Category: Featured Other Series

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Oct. 20, 2017) — Michael Self was the meat in the middle of a five-wide sandwich on the final restart at Kansas Speedway and barely squeezed through as the leader off turn two. From there the Salt Lake City, Utah driver held off a spirited charge from Ty Majeski to win the Kansas 150 Friday night, his career-first ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards victory.

“I knew it was going to get hairy…I just kept my foot in it,” said Self. “Once we got out in clean air, it was all about hitting your marks.”

Self had some help from Kyle Larson’s spotter, Derek Kneeland, when it came to hitting those marks.

“Once I got the lead, Derek came on the radio and said, ‘listen to me. I want you to do exactly what I tell you to do.’ I did exactly what he said and we were able to pull away from the 99. It’s amazing how much a good spotter can help.”

In the end Self, in the No. 28 Sinclair Oil Chevrolet, pulled away, crossing under the checkered flag 10 lengths in front of Majeski, who finished a career-best second in the No. 99 Treeo’s Ford.

“These restarts are all about timing,” said Majeski, who led 38 of the 100 laps. “I felt like if I wouldn’t have made that mistake on pit road, we would have been in better position to have a shot at the win. Track position is everything in ARCA.”

Majeski stalled leaving pit road on his second pit stop which shuffled him further back in the order.

“Really wished we could have finished that one off. We’ve had so many close runs. I made that mistake on pit road…that was my fault. And we just got a little too free on that last run,” Majeski added.

General Tire pole winner Zane Smith finished third in the No. 41 ICON Vehicle Dynamics Toyota.

“I’ve been everywhere on that podium except the main one,” said Smith. “We went from too tight at the beginning to free, back to tight. We just need to be a lot better and I feel like there are a few things I need to work on.”

Cunningham Motorsports was fourth and fifth in the final results with Shane Lee (fourth) and Dalton Sargeant (fifth), both in Big Tine-sponsored Fords.

Sheldon Creed, in the No. 12 United Rentals Toyota, led more laps than anyone, 52 in all, and was leading on the final restart before he fell back suddenly. Creed eventually had a tire go down and limped back to pit road without finishing the last five laps.

With Creed and Majeski swapping the lead for much of the race, Self struggled most of the way with an ill-handling race car before his Mardy Lindley-led MDM Motorsports team adjusted him back in the game. Self led the final nine laps.

“The credit goes to Mardy Lindley on this one,” Self said. “He’s such a good crew chief. We fought it all night but he just kept making little gains and never gives up. He’s got so many ideas…that guy’s incredible.

“The General Tires were awesome all day. They’re so consistent, so reliable and they give such good feedback.

“I’ve never driven harder in my life than I did tonight. This is the proudest moment of my life, coming off back-to-back K&N wins. This feels so awesome to finally get it done for Sinclair Oil. You never know when you’re going to get another chance…when or if that next win will ever come. So many thanks to Sinclair for helping me get here.”

RESULTS

Austin Theriault clinched the ARCA Racing Series national championship in Ken Schrader’s No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Ford, despite finishing 25th after he brushed the wall early on.

“We overcame a lot of challenges this year,” said Theriault. “We had a tremendous year…the support from back home, the crew…the all-nighters. I couldn’t be more proud of the effort from everyone who shared in this championship.”

While Theriault took home the biggest prize, Riley Herbst, who finished ninth, wrapped up the 2017 SCOTT Rookie of the Year title.

“We didn’t win but we got the end result we came for…pretty good payday all the way around,” said Herbst. “Thanks to all my Joe Gibbs Racing guys and all their hard work, and thanks to SCOTT for the Rookie of the Year. We’re coming back next year to go after the championship.”

The next activity for the ARCA Racing Series will be a two-day composite body open test at Talladega Superspeedway Nov. 7-8. The 65th annual national championship awards banquet follows in Indianapolis Dec. 9.

Motorsports can take us to some incredible places, often with new groups of people who share our passion for the sport. With venues all over the world, it seems a shame to head straight home after a race is over and miss soaking up the culture of a new city or town.

While your celebrations might not meet Formula One standards, racing is a collaborative sport and taking part in an event deserves some recognition — whether you’re a winner or not. However, due to the fact you will have to get your vehicle home, guzzling beer at the local bar or dousing yourself in champagne isn’t always possible. Instead, here are four alternative ways to celebrate after a race.

Go for a Meal

Despite that you’re sat in a vehicle for most of the day, motorsports are surprisingly physical. Sure, you will probably snack on hot dogs and fries during the event, but you’ll need some serious refueling after a long day on the track, but steering clear of alcohol is recommended. Research local restaurants before you head to the race and enjoy a meal with other competitors once it’s all over. Bonding over food is an excellent way to make new friends who share your interests.

Trip to the Theater

Soak up some culture with a trip to the local theater. If you’re not a fan of musicals or you want to avoid anything too lengthy, opt for a comedy gig or a live music performance instead. What better way to relax after a grueling race than by getting comfortable and enjoying some entertainment? You can buy theater tickets online through ticket sales websites. Just make sure you book them in advance to avoid disappointment nearer the time.

Camp Out

Depending on the location of your racing event, you might want to consider staying the night, especially if you have a long drive home. You need to consider that you’ll have to stock up on gas to get back home after the race, and you may even be too tired to drive. Research some popular camping destinations and see if other racers want to pitch a tent with you. If you like, you can enjoy a beer or two before you head back in the morning, and the experience can span a whole weekend rather than just one day.

Stay in a Hotel

If you don’t enjoy camping, you may want to consider booking a hotel, so you don’t have to drive through the night to get home. If you and your spouse usually race together, you could turn the event into a bonding experience. Why not book a luxury hotel room and possibly even some spa treatments? There’s nothing like a sports massage to correct the posture and relax the muscles after a day on the racetrack.

Be Responsible

Regardless of how you choose to celebrate after a motorsports event, it’s important to have fun and mark the occasion in a responsible, safe and enjoyable way. That means steering clear of alcohol and making sure you get adequate rest and fuel before driving home.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Oct. 17, 2017) — It’s been one hurdle after another for 20-year-old rookie Natalie Decker in her first season on the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards national tour. From her series short-track and superspeedway debuts, to her first time on a road course, the Eagle River, Wisconsin driver is getting the experience she came for. Her next stop — Kansas Speedway for the season finale.

“We’ve run a bit of everything the (ARCA) series offers – short tracks, an intermediate track, Pocono and of course the road course race at Road America,” said Decker. “I’m still learning a lot. I feel we’ve made huge gains from the beginning of the season…as I continue to log laps and gain valuable experience the more I’m adapting to feel of the ARCA car.”

Decker is off to an admirable start on her maiden-season ARCA voyage, finishing 11th in her short-track debut at Toledo in mid-May. She went one better at Pocono in late July with a solid 10th-place finish. In her road course debut at Road America in August she finished a career-best 7th.

As one might expect, there’s advice coming in from all angles; however, the information she’s getting from a 10-time ARCA Racing Series national champion has her ears especially perked.

“Frank Kimmel has been so helpful…answering all my questions. Everything and anything from marketing to how to get around Kansas, and everywhere else. We first started talking with Frank at the PRI show. He’s been helping me out ever since.

“For Kansas, he told me to get your marks down, and hit ’em every lap. He said that we could maybe go in a little deeper in qualifying but don’t go too far past your marks.”

Decker also has the support of her experienced Venturini Motorsports team she drives for including veteran crew chief Dave Leiner.

“I really like the 25 team…really enjoy working with them. I can already tell it’s a good fit. I’ve spent a lot of time in the shop. Dave (Leiner/crew chief) is very good and patient with new drivers…I really like working with him. He’s good at coaching me.”

Decker also says racing on ARCA’s national tour brings on a combination of nerves and excitement.

“I get nervous, but really excited. It’s a combination of nerves and excitement all together. As soon as you come to the green flag, all the nerves go away…but sitting in the car, lined up and waiting to go…that’s when the nerves come in.

“If you would’ve told me last year at this time I’d be racing on tracks like Pocono and Kansas in the ARCA Series I would’ve said you’re crazy,” Decker added. “It’s been an amazing year so far. As a driver the only thing I want do is race – and coming into ARCA this year with Venturini Motorsports has been a dream come true. Thanks to a lot of people who believe in me and the support of N29 Capital Partners, I’m given the opportunity to further my career and continue to live out my dreams.”

Decker, like so many of her competitors, has big goals.

“My goal is Cup, and the next step from super late model racing is ARCA.”

In 65 consecutive seasons, no female driver has ever won an ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards national tour event.

Natalie Decker unveils multiple caused-based social message at Kansas
Combining multiple caused-based messages on her Kansas car, Decker will highlight several national public awareness initiatives which include Yo Cool Frozen Yogurt, Breast Cancer Awareness and distracted driving.

Yo Cool Frozen Yogurt comes aboard as part of an alliance with Decker’s primary sponsor, N29 Capital Partners. Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Yo Cool Frozen Yogurt is a non-profit food service retail location created specifically with the goal to give 100% of profits back to the community and promote positive change for local residents.

The creation of local businessman and entrepreneur, Alex Hoffman, the single retail location was developed after Hoffman’s 21-year-old son died of a drug overdose in 2013. Serving as a way to memorialize his son and bring necessary awareness and support to an ever increasing epidemic, Hoffman has rededicated his professional life to give back to the community.

“I’m really fortunate and proud of the work I do off the track to help support great some great causes,” said Decker. “My Kansas car will represent groups I care about and spend time supporting when I’m not racing. I’m really lucky to have such great support behind me – N29 Capital Partners and Musselman’s Apple Sauce have really stepped up this year allowing me to showcase such great causes such as the work Yo Cool Frozen Yogurt and People Against Distracted Driving (PADD) are doing to help create conversation and national awareness to important social issues plaguing young people in our country.”

Decker TV appearance on Kansas City Live Morning Show
Decker will make a local Kansas City television appearance on Kansas City Live morning program Thursday, Oct. 19. Kansas City Live, which airs on the local NBC affiliate channel 41 KSHB, is an hour long show that spotlights the people, places, trends and local attractions in the Kansas City area. Decker will join hosts Michelle Davidson and Joel Nichols for a segment highlighting ARCA’s return to Kansas Speedway.

Decker to make Kansas City Menards store appearance
Decker will join fellow VMS rookie teammates Spencer Davis and Cole Rouse on and off the track at Kansas. Prior to Friday’s Kansas 150, the trio will join Monster Energy NASCAR Cup driver Paul Menard for a special fan autograph meet and greet appearance Thursday, Oct. 19 (6:30 – 7:30 p.m.) at the area Menards store located at 8901 N. Greenhill Road, Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas ARCA 150 Kicks Off Triple-Header Weekend
The Kansas 150 also serves as the show-opener for big triple-header weekend of racing to include the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 Saturday and the Monster Energy Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 Sunday.

The Kansas 150 marks the 17th consecutive ARCA race at Kansas since the series debuted on the 1.5-mile superspeedway in 2001. Practice for the Kansas 150 is from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 20, followed by General Tire Pole Qualifying at 2:30 p.m. The 17th Kansas ARCA 150 is scheduled to get the green flag at 7:47 p.m. Friday night, with live coverage on FS2. ARCAracing.com will also feature Live Timing and Scoring and Live Chat of all on-track activities.

Stephen Cox Blog Presented by McGunegill Engine Performance

A sharp 1970 Chevelle LS6 can set you back $75,000 or more, same for a Boss 302 Mustang. A 1969 Plymouth GTX 4-speed can run over $40,000, which is still not affordable for many car enthusiasts. You don’t even want to know what a freshly restored Dodge Daytona would cost.

The plain fact is that most fast sports cars from the peak of the muscle car era remain beyond the reach of the average working man. But there is one exception.

What if you could buy a name brand muscle car from the late 60s or early 70s that was widely recognized as one of the most beautiful cars of its era for about fifteen thousand dollars? Well, you can.

As I pointed out in my 2014 article on the topic, the Mercury Cougar is perhaps the most under-valued muscle car on the market today, and that hasn’t changed over the last three years. This is still the time to buy. They are still the best value in the collector car hobby.

Now let’s be fair. You’re not going to steal a special edition 1969 Cougar Eliminator on the cheap. You won’t get one of those glorious Q-code Ram Air 428 Cobra Jet engines for $15,000. You probably won’t even get a four-speed transmission.

But you can still buy an amazing car. With a budget of around 15 grand, here’s what you can realistically expect to get:

A 1968 through 1973 Mercury Cougar that has been restored to the level of a good daily driver with good paint, new seat covers and a fresh interior. Yes, you can get a convertible model in this price range if that’s your desire.

You’ll get a 302 cubic inch (or 351 cubic inches) Windsor small block V8 engine that produces a respectable 210-300 horsepower, depending on the specific model and year. Expect an automatic transmission. Four-speed transmissions drive the price up considerably.

Anticipate an “earth tone” paint job. Various shades of gold, brown, copper, dark blue and deep green are the most common paints found on affordable Cougars. Mercury’s famously vivid “Grabber” colors can drive the price up and were frequently reserved for the high-end performance models.

Mildly surprising is the fact that you can expect to find an affordable Cougar with Mercury’s XR-7 trim package. The XR-7 package became so popular that its inclusion has little effect on the car’s value today. If you want an XR-7 for about 15 grand, you’ll have little trouble finding one.

Here are a few secrets to help you find a better buy without leaving our designated price range. The 1968 Cougars look mild, but they can sometimes be more powerful. The ’68 model came with an optional “Super 302” V8 that featured a four-barrel carburetor and 230 horsepower instead of 210. Most people don’t know the difference.

The 1971 Cougar with a 351 4-barrel produced a very respectable 300 horsepower. These models are among the best and most desirable low-cost Cougars. And beware, although the 1973 model had newer and more luxurious styling, the 351 engine’s output had by that time plummeted to 168 horsepower.

Happy hunting. I’ll leave you with some encouraging examples of excellent Cougars that sold below $15,000 in the past year – see below. 

Stephen Cox

Sopwith Motorsports Television Productions

Driver, Super Cup Stock Car Series & EGT Championship

Co-host, Mecum Auctions on NBCSN