcomes ARCA to the Family". Automobile Racing Club of America. April 27, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  6. ↑ Bonkowski, Jerry (October 2, 2019). "NASCAR, ARCA announce new format for 2020; ARCA to take over K&N Series". NBC Sports . Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  7. ↑ "TRUCKS: NCWTS Announcer Phil Parsons To Host ARCA Banquet". Speed TV. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  8. ↑ Ackerman, Lee (July 2012). "Ackerman: When it comes to excitement, NASCAR Truck Series prevails". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on 2013-01-30. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  9. ↑ Archived December 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine "ARCA RE/MAX Series Point System Explanation" Retrieved February 8, 2009

    See also

    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.