Category: ARCA

Corey Heim became just the third driver to win back-to-back ARCA Menards Series races at Daytona International Speedway with his win in the Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire. Bobby Gerhart won nine times at Daytona, consecutively from 2005 through 2007 and again from 2010 through 2012, followed by Grant Enfinger who won back-to-back in 2014 and 2015.

Series entitlement sponsor John Menard made a visit to the ARCA garage for the first time since Iowa Speedway’s race last summer. Menard and his entourage spent time visiting with drivers, teams, and fans in the garage area before heading to the grandstand side of the track to watch the race.

Venturini Motorsports earned the organization’s fifth consecutive Daytona victory dating back to Michael Self’s win in 2018. Other winners include Harrison Burton in 2019, Self again in 2020, and Heim in 2021.

Nine drivers either matched or set a career best series finish at Daytona: Heim, second-place finisher Parker Chase, fourth-place Sean Corr, sixth-place Andy Jankowiak, ninth-place Toni Breidinger, and 12th-place Dale Quarterley all tied or bettered their previous career best, while 13th-place Brayton Laster, 16th-place Amber Balcaen, and 31st-place Christian Rose all set their career best in their series debuts.

Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric, runner-up Bubba Wallace, third-place finisher Chase Briscoe, and fourth-place finisher Ryan Blaney all have wins within the ARCA Menards Series platform. Cindric won at Kentucky Speedway in 2016 and scored two road course wins in the ARCA Menards Series East that season at Virginia International Raceway and Watkins Glen International. Wallace has six career East wins; Briscoe is the 2016 ARCA Menards Series champion with four career series wins and one additional ARCA Menards Series West victory last year at Sonoma Raceway; Blaney won in the ARCA Menards Series West at Phoenix Raceway in 2011.

NASCAR Xfinity Series winner at Daytona Austin Hill and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner Zane Smith are also ARCA Menards Series platform winners. Hill has five career East series wins and finished a career-best third in the series standings in 2015. Four of the top five, Hill, third-place Noah Gragson, fourth-place Riley Herbst, and fifth-place Justin Allgaier, all have wins within the ARCA platform. Smith has four career series wins, including the series’ closest-ever finish – a statistical dead heat – at Talladega in 2018. The remainder of top five in the Camping World Trucks race at Daytona, Ben Rhodes, Christian Eckes, Tanner Gray, and Parker Kligerman, all have wins on the ARCA platform.

Thirty of the 36 cars that started the Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire were running at the finish, and only four were listed as out due to a crash.

Heim’s eighth career series win moves him to a tie for 45th on the series’ all-time win list. Others with eight career ARCA Menards Series wins include Jack Shanklin, Charlie Glotzbach, three-time series champion Dave Dayton, NASCAR Hall of Fame member and Daytona 500 winner Davey Allison, Jimmy Horton, Jeff Purvis, Chad Blount, and former series champions Justin Allgaier and Austin Theriault.

Max Gutierrez was joined on the grid by Mexican businessman, and noted motorsports enthusiast, Carlos Slim. Slim has sponsored several drivers and teams over the years and was instrumental in Daniel Suarez’s NASCAR Xfinity Series championship.

Sammy Smith scored his fourth career ARCA Menards Series East victory in the season-opening Race to Stop Suicide 200 presented by Place of Hope at New Smyrna Speedway.

The top three finishers at New Smyrna were in inverse order of last year. In 2021, Max Gutierrez stole the win on the final lap after Smith and Taylor Gray got into a pushing match in turns three and four, with Gray holding on and Smith finishing third. This year, Smith won with Gray second and Gutierrez in third.

Smith’s fourth career series win moves him to a tie for 40th on the series’ all-time win list, joining Stub Fadden, Butch Leitzinger, Brian Ickler, Max Gresham, Tyler Ankrum, Kyle Benjamin, and Scott Heckert.

Leland Honeyman made his East debut driving for Young’s Motorsports and finished an impressive fourth. Logan Misuraca, a former winner and champion at New Smyrna Speedway, made her series debut driving for Josh Williams’ JW Motorsports team and finished a solid sixth.

Donald Theetge, a former NASCAR Pinty’s Series winner from Quebec City, gave Visconti Motorsports its second consecutive top-five finish at New Smyrna Speedway.

Willie Mullins and Stephanie Moyer both matched their East Series career best finishes with their eighth- and ninth-place finishes, respectively.

Mason Diaz finished sixth at New Smyrna and seventh at Daytona driving for long-time ARCA Menards Series driver-turned-crew chief, and now team owner, Jeff McClure.

Former ARCA Menards Series driver Joe Kosiski, whose brothers Ed and Steve also drove in the series, won the RPM Workshops Promoter of the Year award at the organization’s annual meeting in Daytona Monday Feb. 14. Kosiski and his family operate I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska. Kosiski is also the 1986 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Racing Series national champion.

The ARCA Menards Series starting field at Daytona, 36, is the largest since 39 cars took the green in 2018.

Sammy Smith’s ARCA Menards East win at New Smyrna is the first series career win for Kyle Busch as a team owner. As a driver in the ARCA Menards Series, Busch earned three wins, two in 2003 at Nashville Superspeedway and Kentucky Speedway, and in 2004 at Daytona International Speedway.

The New Smyrna race was the first for the ARCA Menards Series platform to be streamed live on Flo Racing. FloSports has entered into a multi-year agreement with NASCAR televising numerous properties including ARCA, the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Advance Auto Parts weekly sanctioned track racing. The New Smyrna race will be televised on USA Network this Friday, February 25, at 1 pm ET, immediately following the one-hour broadcast of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at New Smyrna.

DeLand, Florida Native Daniel Dye, Who Attends High School Just a Few Miles Away From Daytona, Finishes Third

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2022) – Corey Heim and Venturini Motorsports experienced a déjà vu Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Last year, Heim and his team opened the season with a superspeedway victory when he won the race following an overtime restart. While it was not technically an overtime finish this time, the 2022 Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire ended with a restart on the final lap. And once again, Heim wheeled his No. 20 Crescent Tools Toyota for Venturini Motorsports to the checkered flag.

The victory marked VMS’ fifth consecutive ARCA Menards Series triumph at Daytona. It was Heim’s eighth trip to Victory Lane in the ARCA Menards Series dating back to 2020.

RELATED: Complete results from ARCA opener at Daytona

“My team made it easy on me,” Heim said. “I had great teammates with me the whole way. Venturini Motorsports — the most organized team out here. Toyota Racing has helped me get here, Crescent Tools … It just all came together for this race, and it worked out.”

The teammate who spent the majority of Saturday’s race pushing Heim was Parker Chase, who finished second, a new career high in the ARCA Menards Series.

Chase was on Heim’s bumper as the two crossed the finish line.

“The objective here today was to have a Venturini car win, and we succeeded at that,” Chase said. “Five in a row for Venturini, which is incredible. That’s what we came here to do.”

A stalled car brought out the final caution of Saturday’s race with four laps to go, setting up the final-lap restart. Drew Dollar, who was driving the No. 18 Lynx Capital Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports, crashed hard on the backstretch during the final lap before the leaders drove on to take the checkered. Dollar was evaluated in and released from the Daytona infield care center.

Daniel Dye, who attends high school just a few miles away from Daytona in DeLand, Florida, finished third Saturday to open his first full-time season in the ARCA Menards Series running for GMS Racing.

“To finish third, with us points racing this year, I think there were 36 cars in this race — to be in the top five and finish third clean is a great start to our year,” Dye said. “I’m just proud to be here and part of this GMS team.”

Sean Corr and Gus Dean rounded out the top five in Saturday’s race. Andy Jankowiak, Mason Diaz, Dave Mader III, Toni Breidinger and Ryan Huff completed the top 10.

Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth culminates Sunday with the 64th running of the DAYTONA 500, which is sold completely out. The Great American Race is set for a 2:30 p.m. ET start (FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the all-new NASCAR Tracks App, for the latest speedway news.

About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training. The iconic venue will be the site of a host of motorsports events early in 2022, beginning with AHRMA Classic Motofest and the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA in January, and the 64th DAYTONA 500, which will debut the first points race for NASCAR’s ‘Next Gen’ car as part of Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth in February. The tradition-rich 81st Annual Bike Week At DAYTONA returns in March, featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200, and in May with the Heroes Honor Festival. Later in the summer during Independence Day weekend, the track, in association with Torneos, will host Soccer Fest before the NASCAR Cup Series returns for the final race of the regular season with the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Aug. 27.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: A productive week and a half of racing for 20-year-old Parker Chase will conclude Saturday afternoon in the ARCA Menards Series season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Chase’s inaugural oval debut at the “World Center of Racing” will conclude a busy stretch of action for the veteran American Sports Car driver which saw the rising phenom bounce back and forth between New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway competing in the World Series of Asphalt Championship and his first of a minimum 10 races with Venturini Motorsports aboard the No. 15 Toyota Camry in the developmental series owned by NASCAR.

Chase, the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge champion, will continue his stock car development program with Venturini Motorsports and TRD after a successful ARCA program last year and an impressive preseason test at the 2.5-mile superspeedway in January.

In practice on Thursday afternoon, Chase wheeled his No. 15 Vertical Bridge Toyota Camry around the Central Florida race track in 49.205 seconds at 182.908 miles per hour. His eclipsed time was the second-fastest of ARCA Menards Series entries entered for the 80-lap event on February 19, 2022.

On Friday, Chase maneuvered the third quickest lap in ARCA Menards Series qualifying right behind his Venturini Motorsports teammates. The Concord, N.C.-based team took three of the first five starting positions.

“We had a really good practice with all of the VMS cars working together in a draft,” explained Chase.

“The car seems good and we are just building on the work we did at the test. Our qualifying effort was very solid and I feel very comfortable that we can have a good race on Saturday and contend for the win.”

Before Chase steered his full attention to the ARCA Menards Series, the New Braunfels, Texas native has embraced a solid Pro Late Model Series tenure at the iconic New Smyrna short track which was highlighted by a sixth-place finish in night three at the half-mile oval driving for Wilson Motorsports.

“The World Series of Asphalt is one of the events that I’ve been looking forward to since we worked with Venturini Motorsports and TRD to get some more track time for my increased schedule in 2022,” said Chase.

“The Wilson Motorsports guys have put together a really good car and we improved every night that we have been on track. Our goal was to run in the top-10 and run all the laps and we have been meeting the mark on that. Undoubtedly, more experience throughout the year will help me even more.”

Following a stout performance in practice on Thursday afternoon, Chase was quietly already beginning to focus on his sixth ARCA Menards Series start and the opportunity to deliver Venturini Motorsports another historic win at the famed Daytona Beach, Fla. speedway.

Chase isn’t exactly new to the surroundings of Daytona International Speedway. He boasts prior experience in the coveted Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

With his prior experience in Sports Cars and his continued advancement of stock cars, Chase is confident he can continue a stretch of top-10 finishes in ARCA Menards Series which circles back to Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway last May, his debut with the potent Venturini Motorsports.

“We had a good test at Daytona in January in our No. 15 Toyota Camry and I’m looking to build on the experience gained in the five races I did in 2021,” added Chase. “This will be my first-time racing on the superspeedway oval after IMSA and Roval starts over the past seasons.

“Kevin Reed and the crew have been working hard in the winter to make sure we have everything we need to battle for wins.”

Vertical Bridge will continue its support Chase in his upcoming races at Daytona and Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway next month and additional races to be announced.

Added Chase, “I am also very happy to have Vertical Bridge on the car for this race and for a majority of our races in ARCA in 2022 and hope we can put them in victory lane.”

In addition to Daytona and Phoenix, Chase will pilot a Venturini Motorsports Toyota Camry at a variety of race tracks in 2022, including Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Kansas Speedway and Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

“I want to continue to develop my craft in a stock car this year,” added Chase, who also competed in two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2021. “I am thrilled to be back with Venturini Motorsports and be a part of the TRD Driver Development program.

“I really want to build on my five races in the ARCA Menards Series and fight for wins for my team and partners this season.”

For more on Parker Chase, please visit ParkerChase.com, like him on Facebook (Parker Chase), Instagram (@parkerchase) and follow him on Twitter (@parker_chase19).

The Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. The season-opener for the 70th consecutive ARCA season is set the following afternoon on Feb. 19 to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) managing the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: On the heels of turning the fastest lap in ARCA Menards Series preseason testing at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway last month, driver Greg Van Alst has confirmed his team’s intention to attempt a full ARCA Menards Series schedule in 2022.

While additional partners are welcomed to help solidify the team’s commitment to running the full 20-race schedule beginning this weekend at Daytona, Van Alst and his current marketing partner CB Fabricating have committed to each other to attempt to pursue a championship in hopes of making it to the checkered flag of the season at Toledo Speedway in October.

“This is a huge step for our team,” said Van Alst who returned to the ARCA Menards Series scene last February at Daytona after a 19-year absence. “We have all intentions of doing our best to start the year at Daytona and end the year at Toledo Speedway.

“We have purchased several race cars during the offseason and made some additional enhancements within our program since Kansas Speedway in October in hopes to be in a position to chase a championship.”

While Van Alst is incredibly thankful for the ongoing support of CB Fabricating owner Chris Barkdull, the two are actively seeking additional partners to cement their intentions.

“Chris has increased his commitment to our team this season, but we both acknowledge we still need more financial help to make this dream become a reality,” added Van Alst. “His investment into our race program is helping us reach a huge milestone and at least make the attempt to run the full schedule.

“We are going to be working on a tight budget but we have zero intentions of cutting corners to get to the race-track. We just need to do everything in our power to try and not tear a lot of equipment and hope to avoid any catastrophic mechanical failures. If we can avoid that, I think we are going to be in good shape.”

The focus that Van Alst and crew chief Jim Long have asserted since Kansas Speedway in October within the family-owned team has already paid off with their preseason performance at the “World Center of Racing.”

Armed with the same No. 35 CB Fabricating Chevrolet that the Anderson, Ind. participated with last April at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway which had been repaired after a late-race accident, Van Alst was confident that the speed the car highlighted on the superspeedways in 2021 would continue into 2022.

He was right.

“Our expectations were to be fast, but we expected to be solid,” added Van Alst. “But the truth is that we had more speed than our honest expectations and that has our team feeling really, really good – even a couple of days since the test.

“Our car was fast in single-car runs and even better in the draft. It wasn’t darty, it was very maneuverable and I was able to work with any manufacturer I wanted to. Whether it was a Chevrolet, Ford or Toyota – our car was really stable and that has me amped up for the race next month.

“It is still hard to believe this is real. I’ve watched so many races and Speedweeks from the couch with the dream of being there. Competing there is hard for me to explain what it means. I must block emotions and focus, but it still gives me chills going through the tunnel. The place is magical.”

The success of the test has already allowed the family-owned team to shift its focus to the second ARCA Menards Series race of the 2022 season at Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway in March.

“I’ve never been to Phoenix, but I’m pumped about it,” added Van Alst. “This is our mojo right now. We have our schedule ironed out through Charlotte in May. Hopefully, if these just keep progressing – we can just keep extending our calendar and inch ahead to the summer months and before you know it we’ll be looking at the fall and the end of the season with an outlook on 2023.

“No one said any of this was going to be easy, but we are sure are going to enjoy the ride and look to make the most of every race. Every race is an opportunity for us and we don’t want to forget that.”

Before the team focuses on their inaugural run in Avondale, Van Alst set sights on his first career ARCA victory in Saturday afternoon’s Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire.

“Daytona is here and I’m ready,” sounded Van Alst. “This is it. This is our time to shine. I feel confident about our No. 35 CB Fabricating Chevrolet and I think we will be able to back up our speed and performance from the test in practice on Thursday to qualifying on Friday and then 80 laps on Saturday.

“Winning is everything as a race car driver and to do it at Daytona would be huge on such a big stage.”

For more on Greg Van Alst and Greg Van Alst Motorsports, please visit GregVanAlst.com, like them on Facebook (Van Alst Motorsports) and follow him on Twitter (@GregVanAlst35).

For more on CB Fabricating, please visit CBFabricating.com and like them on Facebook (CB Fabricating).

The Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Thurs., Feb. 17 with a fifty-minute session from 4:05 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. Group qualifying is set for Fri., Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. The season-opener for the 70th consecutive ARCA season is set the following afternoon on Feb. 19 to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: The moment that Amber Balcaen Reaves has been waiting for is just days away.

Rette Jones Racing and Balcaen Reaves will soon invade Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and begin their quest for the ARCA Menards Series championship with their No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion.

For Balcaen Reaves, Daytona is the start of her first full year on the ARCA Menards Series and one of two females not only battling for the championship but also looking to become the first female winner in the premier ARCA Menards Series.

“I am so grateful for this opportunity with Rette Jones Racing and ICON Direct,” said Amber Balcaen Reaves. “I am extremely excited to race at Daytona International Speedway. I have been working for the opportunity to race at Daytona for the last 8 years and I couldn’t be any happier that it’s now our reality!”

“On top of that, to know I have 19 more races scheduled is a great feeling! It feels so great to be full-time racing again!”

Balcaen Reaves who married her longtime boyfriend, Jordan Reaves on Feb. 5 in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada had the opportunity to tackle the 2.5-mile superspeedway for the first time last month during preseason testing and it offered the opportunity for her to get accustomed to the fundamentals of superspeedway racing when practice launches on Thursday afternoon.

“I had so much fun at the test last month, it makes me even more excited for the race!,” added Balcaen Reaves. “I am confident in the RJR crew and hope we can get ourselves in a good qualifying group on Friday so we can have an opportunity to start our No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion as close to the front as possible.”

“My crew chief and co-team owner Mark (Rette) has been working hard on our ICON Direct Ford Fusion since the test and I’m eager to see if we found more speed from the test last month. With that being said, I am confident in Mark (Rette), the RJR team and myself to be successful at Daytona. If we can keep clean during the race, I know we will have a strong chance to be in contention for a podium and even a win.”

Rette Jones Racing is no stranger to success at Daytona. In January 2020, the Mooresville, N.C.-based team topped the speed charts with driver Dominique Van Wieringen and contended for a top-five finish before being swept into an accident nearly halfway into February’s race two years ago.

In 2017, RJR finished second in the ARCA season-opener with team co-owner Terry Jones who led 25 of the event’s 80 laps. Jones was preparing to a potentially winning move in the closing laps, but a late-race caution forced the event to end under yellow flag conditions.

Knowing his team is capable of success in front of a captive audience has Rette excited about Balcaen Reaves’s ARCA Menards Series premier debut in the sport’s biggest race.

“I’m excited,” offered Rette. “Amber should be too. I really feel like our No. 30 ICON Direct Ford Fusion is going to be fast and I know Amber isn’t afraid to drive, so we should be right up there with the best of the best in the series.

“I’m glad she turned some laps during the open ARCA Menards Series test in January and hopefully that track time will prove to be valuable for when she climbs aboard our race car with an opportunity to become the first female winner in ARCA National Series history.

“We had that chance a couple of years ago at Daytona with Dominique but came up short. I’m thankful to have another opportunity to do that this year with Amber – not only at Daytona but all season long.”

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.

ICON Direct is a manufacturer of high-quality plastic component parts for the RV industry, located in Manitoba, Canada. ICON aftermarket replacement parts are available through RV Dealers and Distributors across North America and directly through their website IconDirect.com.

“We are excited to be a returning sponsor of Amber Balcaen in NASCAR’s ARCA Menards Series,” added John Loewen, CEO of ICON Technologies Limited. “I resonate with Amber’s underdog story. She has a really bright future as a professional race car driver and is a great brand ambassador for ICON.”

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.

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.

RJR is co-owned by Canadian entrepreneur and former race car driver Terry Jones.

For more on Amber Balcaen Reaves, please visit amberbalcaenracing.com, like her on Facebook (AmberBalcaenRacing) and follow her on Instagram (@amberbalcaen10) and Twitter (@amberbalcaen10).

For more on Rette Jones Racing, please visit RetteJonesRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Rette Jones Racing) or follow them on Twitter (@RetteJones30).

The Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Thurs., Feb. 17 with a fifty-minute session from 4:05 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. Group qualifying is set for Fri., Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. The season-opener for the 70th consecutive ARCA season is set the following afternoon on Feb. 19 to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

About Rette Jones Racing:

Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, Rette Jones Racing (RJR) was founded in 2015 with the intent of building a successful racing operation built around the fundamentals of hard work and a never-give-up attitude.

Owned by racers Terry Jones and Mark Rette, RJR plan to field a full-time entry in 2022 in the ARCA Menards Series, while also planning to field vehicles in the ARCA Menards Series East and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) respectively.

The winning ARCA team also offers technical and setup intel as part of its technical alliance partnership program.

Young’s Motorsports | ARCA Menards Series East
New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway | Race to Stop Suicide 200

Fast Facts
No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Leland Honeyman Jr.
Primary Partner(s): LH Waterfront Construction | Besecker & Maynard Group
Manufacturer: Chevrolet SS
Crew Chief: Andrew Abbott
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Welcome To The Team: Teenager Late Model sensation Leland Honeyman Jr. has joined Young’s Motorsports for the 2022 ARCA Menards Series East season.

Honeyman will run the No. 02 LH Waterfront Construction | Besecker & Maynard Group Chevrolet for the entire seven-race series beginning with Tuesday night’s Race to Stop Suicide 200 presented by Place of Hope at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.

In addition to ARCA, Honeyman is slated to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut this fall for the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team.

Just The Facts: Honeyman, 16, aligns with the Mooresville, N.C.-based team after a successful 2021 season competing in the Carolina Pro Late Model Series, where he earned championship-runner up honors and picked up an astounding victory in the annual Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway Fall Brawl.

The Phoenix, Ariz. native began honing his racing skills at the tender age of two racing Quads. By four years old, he moved into Trophy Karts and then subsequently collected three series championships in off-road racing Trophy Karts.

After an instrumental tenure in Go Karts, he moved into Bandolero competition in 2015 and two years later was crowned a Bandolero National Champion. From there, he moved into Limited Late Models before graduating to the Carolina Pro Late Model Series division in 2021.

Thankful For You: LH Waterfront Construction will serve as the primary marketing of Honeyman’s No. 02 Chevrolet for his rookie campaign in the ARCA Menards Series East.

Since 1995, LH Waterfront Construction has been building custom homes and performing remodels at the highest level.

Besecker & Maynard Group umbrellaed under Keller Williams Realty dynamically serves their clients with specialized realty services from listings to buyers.

They listen to learn your needs, then get to work to meet them head-on, with exemplary service and exceptional marketing to showcase your property listing with staging, stunning photography, social media exposure and print advertising in popular real estate magazines.

Their seasoned buyer specialists are here to help fine-tune your home search.

Calling The Shots: Guiding Honeyman as crew chief of the No. 02 LH Waterfront Construction | Besecker & Maynard Group Chevrolet is veteran crew chief Andrew Abbott.
Abbott returns to the Young’s Motorsports team after serving as crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Sam Hunt Racing.

With over 178 combined starts as crew chief in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Xfinity Series, Abbott has five top-five and 18 top-10 finishes, including a top-five finish most recently at Richmond (Va.) Raceway with John Hunter Nemechek in September 2021.

New Smyrna will officially mark Abbott’s crew chief debut under the ARCA banner.

Young’s Motorsports 2022 ARCA Season: A staple in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports will begin their second season of ARCA competition in 2022.

Last year, the organization expanded its platform to include the NASCAR-owned ARCA Menards Series.

Throughout the premier ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East seasons, Young’s Motorsports participated in 11 races with a best finish of seventh in their ARCA East debut at Dover (Del.) International Speedway with driver Connor Mosack.

In all, Young’s Motorsports delivered one top-10, four top-15s and 10 top-20 finishes.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Leland Honeyman Jr., please visit LelandHoneymanRacing.com, like him on Facebook (Leland Honeyman Racing) and follow on Instagram (@lelandhoneymanjr) and Twitter (@lelandhoneyman3).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports) and follow on Instagram (youngsmotorsports) and Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Leland Honeyman Jr. Pre-Race Quotes:

Talk about what the last couple of weeks have been like since your announcement? “The outpouring of support has been great. I cannot wait to get the 2022 racing season underway.

The Young’s Motorsports team has made me feel very welcome and I really think we have a chance to go to every race and not only be competitive but have a shot at Victory Lane and keep this Young’s Motorsports team in the hunt for the championship.”

Thoughts about New Smyrna this week: “I’m very optimistic about New Smyrna. It is going to be super important to get our No. 02 LH Waterfront Construction | Besecker & Maynard Group Chevrolet dialed in.

“With practice and qualifying being combined, we just want to put ourselves in a good position to post a good lap that will allow us to start the race near the front.

“From there, it’s about keeping our car dialed in and keeping the bigger picture in mind. I just want my ARCA Menards Series East debut to be a successful one.”

Thoughts about the upcoming 2022 season: “There is obviously pressure to perform. I want to prove that I have what it takes to not only be an excellent ARCA Menards Series driver – but doing everything I can to be prepared for my NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut later in the year.

“For me, it’s one race at a time. Winning, obviously is the goal, but making sure we get the best finish possible out of our No. 02 LH Waterfront Construction | Besecker & Maynard Group Chevrolet is my top priority.”

Race Information:

The Race to Stop Suicide 200 presented by Place of Hope (200 laps | 100 miles) is the first of seven races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series East schedule. Practice begins for the one-day show on Tuesday, February 15 from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The results of practice will dictate the starting grid for the season-opening race. The event will take the green flag just after 7:30 p.m. with live television coverage on FloRacing and taped delay coverage on the USA Network.

NEW SMYRNA, Fla: Christian Rose is still a relatively new name on the ARCA Menards Series scene, but the driver of the No. 42 West Virginia Tourism Chevrolet for Cook Racing Technologies (CRT) is focused on building himself into a household name throughout the 2022 season.

Rose, a former Division 1 baseball player for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore has traded the glove and bat in for a steering wheel and helmet and sets his sight on making noise on the race track in a diverse 2022 schedule that will include competition in the premier ARCA Menards Series and the regional touring ARCA Menards Series East.

Despite just four years of experience as a driver, Rose has captivated an audience for his ability to quickly dial in his race car and backup his intuition with his race craft on the track which included producing two top-10 finishes in his only two starts in the ARCA Menards Series West division last year at the Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway Bullring and All American (Calif.) Speedway respectively.

With some confidence on his side, Rose will kick off his 2022 season with a double dose of action this week at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway and Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

“I’m really excited about 2022,” said Rose. “This is the year where I am focused on taking all my experience and applying it into results for West Virginia Tourism and Cook Racing Technologies. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity that will allow me to race on a larger scale – but I must perform.

“Opportunities like this are truly once in a lifetime and I am taking the necessary steps that I know of to capitalize on the opportunity and prepare for the long term when it comes to my racing career.”

Before shifting his attention to the ARCA Menards Series West last year, Rose spent 2019 and 2020 competing in Late Models which included a large dose of action at New Smyrna which gives the Martinsburg, W.V. native a positive outlook on Tuesday’s Race to Stop Suicide 200 presented by Place of Hope.

“I’ve been hungry to get to New Smyrna because I have turned so many laps there,” added Rose. “I spent a lot of time racing there on a weekly basis a couple of years ago, so I feel like that experience and knowing the fundamentals of the track will put us in a good position to start the week off on a good note.
“Hopefully, we’ll find ourselves in a place to contend for a top-five finish on Tuesday and then turn our attention to Daytona.”

Saturday afternoon’s Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire will be Rose’s inaugural debut in the premier ARCA Menards Series. In January, Rose boasted a time inside the top-five on the second day of preseason testing giving him the confidence that his superspeedway debut has the potential to be memorable.

“Daytona is such a huge blessing, you really don’t understand,” he said. “Our preseason test went really well and Bruce (Cook) and the team went through our No. 42 West Virginia Tourism Chevrolet with a fine-tooth comb to make sure we can unload for practice on Thursday afternoon in a good place.

“Daytona is going to be the biggest learning experience of my career but it is a challenge I am ready to conquer and ready to conquer it well. If we can keep ourselves out of trouble and be in a place for a top-10 finish on Saturday afternoon, then I feel like we can put an exclamation point on the weekend!”
In 2022, Rose will also continue to strengthen a relationship with the West Virginia Department of Tourism.

The West Virginia Department of Tourism promotes West Virginia as a leading four-season travel destination and top state to live, work and retire.

Known as the Mountain State, West Virginia is one of the most scenic states in the United States and home to thousands of acres of parks and public lands, including America’s newest national park and 45 state parks and forests. In addition to its majestic mountains and rolling hills, West Virginia is full of rich historic sites, enchanting art galleries, charming towns and an immense sense of belonging found only in its heaven-like landscapes.

In West Virginia, let country roads lead you far away from everything. And a little closer to heaven.
“My relationship with the West Virginia Department of Tourism is everything to me,” added Rose.

“Without them, I would not be able to race at New Smyrna or Daytona. It is my goal throughout the year to spread the mission of everything the West Virginia Department of Tourism means.
“It is going to be a fun year.”

Bruce Cook, owner of Cook Racing Technologies and crew chief of both Rose’s entries this week is excited to have the 26-year-old Rose back in his corner for another year of learning, racing and chasing checkered flags.

“Without a doubt, Christian is going to impress people this season,” sounded Cook. “He has really flown under the radar the last year and a half, but I think he is going to be in a position to explode on the track when it comes to his consistency and results.

“I feel like he is definitely capable of winning races and if everything goes our way on a particular race weekend, there isn’t a reason why we should be in a position to challenge for several wins this year. I cannot thank the West Virginia Department of Tourism and the rest of Christian’s partners for their trust and faith in my race team with a talented driver aboard.

“I cannot wait to get the season going on Tuesday night.”

A detailed schedule for Rose will be announced at a later date.

For more on Christian Rose, please like him on Facebook (Christian Rose Racing) or follow him on Instagram (@christianroseracing) and Twitter (@CRoseRacing).

The Race to Stop Suicide 200 presented by Place of Hope (200 laps | 100 miles) is the first of seven races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series East schedule. Practice begins for the one-day show on Tuesday, February 15 from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The results of practice will dictate the starting grid for the season-opening race. The event will take the green flag just after 7:30 p.m. with live television coverage on FloRacing and taped delay coverage on the USA Network.

The Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire (80 laps | 200 miles) is the first of 20 races on the 2022 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Thurs., Feb. 17 with a fifty-minute session from 4:05 p.m. – 4:55 p.m. Group qualifying is set for Fri., Feb. 18 at 1:30 p.m. The season-opener for the 70th consecutive ARCA season is set the following afternoon on Feb. 19 to take the green flag shortly after 1:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities.

About The West Virginia Department of Tourism:

The West Virginia Department of Tourism promotes West Virginia as a leading four-season travel destination and top state to live, work and retire.
Known as the Mountain State, West Virginia is one of the most scenic states in the United States and home to thousands of acres of parks and public lands, including America’s newest national park and 45 state parks and forests.

In addition to its majestic mountains and rolling hills, West Virginia is full of rich historic sites, enchanting art galleries, charming towns and an immense sense of belonging found only in its heaven-like landscapes.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Mullins Racing is set to embark upon one of the most important weeks in team history.

The team owned by Willie and Dinah Mullins will compete in the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series openers this week at New Smyrna Speedway and Daytona International Speedway, respectively.

“This is definitely one of the most important race weeks we’ve ever had,” Willie Mullins said. “Our team is showing signs of potential in the big game of ARCA. We want to go out and continue to prove that we belong in this world.”

At New Smyrna, Willie Mullins will be behind the wheel of his No. 11 Crow Wing Recycling Ford for his third start at the historic half-mile asphalt oval. Last year at New Smyrna, Mullins was able to stay out of trouble and earn a 10th-place finish, his first top-10 finish in ARCA competition on a short track.

The goal is similar this year, with Mullins hoping to stay out of trouble during the Race to Stop Suicide 200 presented by Place of Hope on Tuesday and earn a lead lap, top-10 finish against some of the best young stock car drivers the world has to offer.

“The race at New Smyrna gets me back in the car,” Mullins said. “Me being a driver, I want to get back in the car and go racing. We had a disappointing finish at Salem at the end of last year, but it was definitely a lot more of a learning experience. We want to continue on that learning path and get better.”

Following Tuesday’s race at New Smyrna, all attention turns to legendary 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. Mullins will wheel the No. 3 Crow Wing Recycling/CorvetteParts.net Chevrolet during the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire on Saturday afternoon.

The team will also field the No. 03 Ford for rookie Brayton Laster at Daytona, the first time in team history that Mullins Racing will field two cars for the race at Daytona International Speedway. Laster joins the team for the race at Daytona after taking part in the pre-race practice at the track in January.

“We want to make sure Brayton has the best experience possible this weekend,” Mullins said. “For Brayton, I’d love to see him finish in the top half of the field with all the fenders on it. It’s going to be a big, fast learning experience for him but he proved he can get up to speed quick during the pre-race practice in January, so we’re confident he’ll do well.”

For Mullins, who has one top-five and three top-10 finishes during his career at Daytona International Speedway, nothing short of a victory is acceptable.

“Anything less than a win for my car is a disappointment at Daytona,” said Mullins, who earned a career-best second-place finish at Daytona in 2018. “We’ve shown we can run up front when it matters most. We have great equipment, a fast race car and a determined team. We just need to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s.”

The Race to Stop Suicide 200 presented by Place of Hope from New Smyrna Speedway is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 15. Live streaming coverage will be provided by FloRacing, with the race scheduled to begin at approximately 7:40 p.m. ET.

The Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire from Daytona International Speedway is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 19. Live television coverage will be provided by FS1, with the race scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET

Mooresville, NC., Feb 10, 2022 – The late Bob Keselowski to be honored by Empire Racing Group in the ARCA Menards Series season-opener the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire, at Daytona International Speedway.

Empire Racing Group is transforming the No. 8 Chevrolet driven by Sean Corr to the black No. 29 Winnebago to replicate the car Keselowski drove when he raced in the ARCA Series. “When I approached Empire team owner’s John and Sean Corr they were more than happy to make this happen. This tribute means the world to me, Bob was a very good friend, he helped me and my team a lot. Honoring him will be one of the most rewarding parts of my career, this is a win to me”, said Mike “Grumpy” Cheek, Team Manager for Empire Racing.

Empire Team owner John Corr says, “Bob was not only a friend to our team but helped us with multiple car builds and setups. Words can not explain how honored we are as a team to pay tribute to a true champion”. Team owner and driver Sean Corr says, “It’s a great feeling to have the opportunity to drive the iconic No.29 to memorialize such a great man and his achievements in racing”.

Keselowski won 24 races throughout his ARCA career and won the series championship in 1989. He later moved on to the Camping World Truck Series racing in the inaugural race for that series. The No. 29 was once again in victory lane in 1997 with the Truck Series.
For more information about Empire Racing Group visit our website at http://www.empireracinggroup.com/.

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