Category: Other Series PR

Jared Marks and Chase Austin All Enjoying Time In Spotlight

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (January 13, 2011) – – The Buckeye State of Ohio is being well represented in the Sunshine State of Florida this week at Daytona (Fla.) Speedway. Tony Marks Racing (TMR) headquartered in Napoleon, Ohio has successfully left an impression on the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards circuit as their multi-car effort led by veteran racer and now crew chief Larry Moore has put their No. 12 Dodge Charger into the limelight.

Piloted by NASCAR driver Chase Austin, rising female sensation Maryeve Dufault and Champion Racing Association (CRA) competitor Jared Marks, the rookie team spent the first two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) of ARCA Racing Series testing at the newly re-paved 2.5-mile speedway getting their car up to speed and their drivers comfortable with the new and extremely fast asphalt.   On Tuesday, Dufault, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series pilot edged out Austin for the fastest TMR time after placing her machine 17th out of 40th on the speed charts. Austin followed in 18th. Dufault was one of three female drivers testing on the first day behind Milka Duno (Dodge) and ahead of Hannah Baker (Chevrolet).

Leaving the track with some satisfaction, the team returned for round two Wednesday looking for additional seat time and solid results. In their eyes, mission accomplished.

Dufault was again the prime target for the newly founded-race team and was the only driver behind the wheel of their Chrysler emblem Wednesday morning during the three-hour session which resulted in a 23rd place single-car run.

Yesterday afternoon, ARCA Racing Series officials opened up the legendary track to drafting. The Tony Marks Racing team opted to play it safe though and continued with single-car runs for much of the afternoon before dabbling just a little bit on the defying skill of drafting, which zones heavily on superspeedway racing, much like Daytona or its sister track, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

For the first time of the week, 16-year old Jared Marks, son of car owner Tony Marks hopped in the seat of the No. 12a Charger and wheeled his automobile around the track in 49.830 seconds or a tick over 180.550 miles per hour. It was a solid lap time for the teenage racer, who under ARCA Racing Series sanctioning age restrictions is allowed to test but not race at the historic facility. The team admitted though that comfort, not speed was the primary agenda for the second-generation racer.

Dufault clocked in her inaugural drafting lap Wednesday afternoon with a time of 49.781 seconds amounting to a speed of 180.792 miles per hour landing her a respectable 31st on the rundown. 

“We’re happy with the results thus far in Daytona,” said Tony Marks, owner of Tony Marks Racing. “In a short time, I feel like we’ve been able to build a strong team with a talented group of people. So far, we’ve achieved all of our goals here in Daytona and look to use the last day (Thursday) as a prime opportunity to further push our team into the spotlight. All three of our drivers are doing a tremendous job. What they are learning is valuable not only in ARCA but stock-car racing in general. They still have a lot to learn here in Daytona and ahead in 2011, but I’m very pleased with the overall effort of TMR this week.”

Testing will conclude at 5:00 p.m. Thursday evening for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. The three-day test is preparation for the first of 19 events on the 2011 calendar which begins on Saturday, February 12th, 2011 live on SPEED. Dufault, the Los Angeles resident is expected to lead the two-car team for TMR next month from the “World Center of Racing.”

Tony Marks Racing hopes to sport two cars in the 2011 season-opener with Dufault and possibly Austin as a teammate. The schedule will turn later in the year and allow Marks behind the second-car team for up to 11 races, including much of the series’ short track contests.

Before tackling the breathtaking Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway this week, the freshman organization spent Monday testing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway allowing the team to shake down their short-track program with all three TMR protégés being allowed priceless seat time behind the wheel. Dufault will make her ARCA Racing Series short track debut at Salem (Ind.) Speedway on May 1, 2011.

About Tony Marks Racing (TMR):   Tony Marks Racing was founded in 2009 through the passion for racing of team owner and former driver Tony Marks.  Marks is the successful owner of TMT, Inc., a logistics, warehousing and packaging company with over 400 employees whose customers are mainly comprised of Fortune 100 companies.    Marks began his racing career in 1985 getting behind the wheel of everything from

drag racers, Dirt Late Models, SCCA Formula Fords, USAC F2000 Open Wheel and ARCA cars.  Tony personally raced until 2005 amassing numerous wins, championships and track records along the way until he  then changed his focus from driver to owner and began building racing programs for his children Jared (16 years old) and Rachel (13 years old).  Under the auspices of TMR, Jared began his racing career in 2002 in quarter midgets and now competes in late model, CRA, ASA and ARCA Series events while Rachel continues her development program racing quarter midgets and Bandoleros.

TMR has been at the forefront of charitable giving through its’  “Driving Against Hunger” and “Million Meal Challenge” race programs which have raised over $200,000 for Forgotten Harvest in 2010 at the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series events at Michigan International Speedway. 

For the NASCAR events TMR along with TMT, Inc. partnered with Forgotten Harvest for the “Million Meal Challenge For Our Kids” which helps to bridge the hunger gap while schools are out of session and feeds 20,000  children per day in the Detroit metro area. Forgotten Harvest was significantly displayed on the entry of Chase Austin during both the Truck and Nationwide events at Michigan International Speedway along with logos of “Million Meal Challenge” sponsors Walgreen’s, United Race Group, Holyfield’s Choice Alka-Power Water and Vitamin Spice.  Evander Holyfield was also instrumental in the challenge, acting as Grand Marshall for the August race and announcing his “Fight Against Hunger” on behalf of Forgotten Harvest. 

As the first race team to “Drive Against Hunger” through their partnership with Forgotten Harvest, TMR plans to continue their alliance with Forgotten Harvest and once again “Drive Against Hunger” during the 2011 season.

For additional information on TMT, Inc. please visit; tmtcompanies.net.

Riverside, California (January 13, 2011) –  Stronghold Motorsports has reached an agreement with premier engine   builder, Roush Yates Engines, to provide the engines for the Pro 2 Unlimited short course of road racing program of Seven-time Supercross Champion, Jeremy McGrath.

  Stronghold Motorsports Managing Partner, Scott Bailey spoke about these recent developments with the team.  “Roush Yates represents the highest level of performance in Ford Racingengine technology.  This is a fantastic opportunity to align ourselveswith an engine

  Roush Yates, a premier manufacturer of Ford racing engines, continues to develop its reputation as an industry leader with an expanded presence in the short course off road racing arena.  “Jeremy McGrath and Stronghold Motorsports have established themselves as championship contenders in short course off road racing,” said Doug Yates, CEO, Roush Yates Engines. “We are proud to stand behind Jeremy and the team with the technology and support to help take his program to the next level.”

builder that has won at the most elite levels of motorsports.”  He continued. “This is yet another significant step we are taking to ensure that our drivers have the very best resources available. We are looking forward to the upcoming season knowing that with Roush Yates power behind Jeremy and his program, he will have very best opportunity for success.”

About Roush Yates Engines Roush Yates Engines designs, engineers and crafts high performance racing engines with the power to perform and the horsepower and durability you’d expect from legendary NASCAR pioneers Jack Roush and Robert Yates. The partnership of power and precision has come from merging the knowledge and experience of two legendary engine builders, both with a passion for winning today and powering up for tomorrow. In 2009 Doug Yates purchased his father’s half of Roush Yates Engines to become a co-owner in the company.

  As CEO, Doug Yates leads a staff of 180 engineers and technicians who design, assemble, test, and service racing engines at two separate state-of-the-art facilities in Mooresville, North Carolina. Here, the best minds and latest technology are hard at work producing nearly 1,500 racing engines each year for teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA, Grand-Am, FIA GT3, Dirt Late Model, Sprint cars, and NHRA Pro Stock. At Roush Yates Engines, the mission is Power Performance, which is achieved through innovation, design, precision engineering, and skillful craftsmanship. Building the best engines in racing today, providing service that’s second to none, and honoring a commitment to research and development are the heart of Roush Yates Engines.

Opelika, AL: APR Motorsport is proud to announce the return of the Audi S4 to Grand Sport competition with IMSA Lite star Gary Gibson partnering APR veteran Josh Hurley. Both drivers have been working hard to prepare for their Grand Sport debut at the Grand Am 200 in Daytona, FL.

Despite the Audi being the first production-based racecar he had driven, Gibson was on front running pace within a handful of laps, quickly adapting to the Audi S4’s quattro all wheel drive. “We were very impressed with Gary’s approach to our first test. He asked all the right questions and clicked with the team straight away. His engineering based approach fits in perfectly with APR Motorsport’s methods and I expect Gary will be as competitive as possible when we roll off the trailer in Daytona,” said APR Motorsport Director, Jeff Mishtawy.

“I am excited about the coming season with APR Motorsport and the new challenges of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge,” Gary said after testing with APR Motorsport. “It was a very difficult decision to leave prototype racing and make the switch to sedans but I feel confident that teaming up with APR Motorsport in the Audi S4 will be the best possible way to make this transition. It is also the perfect situation for my marketing partner, Perfect Pedal. We feel that Grand Am and APR Motorsport represent the best way to grow and market Perfect Pedal.” Perfect Pedal is an aftermarket upgrade for the Logitech G25 and G27 equipped Racing Simulation Systems, which provides a realistic braking feel by using a hydraulic load cell to mirror real world brake pedals.

Despite being a rookie to Grand-Am, Gary brings a diverse racing background with him. He has raced both motorcycles and cars at the top levels of the sport and has contended for the IMSA Lite championship for the past three years. With that experience to build on, look for Gary to add wins in yet another form of racing to his resume this year.

Returning to APR Motorsport for the 3rd consecutive year, 2008 VW TDI Cup Champion Josh Hurley shared his thoughts on campaigning the Audi S4 in 2011, “I can’t wait for Daytona to start; we’ve made some serious improvements during the off season and on top of that, I have a stellar co-driver in Gary Gibson. He has not only shown the necessary pace, but he and I work well together and with the team. That team wide chemistry is what’s necessary to win championships, and that is our goal for 2011”.

About APR: APR LLC is an automotive engineering firm operating a 36,000 sq. ft. performance campus in Opelika, AL. APR was founded in 1997 with a corporate philosophy of Integrity, Excellence and Innovation. APR’s Sole Mission is to provide the highest quality and most highly engineered aftermarket performance products available for Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen vehicles. Learn more at www.goapr.com

About Gary Gibson: A lifelong racer, Gary has been racing since the age of 5, starting with short track speed skating. By his early 20’s Gary began road racing motorcycles and was a consistent front runner in the AMA Pro F-2 series. He then moved on to racing with four wheels, starting with SCCA Spec racers and the IMSA Sports Toyota Championship where he was the season runner up twice. Since 2008, Gary has been competing in the IMSA Lite championship with multiple wins and several podiums in the last three seasons.

About Josh Hurley: A Fort Lauderdale native, Hurley was the 2008 VW TDI Cup Champion. In 2009, he stepped up to the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge class, winning the MESCO Rookie of the Year award, as well as one race victory, two poles and five podiums. With backing from Fortis Watches Josh is once again charging to the front in 2010. To learn more about Fortis Watches visit www.Fortis-Watches.com. To learn more about Josh Hurley, please visit www.GoJoshHurley.com

Sheltra Motorsports and Duno Prepare for the Running of Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway  

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  (January 11, 2011) – Milka Duno delivered strong results on Day One of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards testing at Daytona International Speedway with Sheltra Motorsports, the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menard’s Champion.  

Duno, piloting the team’s No. 63 Dodge Charger, was seventh quickest of 29 cars in today’s morning session and fifth quickest of 40 cars in the afternoon session.  

In the morning session Duno completed five laps with a best time of 50.06 seconds at 179.763 mph and improved in a 27-lap afternoon session to a best time of 49.37 at 182.293 mph.  

This was Duno’s first time behind the wheel of a stock car since she competed in the ARCA Racing Series season-opener at Daytona one year ago.  

Crew Chief Jon Wolfe and his crew made some adjustments to the car between sessions and worked with Duno to continue getting her comfortable in the car and to try new lines on the track. Patrick Sheltra worked with her throughout the day to help her get the most out of the car.  

“It was a good practice today and I was very impressed with the team and how professional they were,” said Duno. “We are looking for more speed and will work hard over the next two days to get faster. It was great to get Patrick’s input, and it was a big help. He’s the 2010 champion, and he knows what to do.”  

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About Sheltra Motorsports: Sheltra Motorsports, established in 2007, is in the midst of its fifth season of ARCA Racing Series competition.  Owned by Florida-native, Patrick Sheltra, the owner-driver team capturedthe 2010 ARCA Racing Series driver and owner’s championship titles on the strength of two wins, 12 top-fives and 17 top-10 finishes in 20 events.  Sheltra Motorsports is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C., with additional operations in Indiana and Florida.  For more information, visit

“Brian Rose Motorsports Set To Officially Launch; Driver Ready To Blossom Again At Daytona!”  

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (January 12, 2011) – – Sometimes, the term “better late than never” can be accepted in racing. For Brian Rose Motorsports, a new entity in the ARCA Racing Series (ARS) presented by Menards, the term couldn’t have been more perfect.

  After a monstrous winter storm crippled much of the mid-west and south east Sunday night and Monday, Brian Rose and his Brian Rose Motorsports team were trapped in the wintry mix that included ice and snow and unable to make the haul to Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway for the first of a three-day open test session.     Luckily, road and weather conditions improved on Tuesday that allowed the team to slowly but carefully maneuver through the 10 hour plus drive to the Sunshine State to tackle the newly re-paved 2.5-mile monster track Wednesday morning.

  Planning to test for the remaining two days (Wednesday and Thursday), the first open test of the New Year will mark the first tango for Louisville, Kentucky native Brian Rose at the wheel of the No. 4 Harris Trucking / Team ASE Toyota Camry at the newly re-paved DIS.

  Though Rose and his posse are new to ARCA, the team has some experience at the Daytona Beach, Fla. track. In 2002, the now part-time NASCAR driver competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season-opener at Daytona, qualifying an impressive fourth, leading several laps and finishing a career-best and stout third in the No. 4 Dodge Ram for Bobby Hamilton Racing.

  Nearly a decade later, Rose returns to the “World Center of Racing” honored to boast the No. 4 again while also hoping to make an early impression in the ARCA Racing Series.

  “We’ve been working hard for this test and despite the weather, we’re still here,” said Rose, who will attempt to make his first ARCA Racing Series start in next month’s Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona. “I have a great group of guys behind me and I think this test definitely will give us a baseline on which direction we’re heading.”   Rose continued, “I’m looking forward to competing in the ARCA Racing Series. It’s a great series and I’m embracing the opportunity to bring my new team to such a diverse series. This won’t be our only ARCA race in 2011, but we’re hoping to leave a lasting impression that will carry over into our next event.”

  ­­­­Danny Rollins, well respected in the NASCAR community will serve as the crew chief for Brian Rose Motorsports. Rollins was the man responsible for guiding the young-gun to his first career NASCAR top-five finish at Daytona (Fla.) Speedway nine years ago.

  Harris Trucking and Team ASE have leaped aboard as marketing partners in the No. 4 Toyota Camry for the first of 19 events on the 2011 ARS calendar, but the freshman team is planning to announce more supporters in the next couple of weeks leading up to ARCA’s biggest race of the season.

  About Brian Rose Motorsports (BRM):   From 2001-2010, Brian Rose competed in 41 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) events. Driving for successful car owners such as the late Bobby Hamilton Sr., Billy Ballew and Rick Ware, he has scored five top-10 finishes including a third place effort in his restrictor plate debut at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway after qualifying fourth in 2002. Rose has controlled the NCWTS field for 35 laps in four events.   A new decade means a new beginning. In 2011, Rose, a native of Louisville, Kentucky will re-brand himself in the racing world by launching his own team, Brian Rose Motorsports (BRM) near Louisville, Kentucky. With the intent to run a full platter of events in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), NASCAR Nationwide Series and Late Model events across the country, Rose is expected to blossom back to the top on and off the race track.

  Stay tuned for a new Brian Rose Motorsports website parked at BrianRoseMotorsports.com.

Mooresville, NC (January 11, 2011) The Rolex 24 at Daytona is the Grand-AM Rolex Sports Car Series’ opener set for Jan. 29-30 at Daytona International Speedway. 

The “World Center of Racing’s” all-new pavement, combined with the largest number of Roush Yates engines in the event’s premier class, including an entry that set an unofficial track record during testing,  are sure to make this year’s race the most exciting ever.  

During the “Roar Before the Rolex 24” practice session this past weekend, Ford driver Ryan Dalziel ran an unparalleled lap with an elapsed time of 1:39.973 using his Roush Yates-powered engine, unofficially breaking the track record for a Daytona Prototype (DP) class  for a lap around Daytona International Speedway’s 3.56-mile, 12-turn speedway/road course.  

Dalziel is the reigning Rolex 24 winner and drove a BMW during the majority of the 2010 season, but decided to switch to Ford motors for the 2011 season. The switch is already paying off, and Dalziel couldn’t be more excited about his chances for a repeat victory with 2011 co drivers Mike Forest, Colin Braun, and Tomas Enge.  

“We are contenders, and we’ve proven that now” said Dalziel. “I think we could have gone faster. I didn’t put together a perfect lap, and we didn’t have a qualifying setup on the car. I know we’ve got more”.  

Car owner Peter Baron credits engineer Bill Riley for the success of the #8 Starworks Motorsport Riley Ford during Sunday’s practice session. Riley has been working on set up options since August of last year and both owner and engineer can’t wait until the January 29th race.  

“We spent a lot of time in the off season working on setup ideas with the new Continental tire and were anxious to test at Daytona for the first time with a Ford engine,” said Baron. “Setting the record at a horsepower track like Daytona is awesome. I’m more than impressed with the engine package Roush Yates has provided us with and I’m looking forward to our chances in the Rolex 24.”  

Roush Yates has a total of eight engines running in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the most of any manufacturer in the field. Ford teams Michael Shank Racing and Doran Racing were also at the top of the speed charts during last Sunday’s test session.  

Practice and qualifying for the Rolex 24 begins Thursday, Jan. 27th and the green flag waves at 3:30pm (ET) on Saturday, Jan. 29th.

About Roush Yates Engines Roush Yates Engines designs, engineers and crafts high performance racing engines with the power to perform and the horsepower and durability you’d expect from legendary NASCAR pioneers Jack Roush and Robert Yates. The partnership of power and precision has come from merging the knowledge and experience of two legendary engine builders, both with a passion for winning today and powering up for tomorrow. In 2009 Doug Yates purchased his father’s half of Roush Yates Engines to become a co-owner in the company.

As CEO, Doug Yates leads a staff of 180 engineers and technicians who design, assemble, test, and service racing engines at two separate state-of-the-art facilities in Mooresville, North Carolina. Here, the best minds and latest technology are hard at work producing nearly 1,500 racing engines each year for teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA, Grand-Am, FIA GT3, Dirt Late Model, Sprint cars, and NHRA Pro Stock. At Roush Yates Engines, the mission is Power Performance, which is achieved through innovation, design, precision engineering, and skillful craftsmanship. Building the best engines in racing today, providing service that’s second to none, and honoring a commitment to research and development are the heart of Roush Yates Engines.

Camping World Truck Series racer Justin Lofton will return to his roots this weekend, racing a Class 1 Unlimited buggy in the SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge in Laughlin, Nevada.

  “Since the NASCAR season ended in Homestead, I’ve been working on getting everything ready for this race and for my charity golf tournament. I’m so excited to get back out in the desert. The race will be a lot of fun,” Lofton said.

  Before making the move to asphalt ovals, Lofton followed in his father Bob’s footsteps, racing in the open, sandy desert. The talent proved hereditary, with the younger Lofton also becoming one to reckon with in off-road racing. In 2004, he earned the Best in the Desert Rookie of the Year honors in addition to three wins in the Desert Buggy Class, as well as the Class 1000 championship.   This weekend’s SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge is a three-day event, which kicks off on Friday with practice, followed by the Laughlin Leap. The race itself will take place on Saturday and Sunday. The starting positions for the event are electronically drawn, with Lofton drawing seventh in Class 1 Unlimited. Sunday’s starting position will be based on the finishing position from Saturday.

  Over 100 racers and 20 classes will participate in the event, racing over a 6.25-mile course. The final positions are determined based on the number of laps and overall time each entry has logged spanning the two-day run. Rusty Szymanski will be along for the ride, serving as Lofton’s navigator.    “It’s been a few years since I’ve raced in the desert. I’m real excited about getting back out there. We’ll see what we can do,” Lofton added.

  Lofton’s partners for the event include Lofton Cattle, BF Goodrich Tires, MasterCraft Safety, JIMCO Racing, and Rusty’s Motor Car Inc.   Following this weekend’s SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, 24-year-old Lofton will prepare for his inaugural charity golf tournament on January 22nd. The event will be held in Brawley, California with all proceeds benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Imperial Valley. The event includes a golf tournament, awards dinner, auction, and a concert. More information about the tournament is available on www.LoftonRacing.com.   For more information on this weekend’s event, visit www.score-international.com Follow Justin on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jlracing ###  

________________________________ Amanda Brahler Justin Lofton Media Relations PH: 704.650.4527 Email: mandy@justinloftoninc.com LoftonRacing.com – twitter.com/jlracing

(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.) – Venturini Motorsports has made a habit of exhibiting raw power in ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards testing sessions, and 18-year-old Kyle Fowler helped the organization continue that custom this afternoon. 

Fowler, of Smyrna, Ga., drove the No. 15 Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet to a lap of 48.791 seconds (184.460 mph) in the afternoon session to lead the opening day of testing at the historic 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway.

“I didn’t expect that. This is my first time here, but the guys have been putting a lot of hard work and effort into it. I’m certainly pleased with it, obviously,” Fowler said.

Fowler looked ahead to Wednesday’s test sessions, which will feature single-car runs in the morning and drafting practice in the afternoon.

“We’re going to try a couple different things. The car’s handling outstanding so we just basically have to get me comfortable in the draft. That’s going to be a new experience for me, so we’ll see if we can get ready for the race here,” Fowler said.

“Restrictor plate racing is absolutely different than anything I’ve ever done. It was something to take those first few laps around this place, considering how much history it has. It was incredible.”

Venturini Motorsports posted each of the day’s top three speeds and four of the top eight, so far pleasing team general manager Billy Venturini, and matching last season’s effort which saw the ARCA stalwart lead in preseason Daytona testing with driver Mikey Kile.

“We have high expectations when we go plate racing. We’ve worked really hard since the week after (last season’s finale at) Rockingham, so it’s always good to see your hard work pay off. I hope we can make it all apply when we come back for the race,” Venturini said.

Arpin, who drove the No. 55 entry for Venturini last season, took the No. 25 Toyota to second at 48.796 seconds (184.441 mph). Martin, driving the No. 55, finished third for the day at 49.141 (183.146 mph). Mark Thompson drove Venturini’s No. 66 entry to eighth on the overall chart.

“I only had the afternoon to log laps in the 55 car, and the team really worked hard to give me a fantastic car. The track is fast, the car is fast, and I’m ready for days 2 and 3. The car feels good and we worked on several different setups today,” Martin said. “Daytona is a world-class track, and the repaving has made it even more challenging than before. It’s going to be really interesting to see the drafting practice over the next two days. We can easily take it three-wide for several laps with this surface.”

Tim George Jr. drove the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Development Chevrolet to the fourth position for the day at 49.201 seconds (182.923 mph). Chris Buescher, who led the morning session, finished the day fifth overall with a lap of 49.315 seconds (182.5 mph) in the No. 17 Roulo Brothers Racing Ford.

IndyCar driver Milka Duno finished the day sixth in advance of just her second ARCA Racing Series start, and rookie Ty Dillon was seventh. Grant Enfinger drove an Allgaier Motorsports entry to ninth overall, and Dakoda Armstrong rounded out the top 10.

The on-track action was slowed by only three minor cautions throughout the day.

Open testing for teams and drivers will continue Wednesday and Thursday at Daytona International Speedway.

The 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season will mark the sanctioning body’s 59th year of competition and begins with the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 12. The event will air live on SPEED.

The complete 2011 event schedule is available at ARCARacing.com.

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 tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually 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.

Founded by John 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 two professional touring series and local weekly events.

CORNELIUS, N.C. – Michael Waltrip Racing owners Michael Waltrip and Rob Kauffman are teaming up again to race in the sixth-annual Dubai 24 Hour sports car race at the ultra-modern Dubai Autodrome on Friday. 

The event marks the first international motor race of 2011.   The two-time Daytona 500 champion and Kauffman will drive one of 90 entrants in the race that features nearly every sports car manufacturer.

“I love racing cars,” said Waltrip. “We had a blast racing there last year and wanted to do it again. I couldn’t believe the number of people that came up to me in Dubai and wanted to talk about NASCAR racing or ask a question about our team. I came back and told everyone at MWR that fans are paying attention to what we are doing on the other side of the world.”   Waltrip and Kauffman will join co-drivers Rui Aguas and Matt Griffin behind the wheel of the Ferrari F430 GT2 of the AF Corse team. Waltrip and Kauffman raced this car in Dubai last year and in Belgium where they scored an impressive third-place finish on the legendary Spa Francorchamps circuit.

The 3.5-mile track at the Dubai Autodrome is one of the most modern in the world; it is also one of the most challenging, as it has a combination of high-speed straights and technical corners.

NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Bobby Labonte and David Reutimann joined Waltrip and Kauffman at a Dec. 18-21 test session in Portugal where the AF Corse team prepared for Dubai.   Race fans can track Waltrip’s progress during the Dubai weekend on his Twitter account @mw55.

Track action starts on Thursday with daylight practice, qualifying and night practice. The 24-hour race will start on Friday at 2 p.m. local time (5 a.m. ET)   Waltrip and Kauffman own MWR which fields NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entries for Waltrip, Martin Truex Jr. and Reutimann.

INDIANAPOLIS – Sam Schmidt Motorsports announced today that Brazilian Victor Carbone will be one of the team’s drivers for the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights season.

Carbone, from Sao Paulo, comes to Sam Schmidt Motorsports after having spent the last two seasons racing in F2000 with Alegra Motorsports where he won the championship in 2010 with eight podium finishes, including six victories, along with six poles and four fast laps.

“I am really excited for the 2011 racing season as I will have a great opportunity in driving with Sam Schmidt Motorsports,” Carbone said.  “They have just won the championship, so I will be working with some of the best people available.”

The 18-year old had the chance to test with Sam Schmidt Motorsports in December, getting his first taste of the Firestone Indy Lights machine.  The jump to the Firestone Indy Lights vehicle from the F2000 car is a big step, but one that Carbone is confident he can handle.

He said, “I am aware this is a big step, and things are different from the F2000 world.  Even though there is many differences, I feel the two years I spent in F2000 gave me the necessary foundations for me to make this move. I will work very hard to listen, learn, and do whatever it takes to achieve good results.”

Team owner, Sam Schmidt, has been impressed with Carbone’s maturity and expectations, and most importantly, his results in the December test.  He said, “We’re going to give Victor all the tools he needs to be successful in 2011, but make no mistake, this is a big step for him.  He’s got a learning curve ahead of him, but as a team, we’re confident that we can put together great results this year.  The maturity and experience he already has at 18 is incredible, and I can’t wait to see what he does when the racing season begins.”

Prior to his stint in F2000, Carbone raced in the Skip Barber ladder system, competing in the Skip Barber Regional Series and the BFGoodrich/Skip Barber National Championship Presented by Mazda, both in 2008.  He was also a successful kart racer, winning in various classes in Brazil and the United States.

Sam Schmidt Motorsports, the all-time leaders in race wins (37) and championships (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010), will kick off the 2011 Firestone Indy Lights season on March 27th on the Streets of St. Petersburg.  Coverage of the event will be available on indycar.com.  For more information on the team, visit