Category: Other Series PR

[media-credit name=”arcaracing.com” align=”alignright” width=”300″][/media-credit](RED BANK, N.J.) – Officials from Ansell Protective Products, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, and Chicagoland Speedway have announced that Ansell and its new ActivArmr® product line will sponsor the Ansell ActivArmr® 150 at the 1.5-mile oval on Saturday, July 21.
Ansell, the worldwide leader in protective handwear, sponsored ARCA Racing Series events at Chicagoland in 2009 and 2010, and returns to the track after one year as a race title sponsor at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis.

“It’s great to welcome Ansell to our terrific lineup of entitlement partners for the 2012 season,” said Scott Paddock, president of Chicagoland Speedway. “Ansell has a long-standing reputation for providing its clients with quality, reliable products to succeed in safer and more productive work environments. We look forward to working with them during the upcoming season to both highlight the Ansell brand and bring our fans action-packed racing during the Ansell ActivArmr® 150 race in July.”

The race is scheduled as the 12th of 20 in the ARCA Racing Series season, and will play a key role in determining the contenders for the championship in ARCA’s 60th Anniversary Season.

Professional construction workers told Ansell what they needed, and Ansell delivers with ActivArmr® Jobsite Gear. The ActivArmr® Jobsite Gear gloves are tailored to the specific needs of each trade and provide an optimal balance of protection, dexterity, and comfort never before seen in a construction glove.

“Ansell is excited to be back at Chicagoland Speedway to sponsor the Ansell ActivArmr® 150,” said Steve York, director of channel and vertical development for Ansell. “The Chicagoland area is Menards’ largest market, and it affords us the opportunity to meet with our customers and also introduce Ansell products to a wide range of new users. Our plan for this year’s race is to further expand the ActivArmr® brand and drive excitement around our experiential display that will educate the race fans on the hand protection options available from Ansell.”

Ansell continues its position as the Official Safety Glove of the ARCA Racing Series, enhanced by a special award sponsorship for all 20 ARCA Racing Series races: The Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell.

Ansell’s motorsports involvement began in January 2009, when Ansell and Menards teamed with nine-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel. The marketing program is anchored by a business-to-business relationship between Ansell, the world’s largest manufacturer of protective gloves and clothing, and Menards, the nation’s third largest home improvement retailer. The sponsorship launched the Ansell line of hand protection products and made the product available for purchase in over 250 Menards stores in 2010.

Today, the relationship continues in stores and on the track, as Kimmel aims for his 10th ARCA championship and 75th ARCA victory in his first year with ThorSport Racing.

Practice for the Ansell ActivArmr® 150 is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. on Friday, July 20, with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell following at 10 a.m. the next day. The Ansell ActivArmr® 150 will take the green flag at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, starting a doubleheader with that evening’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event. Live television coverage of the Ansell ActivArmr® 150 will air on SPEED. All times are Central.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. The series has tested the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course in its most recent season. This year, the series visited Alabama’s Mobile International Speedway for the first time. In June, the first event at Minnesota’s Elko Speedway will give ARCA a race in a 29th state.

Founded by John and Mildred Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in three professional touring series and local weekly events.

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]Concord, NC (April 26, 2012) — Brennan Poole made his way onto the ARCA and National racing scene last year in dramatic fashion – winning in his first ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards event at Salem Speedway driving for Venturini Motorsports.

Well, a year has gone bye and Poole now finds himself days away from returning to defend his race championship. Confident and determined Poole went back to the Salem last week for a pre-race tune up, testing his No.25 Venturini Motorsports machine impressing his team and setting the table for an optimistic outcome for Sunday’s ARCA Racing Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200.

“Obviously I’m excited to get back at it after a long 6 weeks away from the track. I got a little taste last week when my teammates and I went up and tested. My 25 car was solid, although the track seemed to change a bit from last year. I had to make a few adjustments to my line to make up for the track conditions. It’s a rough and fast track, my kinda place. The car is dialed in and ready to go,” stated Poole.

Already with a pair of 7’s in his hand (7th place finishes at Daytona and Mobile), Poole looks to up the ante not only by defending his spring crown but also hopes to finish the weekend leading the ARCA Series point standings.

Currently occupying the 2nd spot in the standings Poole started the season with one goal in mind, competing for an ARCA Championship.

Poole who recently celebrated his 21st birthday has the pedigree of a future ARCA champion. As the former 2011 UARA Stars Champion, Poole poses a legitimate threat to the field nearly every time he hits the track, Poole who already has an ARCA victory (Salem Speedway) and a pole award (Pocono Raceway), he has led laps in all but two ARCA Series career starts.

Poole will be back in his familiar No.25 Venturini Chevrolet.

On-track activity begins with two 45-minute practices at noon and 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, and continues with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 3:30 p.m.

The 200-lap, 111-mile Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 will begin at 2:15 p.m. on Sunday, April 29. Live timing and scoring of all events will be presented by ARCA Nation at ARCARacing.com.

Official: www.BrennanPoole.com  |  Twitter @brennanpoole  |  Facebook: Brennan Poole

About Venturini Motorsports 
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars in the ARCA Racing Series, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. The 2012 season marks the teams 30th Anniversary of competition in the ARCA Series. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports.

Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Steve Arpin, Brian Scott, Max Gresham, Miguel Paludo, Josh Richards, Ryan Blaney, and Scott Lagasse, Jr.

Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com  |  Twitter @VenturiniMotor  |  Facebook: Venturini Motorsports

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 25, 2012) – Matt Lofton and the No. 16 Strutmasters.com Chevrolet Impala SS Coulter Motorsports team are ready for fierce short track competition, with the ARCA Racing Series first 2012 stop at Salem Speedway this weekend, for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200.

Visiting a track steeped in longstanding history for the first time would intimidate most rookies, but Lofton comes ready to tame the high-banked beast nestled in the Salem, I.N. foothills. Cutting his teeth on many of the brute short tracks of the South East, Lofton has learned the art of tight side-by-side and door-banging racing, often seen on the .555-mile paved oval. On top of his vast short track experience, Lofton plans to use knowledge gained in 2009 at sister track Winchester Speedway, where he was taken from contention after mechanical failure in the CARS Pro Cup Series.

Coulter Motorsports, using feedback gained thus far from Lofton at the short tracks, will be using chassis No. 016, a car custom built for the intense rigors endured while engaged in battle. Lofton has also leaned on teammate Joey Coulter for expert advice on Salem, as the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards makes their 91st start their Sunday. Coulter, often revered as a short track specialist, took a quick liking to the fast-paced speedway and had several dominating runs.

“I am really pumped up to head to Salem (Speedway) for this weekend’s ARCA race,” commented Lofton. “It’s a track I’ve always wanted to race at, especially after getting the chance to visit the sister track of Winchester Speedway. The crew is providing me with a brand new No. 16 Strutmasters.com Chevy hotrod and I can’t wait to get on track.”

The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 marks the third race of the 2012 ARCA Racing Series schedule. Lofton will hit track Saturday in his No. 16 Strutmasters.com Chevrolet Impala SS with two practice sessions at 12 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. Qualifying kicks off at 3:30 p.m. and the green flag waves for the 200-lap, 111-mile race Sunday at 2:15 p.m. (All times ET)

You can get LIVE updates wherever Coulter Motorsports travels by following on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CoulterMtrsprts

Facebook at www.facebook.com/CoulterMotorsports

About Strutmasters.com:

Strutmasters.com builds automotive struts and springs for cars and SUVs equipped with air suspension. They also provide both replacement air ride suspension parts, including air springs, air struts, compressors, air bag suspension and dryers, and conversion kits that, convert your car to high quality passive suspension systems. Air shocks, air springs, air struts and other air ride suspension parts wear out. Strutmasters.com gives you the option of replacing them with top quality passive suspension parts engineered to fit your specific application. They have been designing and building suspension kits and conversions since 1999 when they produced their first Lincoln air suspension kit. Strutmasters.com also maintains a fleet of test cars that they try out new products on.

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]Concord, NC (April 25, 2012) — With two ARCA races under his belt and almost two months since the last race, Ryan Reed looks forward to getting back behind the wheel of the Venturini Motorsports racecar with a new sponsor on board – RaceHard.com

“I was so glad to get back to the track last week when we went testing at Salem, it seemed like so long ago since Mobile. I’m glad the season is about to pick up again,” said Reed. “Although, I definitely kept very busy during the downtime doing a lot of promotions with JDRF and Ryan’s Mission. And that is always a great feeling too.”

Along with the familiar JDRF logo on Ryan’s car, RaceHard.com has also teamed up with Ryan and Venturini Motorsports for the ARCA race at Salem Speedway.

“It is really neat to have a company like RaceHard.com behind me on both the promotional side with Ryan’s Mission and now on the racing side. They are also sponsoring Venturini Motorsports as a team too, so it is great interaction on all levels.” said Reed.

RaceHard.com has become involved with the 18-year-old driver through Ryan’s Mission during promotions benefiting JDRF and Salem Speedway will mark the company’s first appearance at the track in the ARCA Racing Series with Reed.

RaceHard.com, “where racers shop,” outfits serious racers, professional pit crews and diehard fans, from head to toe. They have a huge selection of pit crew apparel, pit equipment and auto racing safety equipment.

Reed will make his first start at the high-banked short track of Salem Speedway on April 29th for the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200. Ryan Reed will be driving No.15 RaceHard.com/JDRF racecar for Venturini Motorsports.

“I’ve never been to a track like Salem Speedway. It was unreal. A couple of my teammates raced there last season and they said they couldn’t compare it to any other track. After testing there, I knew what they were talking about.”

“We watched a lot of DartFish with Billy before the test so that I was prepared for the driving style and that helped out a lot. My crew chief and I got the car and myself very comfortable at the end of the day, so I’m really excited to get back to the race with everything I’ve learned.”

Ryan looks to better his two back-to-back 12th place finishes at Daytona Int’l Speedway and Mobile Int’l Speedway earlier this season as he enters his third race in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Ryan’s Mission will join the local JDRF Kentucky Chapter in setting up a booth in the Fan Zone area benefiting JDRF at Salem Speedway. Fans will be able to stop by and learn more about type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the efforts by JDRF and Ryan’s Mission while donating to find a cure for diabetes.

On-track activity begins with two 45-minute practices at noon and 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, and continues with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 3:30 p.m.

The 200-lap, 111-mile Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 will begin at 2:15 p.m. on Sunday, April 29. Live timing and scoring of all events will be presented by ARCA Nation at ARCARacing.com.

ABOUT RYAN REED & RYAN’S MISSION 
Ryan Reed is a NASCAR development driver racing under the Venturini Motorsports banner in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Ryan was diagnosed with T1D in February 2011 and initially told by doctors his “racing career” was over. Armed with the passion and determination to fulfill his dreams, Reed shifted his focus and poured all his energy into managing his health and educating himself on the disease. He uses his racing platform and personal story to inspire others living with T1D to continue living life to its fullest through Ryan’s Mission.

Reed’s off-track goodwill has made him a National Celebrity Advocate of JDRF, the world’s largest funder of research toward curing, treating and preventing T1D and its complications. Today, Reed is only one of three professional race car drivers in the world to compete at the highest levels of racing with T1D.

Official: www.RyansMission.org  |  Twitter @driverRyanReed  |  Facebook: Ryan Reed

ABOUT VENTURINI MOTORSPORTS
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars in the ARCA Racing Series, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. The 2012 season marks the teams 30th Anniversary of competition in the ARCA Series. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports.

Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Steve Arpin, Brian Scott, Max Gresham, Miguel Paludo, Josh Richards, Ryan Blaney, and Scott Lagasse, Jr.

Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com  |  Twitter @VenturiniMotor  |  Facebook: Venturini Motorsports

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]SALEM, Indiana (April 25, 2012) – – A strong start to Tom Hessert III’s 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards campaign forges ahead to Salem (Ind.) Speedway for Sunday’s running of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200. And it goes without saying that likeable driver is a pre-race favorite entering the third race of the season.

Historically speaking, the Cherry Hill, New Jersey native is no slouch at the half-mile oval and he undoubtedly vows to prove that in his No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala for Ken Schrader Racing (KSR). In eight previous starts at the bull-ring, the ARCA veteran has tallied two top-fives including a track-best of third in 2010 while also grabbing two additional top-10 runs on to that statistic.

After gripping two top-10 finishes at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway in the two opening races of the Automobile Racing Club of America’s 60^th anniversary season; Hessert is eager to surge ahead with his KSR bunch and deliver his first top-five outing of the year while also in search to returning to the team namesake to victory lane.

“Salem’s one of those places, either you love it or hate it,” explained Hessert. “For me, I have a lot of good memories and I really do enjoy competing there – but it’s a track where you’re always having to thread the needle and most importantly keep your eyes peeled. Things happen in a hurry there. But, honestly, I’m pumped about our chances for the weekend. We feel like we still have some unfinished business from Mobile, so we’re going into the weekend with high hopes.”

Salem’s another venue that has allowed drivers to rejuvenate themselves with daring passes that has propelled them into victory lane. With Hessert’s lone-victory occurring two years ago in dominant fashion at Iowa Speedway, the former NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car star knows it’s just a matter of time before the shower spraying of gatorade and jubilation returns.

“Top-fives and top-10 runs are always great and something to be content with but this team and I are true racers at heart and we came so close on a couple occasions last year of returning to the KSR team to victory lane, but just weren’t quite able to get it done. Salem’s one of those places that I feel we’ll have one of our best chances. The guys deserve it as well as all the folks at Federated Auto Parts who have stood behind our team,” sounded Hessert.

In the race for the coveted championship crown, Hessert occupies fourth in the standings just 15 markers behind third place competitor Chad Hackenbracht and 40 points behind current leader Cale Gale, who isn’t expected to compete in Sunday afternoon’s showdown.

As Hessert’s season progresses – he will digest thoughts to his fans and fellow race fans alike by posting a blog on his website. The inside look from Hessert’s eyes will allow an account from another point of view and some insight that would not be visible from the garage area.

Entering Salem, Hessert has 85 career ARCA Racing Series starts. In those outings, he has maneuvered two poles, one win, 19 top-fives and 45 top-10s.

The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 (200 laps / 111 miles) is the third of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 91^stARCA race held at Salem Speedway is a two day show. Practice begins Saturday, April 28 with a forty-five minute session planned from 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Final practice also consisting of forty-five minutes begins at 1:15 p.m. and will conclude at 2:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. An on-track autograph session has been etched in on race day on Sunday, April 29 set to launch at 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The event will take the green flag shortly after 2:15 p.m. The race will not be televised but race coverage including live timing and scoring will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local.

For more on Tom Hessert III, please visit tomhessert.com.

Hessert has joined the Twitter crave. Follow and connect with him @TomHessert.

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]Concord, NC (April 25, 2012) — Fifteen year-old Erik Jones made history earlier this year at Mobile Int’l Speedway by becoming the youngest competitor to ever take the green flag in ARCA Racing competition.

Proving his age is merely a side-note the talented driver from Byron, Michigan lived up to his hype by qualifying third and leading laps in arguably one of the most competitive short track fields ever gathered in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Even though late race mechanical issues kept the former 2011 JEGS/CRA All Star Champion from challenging for the checkered flag at Mobile it has set the stage for his series return in this weekend’s ARCA Racing Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem Speedway.

“I’m really looking forward to going to Salem,” stated Jones. “I’ve heard a lot about the track and it sounds like it has a lot of character. Also knowing Venturini Motorsports has ran very well here in the past makes me confident and excited. Hopefully I will be able to carry that tradition on and put in a good finish for the whole team.”

Jones will be driving his No.55 CJ Solar Band / Paragon Corvette Reproductions Chevrolet for Venturini Motorsports.

On-track activity begins with two 45-minute practices at noon and 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, and continues with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell at 3:30 p.m. The 200-lap, 111-mile Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 will begin at 2:15 p.m. on Sunday, April 29. Live timing and scoring of all events will be presented by ARCA Nation at ARCARacing.com.

For more media information please contact Stephanie Bigelow, sbigelow@erikjonesracing.com

Official: www.ErikJonesRacing.com  |  Twitter @erik_jones  |  Facebook: Erik Jones Racing

About Venturini Motorsports 
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars in the ARCA Racing Series, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. The 2012 season marks the teams 30th Anniversary of competition in the ARCA Series. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports.

Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Steve Arpin, Brian Scott, Max Gresham, Miguel Paludo, Josh Richards, Ryan Blaney, and Scott Lagasse, Jr.

Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com  |  Twitter @VenturiniMotor  |  Facebook: Venturini Motorsports

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]SALEM, Indiana (April 25, 2012) – – This is it. The Kimmel name is legendary at Salem (Ind.) Speedway, the site of this weekend’s Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

While it’s been another clan of the Kimmel family that has paved its way into the local fast lane, Will Kimmel driver of the No. 68 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Ford Fusion began marking his territory on the circuit at the same track last September and is hopeful to continue that trend on Sunday afternoon.

Nearly seven months later, the series in its 60^th year of competition treks back to the iconic speedway with the younger Kimmel eager to devour his runner-up finishing position from last year and record his first career ARCA Racing Series victory in his 28^th try.

It goes without saying; many in the auto racing have dictated that if you can win at Salem Speedway, you could win just about anywhere else. With its bruising ego and brutally fast speeds, the Southern Indiana track is a proven gold mine for the ARCA Racing Series.

“This is my hometown track and I absolutely love this place,” said the 23-year Kimmel. “I’ve won races and have a Late Model championship at Salem, so I feel like I have a little bit of advantage when we take the ARCA car there. Last year, we started inside the top-10, led a bunch of laps (79) and came real close to winning. In my eyes, we have some unfinished business if you will, but we can’t be overly confident. We just have to stay sharp and hope that we have a similar race with just a little bit better of an outcome.”

It’s a big week for the Kimmel Racing team. In addition to all the hype that team is welcoming; the team will host a grand re-opening of Kimmel Racing on Friday night to fans and to the ARCA community.

The next morning, it will be business as usual for the Kimmel Racing camp.  In addition to two short practice sessions and qualifying, the Hoosier native will carry the signage of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers, who is also the title sponsor of the third race of the ARCA season.

For Kimmel, there’s no added pressure on the outside, but on the inside, he’s determined more than ever. “It really is a true honor to represent all of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealerships,” he said. “Dad (crew chief, father and owner Bill Kimmel) has been to victory lane so many times in an ARCA car with my Uncle, so he knows how to setup a race to its fullest potential. It would be a huge deal for us to roll our No. 68 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers Ford Fusion into victory circle knowing their involvement with the ARCA and the track.”

Two races into the season, the family-owned operation running on a skeleton budget has managed to produce one top-five finish in the season-opening event at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and was well on their way to back-to-back top-10 finishes last month at Mobile (Ala.) Speedway before a mechanical failure resulted in a unworthy 25^th place finish. Despite the outcome, Kimmel remains secure in the chase for the championship currently occupying the eighth position but well within the grounds of bouncing back into leadership zone.

“We need a good run not only because the race is in our backyard and because we’re representing Kentuckiana Ford Dealerships but because we’re (trying) making an effort towards the championship,” remarked Kimmel. We just have to keep motivated and stay focused and hopefully everything else will eventually fall into place.”

The grand re-opening and fan appreciation at Kimmel Racing is set to launch at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening. The team’s shop is located at 201 East Lewis & ClarkParkway, Clarksville, Indiana 47129 nestled between Morrison Chiropractic and Clarksville Schwinn.

For sponsorship inquiries with Kimmel Racing, interested parties are urged to contact Bill Kimmel at 502.645.9370 or bill@kimmelracing.com.

The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 (200 laps / 111 miles) is the third of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 91^stARCA race held at Salem Speedway is a two day show. Practice begins Saturday, April 28 with a forty-five minute session planned from 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Final practice also consisting of forty-five minutes begins at 1:15 p.m. and will conclude at 2:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. An on-track autograph session has been etched in on race day on Sunday, April 29 set to launch at 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The event will take the green flag shortly after 2:15 p.m. The race will not be televised but race coverage including live timing and scoring will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local.

For more on Will Kimmel, please visit willkimmel.com.

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]SALEM, Indiana (April 25, 2012) – – Josh Williams will be the first to tell you that his 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season hasn’t gone directly according in his favor. However, the Port Charlotte, Florida native knows that Salem (Ind.) Speedway often brings a chance for redemption and the driver of the No. 02 Southwest Florida Cable Construction Chevrolet Monte Carlo is eager to take advantage of that in Sunday’s Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200.

The Floridian has good reason to be anxious to get back to battling the half-mile bull ring. One of his 13 previous ARCA starts has occurred at the Southern Indiana short-track, nearly a year ago to be in fact. It was at Salem that Williams made himself a spectacle on the tour by qualifying a strong 11^th and finding himself in the hunt for the coveted trophy, however a late race miscue would force the Josh Williams Motorsports (JWM) team to take an alternative motive and instead settle for a sixth place run, the team’s best effort to-date.

With the race being one of three top-10 efforts for the family-owned operation in 2011, the JWM organization is hoping to maneuver their Chevrolet Monte Carlo into a similar path that will give the Concord, North Carolina-based team an opportunity to latch onto a chain of momentum heading into a busy month of racing.

“I’ve been ready to get back to Salem since last year,” offered Williams, a renowned racer from Southwest Florida. “We’ve been working hard on the car over the past month to make sure it’s right and I feel our chances to redeem ourselves get couldn’t come at a better time.”

He added, “Honestly, we had a top-10 car at Mobile; just had some rotten luck. I guess that’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes, but with a team like ours where every position counts and every point is critical, we can’t spare to have a whole lot more of bad luck.”

For the second consecutive race, Jeremy Crandall will lead Williams in his quest to earn respect and trust among his peers in the ARCA Racing Series. The two worked together at Mobile and showed potential. With the team’s previous experience at Salem, the two are hoping that they will be an unlikely target that will strike when everyone least expects them too.

“Jeremy has a lot of passion and since we’ve worked so well together in the past – we’re keeping this link together in hopes that we’re onto something that will eventually make us a factor each and every time we get on the race track. Of course, none this would be possible without the support of my parents; who believe in my racing dreams and aspirations and are doing everything that they can to make it happen.”

Picking up 10 positions in the ARCA Racing Series championship standings since Mobile has given the team some light – but Williams is tuned on moving JWM up the ladder.

“We made some gains as far as points are concerned and that’s helpful in our quest to search for (sponsorship) partners to join us, but we need finishes that we can stack together consistently and believe me with our drive and fight, we will accomplish that, guaranteed!”

During the brief racing hiatus, Williams has been traveling back and forth to his home state of Florida while also participating in the open ARCA Racing Series test at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last week. He also aligned himself with Simpson Racing for the 2012 season and will be sporting a new uniform and helmet with the intriguing design on his armor crafted by Noah Ennis of Shell Shock beginning this weekend.

The Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 (200 laps / 111 miles) is the third of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 91^stARCA race held at Salem Speedway is a two day show. Practice begins Saturday, April 28 with a forty-five minute session planned from 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Final practice also consisting of forty-five minutes begins at 1:15 p.m. and will conclude at 2:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. An on-track autograph session has been etched in on race day on Sunday, April 29 set to launch at 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The event will take the green flag shortly after 2:15 p.m. The race will not be televised but race coverage including live timing and scoring will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com.  All times are local.

For more information on Josh Williams, his Josh Williams Motorsports team and sponsorship opportunities for the 2012 season please connect to the team’s official website at Joshwracing.com.

[media-credit name=”ARCA Racing Network” align=”alignright” width=”180″][/media-credit]Concord, NC (April 25, 2012) — Sixteen-year old rookie driver, Clint King will be back behind the wheel for Venturini Motorsports this weekend competing in the 91st running of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 at Salem Speedway.

“Kid” King made a grand entrance onto the ARCA scene last year by earning back-to-back pole awards in his first two series starts becoming the youngest pole sitter in ARCA history. In just four series starts King has already claimed (2) top-5 finishes to-go along with his 2-pole awards.

“This will be my first double duty weekend, I couldn’t be more excited! Going back to Salem is something I’ve been looking forward to since last fall after I qualified on the pole and got wrecked early on in the race. We’ve got a rocket so I expect good things, says Clint King.

Riding early season momentum and coming off a fifth place finish earlier this year at Mobile Speedway, King will carry a little more rookie respect as he looks for his first ARCA Series victory driving his No.66 Venturini – Warehouse Design Chevrolet.

However, before he moves onto Salem, King will make a pit stop at Richmond Int’l Speedway to compete in NASCAR’s Denny Hamlin’s Short Track Showdown a nationally televised charity exhibition race benefiting the Denny Hamlin Foundation which focuses on children’s causes, including cystic fibrosis.

“It’s an honor to be recognized and invited back to Richmond for this special event. It presents a new challenge for me in my career. It’s a great track for these late model cars as it’s all about carrying your momentum and staying out of trouble.”

King who will race against top NASCAR stars Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Michael Waltrip earned his way into the star-studded field via special invitation for his top-5 finish among national late model short track racers in the 2011 event.

The Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown will be aired LIVE on SPEED Channel on Thursday, April 26th at 8:30 EST. The 200-lap, 111-mile Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 will begin at 2:15 p.m. on Sunday, April 29. Live timing and scoring of all events will be presented by ARCA Nation at ARCARacing.com./font>

Official: www.ClintKingMotorsports.com  |  Twitter @driverClintKing  |  Facebook: Clint King Motorsports

ABOUT VENTURINI MOTORSPORTS
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars in the ARCA Racing Series, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. The 2012 season marks the teams 30th Anniversary of competition in the ARCA Series. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports.

Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Steve Arpin, Brian Scott, Max Gresham, Miguel Paludo, Josh Richards, Ryan Blaney, and Scott Lagasse, Jr.

Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com  |  Twitter @VenturiniMotor  |  Facebook: Venturini Motorsports