Category: ARCA

Season-Opening Victor at Daytona International Speedway Wins Iconic DAYTONA Road Course Event

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 14, 2020) – After a spirited battle of trading paint and lead swapping,  Michael Self muscled his way past Ty Gibbs with six laps to go to win the General Tire 100 ARCA Menards Series race at the DAYTONA Road Course Friday night. The victory kicked off a historical weekend at storied as road course racing for stock cars returned to Daytona Beach.

The General Tire 100 marked the first time in history that the ARCA Menards Series, a staple at Daytona since 1962, had ever competed on the storied tri-oval/road course, made famous by the Rolex 24 AT DAYTONA, North America’s premier event that also started in 1962.

For Self, a noted road course ace, the victory was extra special as he was able to win on layout with many twists and turns (14) but also he made it DAYTONA sweep after winning the season-opener on the high banks of the tri-oval in February. This marks the first time in history two ARCA races have competed at Daytona in a single season and Self won them both.

“It’s a little extra special for me. I wanted to win a road course race so bad this year,” said Self, the championship points leader who notched his second triumph of the season. “This is so special to me. Anytime you win at Daytona it is really special. To do it twice in one year is really cool. Road course racing has a special place in my heart. Just really cool.”

As a result of the win, Self stretched his lead in the title chase to 15 over Bret Holmes, who wound up eighth. As for his hard racing with Gibbs, the grandson of NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs, Self said, “every point is incredibly important right now. I wanted to lead laps…wanted to get out front. The side-by-side racing that Ty and I had was exciting.”

Self was able to stretch his lead to 6.993 seconds at the checkered flag. Behind Gibbs in third was former IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar champ Colin Braun, who, at the midway point of the event, came in as a relief driver for Sam Mayer, who entered the race with an injured right arm. Rounding out the top six were Taylor Gray, Will Rodgers and Hailie Deegan. 

The start of the race was delayed by nearly three hours for heavy showers, but once the inclement weather moved out of the area, most teams chose to use treaded rain tires on the track, which remained wet in places throughout the race.

NASCAR’s three top-tier series will now get a chance to challenge the DAYTONA Road Course, each for the inaugural time, beginning Saturday with the UNOH 188 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, which is set for a 3 p.m. ET start. Sunday will feature a doubleheader for the Sunoco 159 for the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series at 12:00 p.m. ET while the NASCAR Cup Series’ Go Bowling 250 will take the green flag at 3:00 p.m. ET.

The full schedule is below:

·       Saturday, August 15 – NASCAR Xfinity Series at 3:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

·       Sunday, August 16 – NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors at 12 Noon ET (FS1)

·       Sunday, August 16 – NASCAR Cup Series at 3:00 p.m. ET (NBC)

A limited number of fans will get the opportunity to see the Go Bowling 235 and Sunoco 159. Fans can get tickets, which start at $49 (both races included) for adults and $10 for kids 12 years old and younger, by visiting www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or calling 1-800-PIT-SHOP.

Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and by downloading Daytona International Speedway’s mobile app, for the latest Speedway news throughout the season.

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.

Sam Mayer, No. 21 Kelly for Kids Foundation Chevrolet

START: 3rd

FINISH: 3rd

Notes & Quotes:—

• Sam Mayer started third for Friday night’s event on the Daytona Road Course. Mayer maintained the third position until the race break on Lap 15 when the team elected to make a driver change. Colin Braun replaced Mayer, who is suffering from a hairline fracture on his right thumb. Braun took over the second position early in the second half of the race, but would fall back to ultimately finish third.

Sam Mayer – ”We fired off really good at the start of the race and I was able to hold on pretty good. I really couldn’t go much further, I’m glad we had a halfway break because my hand started hurting pretty bad. I’m really proud of Collin (Braun). He got in the car when everybody else had 14 laps and he had zero and he was able to bring home a top three. I’m proud of him and thankful he could be here in the first place.”

Colin Braun – ”I was a little worried when I got to second, honestly. These guys at GMS did a great job, the Chevy was fast. I got myself up into second and thought ‘I don’t really know where I’m supposed to break. I haven’t done a lap yet!’ So for me I sort of over achieved early and then realized I needed to figure out a couple laps here so I know where my break points are and everything. I’m really proud of Sam (Mayer) he was doing a great job. Like I told him I felt like I came in halfway through the movie and had to catch up. Happy to get these guys a top three and on to the next one for them.”

ABOUT GMS RACING

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with drivers Brett Moffitt, Sheldon Creed, Tyler Ankrum and Zane Smith as well as part-time with David Gravel and Chase Purdy. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Sam Mayer. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 Gander Trucks Championship, the 2019 ARCA East championship and has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at https://gmsracing.net/.
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Track: Daytona Int’l Speedway, 3.61-mile road course
Race: 12 of 20
Event: General Tire 100 (104.69 miles, 29 laps)

Schedule:
Friday, August 14
2:00 p.m………..Practice
5:00 p.m……….Race (MAVTV & Trackpass)
(all times ET)

Hailie Deegan, No. 4 Monster Energy Ford Fusion

Hailie Deegan is one of the few drivers with experience on the road course at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. She was able to test and race there earlier this year for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race in a Ford Mustang GT4. She teamed up with fellow Ford driver Chase Briscoe for the four-hour competition.

So far this season in 11 ARCA Menards Series starts, Deegan has earned two top-five and nine top-10 finishes. She has spent quite a bit of time on the Ford Performance racing simulator in Concord, N.C., preparing for the 29-lap road race on Friday. Teams will be allowed a brief practice session to get a feel for the track and help Deegan make adjustments to her driving style for the heavier stock car, versus a sports car.

The ARCA Menards Series General Tire 100 from Daytona International Speedway will be run on Friday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on MAVTV and streamed live on NBC Gold TrackPass. The 29-lap race will have one race break on, or near lap 15.

Deegan on Daytona: “One of the advantages I have going to this road course is that I raced and tested there in an IMSA sports car, so I got a lot of seat time and a lot of laps. I know the line and the track, so since we only get an hour of practice in the stock car, I’m going to be a lot more ready than most right off the bat. We can use practice to specifically work on the car. I’ve been on the Ford Performance simulator a lot to help find where I’m going to change my braking points. I noticed on the simulator I’ll have to back up and slow down everything for the ARCA car since being in a stock car is so different than a Mustang GT4, but it’s easier to back yourself up than push yourself forward.”

Taylor Gray, No. 17 Place of Hope Ford Fusion

Although Taylor Gray does not have experience on the Daytona road course, he does have the advantage of already competing in two road races this season. The 15-year-old rookie ran the ARCA Menards Series West doubleheader at Utah Motorsports Campus road course in June. For his first time turning left and right, he picked up on the skills quickly and finished fourth in the first 31-lap race. While running in the top five in the second race, a battery issue put him back in 11th to finish the race. His DGR-Crosley team is taking the same Ford Fusion to Daytona that he raced at Utah in June.

Gray has had an impressive season so far since he was able to start racing in the various ARCA Menards Series after he turned 15 on March 25 and the ARCA schedule resumed in June. In seven ARCA starts (combining all three series) he has four top-five and five top-10 finishes.

Gray will race a special paint scheme at Daytona showcasing Place of Hope. Place of Hope is a faith-based, state licensed organization focused on providing programs and services to end the cycles of abuse, neglect, homelessness and human trafficking. They offer support to children, youth and families in need. They are the largest, most diverse, residential children and families organization in Palm Beach County (Fla.) and the Treasure Coast. Their goal is to help those they serve find healing and restoration, which leads to a successful future. For more information, visit https://www.placeofhope.com/.

The ARCA Menards Series General Tire 100 from Daytona International Speedway will be run on Friday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on MAVTV and streamed live on NBC Gold TrackPass. The 29-lap race will have one race break on, or near lap 15.

Gray on Daytona: “This will technically be my third road race since I did two at Utah Motorsports Campus in June in ARCA West. I had a lot of fun racing there and we had plenty of speed, but a flat tire kept us from competing for a win in the first race and a battery issue kept us from a top five in the second race. I’ve spent some time on the Ford Performance simulator learning the Daytona course, so hopefully that will speed up my learning curve during practice on Friday. I’ll be racing the same Ford as we took to Utah, so we know it’s fast.

“I’m also happy to have Place of Hope on my car for the race. It is a great organization helping kids and families in South Florida. My family has been a big supporter for years and we hope this race helps bring them some awareness for donations.”

Thad Moffitt, No. 46 Richard Petty Performance Plus Motor Oil Ford Fusion

Thad Moffitt will be making his first career road course start in any series on Sunday at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. In his 26 starts in the ARCA Menards Series, they have all been on ovals. He was scheduled to compete in two road races this year at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, but both were canceled due to the pandemic.

So far this season, Moffitt has competed in all 11 ARCA Menards Series events with two top-five and seven top-10 finishes and is currently fifth in the driver point standings. To prepare for this new challenge on Friday, he has been practicing on the iRacing simulator and attended two road racing schools in January.

The No. 46 Richard Petty Performance Plus Oil Ford Fusion Moffitt will be driving at Daytona this Friday is the same car Tanner Gray raced at Watkins Glen last year in the K&N East race.

The ARCA Menards Series General Tire 100 from Daytona International Speedway will be run on Friday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on MAVTV and streamed live on NBC Gold TrackPass. The 29-lap race will have one race break on, or near lap 15.

Moffitt on Daytona: “I’ve never driven a road course and I have no idea what to expect. I went to a couple driving schools in January to help prepare since I was scheduled to run the ARCA races at Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen before the season was shuffled around. I’ve also done a lot of iRacing on the simulator. My main goal for the weekend is to try to keep all four tires on the track and just take what it gives us. Instead of trying to race the other drivers, I’m going to race the track. There are a few drivers, including my teammate Hailie Deegan, who have a lot of road course experience who I can learn from throughout the day. I just want to keep all the fenders on it and see what we can do.”

MOORESVILLE, N.C.: Chad Bryant Racing (CBR) announced today that development driver Parker Chase will drive the team’s No. 22 Ford Fusion in his ARCA Menards Series debut in this Friday’s General Tire 100 at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway Road Course.

Chase, 19, will look to put on a show in his series’ debut as the New Braunfels, Tex. native is an experienced road course veteran and hopes to display his talent of turning lefts and rights in the 29-lap event.

Veteran crew chief Paul Andrews will oversee the effort for Chase’s ARCA debut.

“I’m really excited about my ARCA debut at the Daytona Road Couse this week,” said Chase. “When this race was added to the schedule, we knew we had to put the components in place to go out there and compete.

“I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to put the sponsorship together and the relentless effort from the Chad Bryant Racing team should give us an upper hand in the series’ debut at the Daytona Road Course.”

Chase joined the Mooresville, N.C.-based Chad Bryant Racing team earlier this summer and has competed in select Late Model Stock races in the N.C.-region where he has impressed with speed and finishes inside the top-10.

With limited practice and no qualifying for the competitors, Chase may have an upper hand on his competition as the teenager ran in the 2018 and 2019 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona in IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship in the GTD Series.

He also participated in a Global Rallycross Lites event at Daytona in 2016.

While the ARCA 14-turn road course is a slightly different from his experience in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Chase still hopes his two years of experience in the coveted race will prove to be an advantage.

“It’s a very short race, so you don’t have a lot of time to make your moves,” added Chase. “You really have to be on your game from Lap 1 and even though we’ll be starting mid-pack, I think we can make some quick gains on the competition and put ourselves in a position to win the race.”

The Texan also rides the momentum of success in his first IMSA podium in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Series at Road America (Wisc.)

VerticalBridge, Enertech Resources, NXTLVL Marine and Tige Boats will serve as the partners on Chase’s No. 22 Ford Fusion in the 12th race of the season.

Team owner Chad Bryant is upbeat about his rookie driver opportunity to earn the team their first ARCA win of the season on Friday afternoon.

“Parker is going to climb into the No. 22 VerticalBridge | Enertech Resources Ford Fusion and leave nothing on the table,” explained Bryant. “While he is still adjusting to these heavier cars, I think he can overcome the learning curve and carry our Chad Bryant Racing team to the front.

“We’re hungry to put ourselves in contention for a win and it would be awesome to be the inaugural winner of the ARCA Daytona Road Course race.”

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

For more on Chad Bryant Racing, please visit ChadBryantRacing.com, like them on Facebook (Chad Bryant Racing) or follow them on Twitter (@ChadBryantRace).

The General Tire 100 (29 laps | 103 miles) is the 12th of 20 races on the 2020 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Fri. Aug. 14, 2020 with an hour group practice session from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag shortly after 5:00 p.m. The event will be televised live on MAVTV, while ARCARacing.com will stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire day’s festivities. All times are local (Eastern).

Track: Michigan International Speedway, two-mile oval
Race: 11 of 20
Event: VizCom 200 (200 miles, 100 laps)

Schedule:
Sunday, August 9
11:30 a.m………..Practice
1:00 p.m……….Race (MAVTV & Trackpass)
(all times ET)

Hailie Deegan, No. 4 Monster Energy Ford Fusion

Hailie Deegan will be making her first start at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Sunday. To prepare for the fast two-mile oval, she spent time on the Ford Performance simulator in Concord, N.C., earlier this week and received advice from NASCAR Cup Series veteran David Ragan.

So far this season in 10 ARCA Menards Series starts, Deegan has earned two top-five and eight top-10 finishes. She had the potential for another top-five finish Sunday at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway, but had to settle for sixth when rain ended the race after only 127 of 200 laps.

The DGR-Crosley team is taking the same Monster Energy Ford Fusion which Deegan raced at Kentucky Speedway last month. The car has a new front clip after an accident in that race.

The ARCA Menards Series VizCom 200 from Michigan International Speedway will be run on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 1 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on MAVTV and streamed live on NBC Gold TrackPass. The 100-lap race will be broken into segments with competition breaks on laps 30 and 60.

Deegan on Michigan: “I spent some time on the Ford simulator practicing for Michigan to get a baseline since you don’t know if you will be wide open there because I know they have done a couple things to the ARCA cars now. It’s just kind of guessing how the setup will be, but we’ll figure it out when we get there, although we won’t have a ton of practice. We’ll try to get a decent setup and get a good finish. Being consistent and not making mistakes is so important, along with the car’s setup.”

Anthony Alfredo, No. 17 Crosley Brands Ford Fusion

Anthony Alfredo returns to his former team for the ARCA Menards Series race on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. He will compete in the No. 17 Crosley Brands Ford Fusion for the 100-lap race. Alfredo raced for DGR-Crosley in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series for 13 races in 2019. He earned two top-10 finishes in the Truck Series before moving up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season, where he has scored one top-five and six top-10 finishes in 10 starts to date.

Michigan was one of the truck races Alfredo ran last year, so he is looking forward to going back to a track where he has prior experience. He had been running in the top five toward the end of the race until an accident took out all three DGR-Crosley trucks, including Alfredo, leaving him in 26th place.

Alfredo will race the same No. 17 Ford Fusion which Tanner Gray finished fifth in at Kansas Speedway in July.

The ARCA Menards Series VizCom 200 from Michigan International Speedway will be run on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 1 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on MAVTV and streamed live on NBC Gold TrackPass. The 100-lap race will be broken into segments with competition breaks on laps 30 and 60.

Alfredo on Michigan: “We’ve been working on scheduling this race since the start of the season. Because of Covid-19, we weren’t sure exactly when we would be able to do it, but fortunately Michigan fell right in between my biggest break from the Xfinity side of things, so I’m excited to go fill that gap. It’s going to be nice to get the band back together racing with DGR-Crosley again and go have some fun at Michigan. I didn’t get to work with Blake (Bainbridge, crew chief) last year, but I know him and most of the guys who will be on my team, so that helps with the chemistry. I’m glad I get to go to Michigan. It’s a fun track and I was able to run a Truck Series race with them last year, so there is some consistency which will be helpful.”

Thad Moffitt, No. 46 Richard Petty Performance Plus Motor Oil Ford Fusion

Thad Moffitt will make his first start at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Sunday. In 25 career ARCA Menards Series starts, he has never competed on the wide two-mile oval. Luckily he has plenty of people to ask for advice throughout the DGR-Crosley organization. His teammate this weekend, Anthony Alfredo, has a prior truck start there, as well as team co-owner David Gilliland who has 19 NASCAR Cup Series starts in the Irish Hills.

Moffitt has been preparing for the new track by practicing on iRacing frequently. He has also been preparing physically making sure he is hydrated and eating healthy before the afternoon race.

Moffitt will be driving the same No. 46 Richard Petty Performance Plus Oil Ford Fusion which he raced at Kansas Speedway in July where he finished 10th.

The ARCA Menards Series VizCom 200 from Michigan International Speedway will be run on Sunday, Aug. 9 at 1 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on MAVTV and streamed live on NBC Gold TrackPass. The 100-lap race will be broken into segments with competition breaks on laps 30 and 60.

Moffitt on Michigan: “I’ve never raced at Michigan, but Tanner Gray told me the track gets really narrow off of turn two. It might have something to do with the frontstretch being curved and the backstretch being completely straight. I think we’ll be able to run wide open, at least for a little while until we’re in traffic, or something. The main thing I’m focusing on is a wide entry into both corners like I worked on at Toledo. If we can do that and I have to be able to trust my car a lot. Holding it wide open at 200 mph at Michigan is definitely going to be a first for me. I have enough confidence in my team and in myself that I think we’ll be just fine.”

Statesville, N.C. (August 3, 2020) – GMS Racing announced today that Kris Wright will run a select schedule with the team in 2020. Wright will pilot the No. 21 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series at Michigan International Speedway on August 9 and the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course on August 16.

Wright made his ARCA West debut at the Utah Motorsports Campus double header in June where he finished second and third in the two events. Wright finished second in the LMP2 class in the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona. The Wexford, PA native claimed the IMSA Prototype Challenge Championship (LMP3) in 2018 and was the IMSA Prototype Challenge Rookie of the year in 2017.

“I’m really excited to be making my first ARCA and NASCAR starts with GMS and Chevrolet,” said Wright. “You always want to be doing it with the best team. I’m a Chevy guy from birth so it’s a dream come true.”

The VizCom 200 from Michigan International Speedway will air live Sunday August 9 at 1pm ET on MAVTV and NBC Sports Gold TrackPass. The Gander Trucks event at the Daytona Road Course will air live at 12pm ET on Sunday August 16 on FS1 and MRN. Sponsorship for both events will be announced at a later date.

About GMS Racing – GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with drivers Brett Moffitt, Sheldon Creed, Tyler Ankrum and Zane Smith as well as part-time with David Gravel and Chase Purdy. The team also competes in the ARCA Racing Series with Sam Mayer. Since the team began in 2014, GMS Racing won the 2016 Gander Trucks Championship, the 2015 ARCA Racing Series championship as well as the 2019 ARCA East championship and has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication. More information can be found at https:/gmsracing.net

Former DGR-Crosley driver to run the ARCA Menards Series race at MIS

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 30, 2020) – DGR-Crosley announced today NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Anthony Alfredo will rejoin the team for the upcoming ARCA Menards Series race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn in the No. 17 Ford Fusion on Sunday, Aug. 9. Blake Bainbridge will be Alfredo’s crew chief for the race.

Alfredo raced for DGR-Crosley in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series for 13 races in 2019. He earned two top-10 finishes in the Truck Series before moving up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season, where he has scored one top-five and six top-10 finishes in 10 starts to date.

“Since I have a few weeks off from the NASCAR Xfinity Series, I am very excited to strap into an ARCA Menards Series car for DGR-Crosley at Michigan as I make just my third start in the series,” Alfredo said. “It will be a pleasure to work with the men and women at DGR-Crosley again. I am very thankful for David Gilliland and everyone on the team for giving me the opportunity to compete in this race. I know they are working hard to bring me a great car so we can have a shot to win. I plan on making everyone proud by having a successful weekend and ultimately taking home the checkered flag.”

“We are pleased to have Anthony back with our team next weekend at Michigan for the ARCA race,” said David Gilliland, co-owner of DGR-Crosley. “We really enjoyed working with him last year and I think he’ll do a great job for us.”

After eight ARCA Menards Series races, the No. 17 Ford is sixth in the owner point standings.

The VizCom 200 from Michigan International Speedway will take place on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 1 p.m. ET and will be televised live on MAVTV, as well as streaming on NBC Sports Gold Trackpass.

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About DGR-Crosley: DGR-Crosley is a race team owned by NASCAR veteran David Gilliland and Crosley Brands CEO, Bo LeMastus. The team specializes in driver development, competing full-time in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, multiple ARCA Menards Series divisions and CARS Tour with factory support from Ford Performance.

In its first three years of operation, DGR-Crosley has achieved success in each series tallying up multiple wins and championships. The team operates out of three buildings totaling 60,000 square feet in Mooresville, N.C.