ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards

Graham’s morning lap of 48.229 seconds (186.61 mph) in the No. 88 Ford gave him the lead in the weekend’s fifth testing session, and in turn the only top 10 time outside of Saturday afternoon’s drafting session. Duno, Jared Marks, Will Kimmel, and Alex Bowman comprised the remainder of the morning top five.

Only 30 cars participated in the last afternoon session, which Duno led with a best lap of 48.34 seconds (186.161 mph). She was followed by Joey Coulter, Brandon McReynolds, Bowman, and Josh Richards. Full speed charts for both Sunday sessions are available at ARCARacing.com.

Overall, Venturini Motorsports ended the weekend with the top positions among 79 drivers who took laps over 21 hours. Bowman’s Saturday afternoon lap of 47.787 seconds (188.336 mph) in the No. 25 Chevrolet will stand as the test’s top effort, just ahead of teammates John Stancill, Brennan Poole, and Ryan Reed. Marks, driving a Tony Marks Racing Dodge, ended the weekend fifth.

Duno’s Saturday afternoon lap in the Sheltra Motorsports Ford ended the test sixth overall, just ahead of Venturini’s Nelson Canache, DC Racing’s Drew Charlson, Graham, and Coulter Motorsports’ Matt Lofton.

The overall weekend results are listed below.

CAR # DRIVER MFG TIME SPEED

1 25a Alex Bowman Chevy 47.787 188.336
2 55 John Stancill Toyota 47.811 188.241
3 25 Brennan Poole Chevy 47.812 188.237
4 15 Ryan Reed Toyota 47.821 188.202
5 12 Jared Marks Dodge 47.832 188.159
6 63 Milka Duno Ford 48.166 186.854
7 35 Nelson Canache Chevy 48.212 186.676
8 51 Drew Charlson Chevy 48.221 186.641
9 88 Buster Graham Ford 48.229 186.610
10 16 Matt Lofton Chevy 48.234 186.590
11 94 Steve Blackburn Chevy 48.245 186.548
12 69a Fain Skinner Ford 48.251 186.525
13 58 Chad Hackenbracht Chevy 48.340 186.181
14 61 Joey Coulter Chevy 48.363 186.093
15 4 Brandon McReynolds Chevy 48.364 186.089
16 32 Chris Windom Toyota 48.380 186.027
17 66 Josh Richards Toyota 48.438 185.805
18 68 Will Kimmel Ford 48.488 185.613
19 08 Ross Chastain Ford 48.569 185.303
20 12 Maryeve Dufault Dodge 48.573 185.288
21 75 Ginny Quinones Toyota 48.674 184.904
22 44 Frank Kimmel Toyota 48.773 184.528
23 6 Cale Gale Chevy 48.803 184.415
24 14 John Ferrier Chevy 48.839 184.279
25 05 Derrike Cope Chevy 48.846 184.253
26 00 Ed Kennedy Chevy 48.865 184.181
27 66 Mark Thompson Toyota 48.931 183.932
28 1 Alli Owens Ford 48.953 183.850
29 90 Zachary Ralston Ford 48.971 183.782
30 29c Bobby Pelland Dodge 49.076 183.389
31 29a Sam Edwards Dodge 49.092 183.329
32 5a Bobby Gerhart Chevy 49.169 183.042
33 82a Sean Corr Ford 49.190 182.964
34 61 T.J. Duke Chevy 49.193 182.953
35 11b Rick Clifton Chevy 49.340 182.408
36 75a Benny Chastain Toyota 49.392 182.216
37 17 Chris Buescher Ford 49.417 182.124
38 29b Sloan Henderson Dodge 49.461 181.962
39 5b Damon Lusk Chevy 49.469 181.932
40 14a Josh Williams Ford 49.609 181.419
41 05 Spencer Gallagher Chevy 49.625 181.360
42 1a Jeremy Petty Chevy 49.725 180.995
43 40a Michelle Therault Dodge 49.745 180.923
44 10a Dennis Strickland Ford 49.793 180.748
45 13 George Cushman Dodge 49.985 180.054
46 69 Chris Brown Ford 50.133 179.522
47 18 Michael Affarano Chevy 50.207 179.258
48 10b Ryan Glenski Chevy 50.223 179.201
49 90a Grant Enfinger Ford 50.258 179.076
50 40t Nick Tucker Dodge 50.390 178.607
51 11 Paul Harraka Chevy 50.403 178.561
52 11c Trevor Edwards Chevy 50.517 178.158
53 10 Derrick Griffin Ford 50.539 178.080
54 1b Thomas Praytor Ford 50.560 178.006
55 11a Ed Pompa Chevy 50.579 177.939
56 29 Bob Bryant Dodge 50.606 177.845
57 11e Sunny Hobbs Chevy 50.617 177.806
58 29d Andy Jones Dodge 50.626 177.774
59 18f Chris Coker Ford 50.640 177.725
60 04c Danny Esposito Dodge 50.651 177.687
61 04 Scott Edwards Dodge 50.695 177.532
62 1c Alexsander Gregory Ford 50.715 177.462
63 40b Trent Mayo Dodge 50.926 176.727
64 04a Juan Carlos Blum Dodge 51.029 176.370
65 40d Larry Barford Dodge 51.054 176.284
66 11d Bill Coffey Ford 51.162 175.912
67 40d Josh Watkins Dodge 51.162 175.912
68 06 Ricky Byers Chevy 51.173 175.874
69 11h James Hylton Ford 51.243 175.634
70 10f Brad Lloyd Chevy 51.257 175.586
71 10b Daryl Eustice Ford 51.277 175.517
72 18c Tyler Speer Chevy 51.348 175.275
73 89 Chris Lafferty Chevy 51.563 174.544
74 40c Ryan Rust Dodge 51.605 174.402
75 7 Brent Cross Chevy 51.792 173.772
76 40 Michael Bockler Dodge 51.795 173.762
77 40b Roger Carter Dodge 51.827 173.655
78 89a Korbin Forrister Chevy 52.314 172.038
79 74 Jimmy Nowell Chevy 60.220 149.452

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will return to central Florida in less than two months, as the February 18 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway will open ARCA’s 60th Anniversary Season. The 80-lap, 200-mile race is scheduled as the first of 20 races in 2012 and will air live on SPEED, with additional coverage available at ARCARacing.com.

The complete 2012 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 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 will visit Alabama’s Mobile International Speedway and Minnesota’s Elko Speedway for the first time; ARCA’s first visit to Minnesota will give ARCA a race in a 29th state.

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.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Thumbnail

Ryan Reed drove the No. 15 Toyota to a best lap of 48.857 seconds (184.211 mph) in the second session of ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards open testing at the 2.5-mile oval, just edging teammates Brennan Poole, John Stancill, and Mark Thompson for the day’s best times. T.J. Duke, driving for Coulter Motorsports, finished the day fifth.

Poole led the three-hour morning period with a best lap of 48.915 seconds, and he and Reed were the only drivers to top that mark in the four-hour afternoon session.

Reed has never competed in the ARCA Racing Series, but is a track champion and super late model Rookie of the Year and race winner at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale in California. Just months past his 18th birthday, Reed enters ARCA with three NASCAR K&N Pro Series starts to his credit. In February, as he prepared to move to North Carolina from Bakersfield, Calif., Reed was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Rick Clifton, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year Joey Coulter, Chris Windom, Nelson Canache, and Sloan Henderson filled out the top 10 for the first day. Seven-time and defending Daytona winner Bobby Gerhart ended the day 13th, and 2011 Daytona runner-up and ARCA Rookie of the Year Chris Buescher finished 27th.

Open testing for teams and drivers will continue Saturday and Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.

The full list of every driver’s best speed is available below.

CAR # DRIVER TIME SPEED

1 15 Ryan Reed 48.857 184.211
2 25 Brennan Poole 48.862 184.192
3 55 John Stancill 48.921 183.970
4 66 Mark Thompson 48.931 183.932
5 61 T.J. Duke 49.193 182.953
6 11b Rick Clifton 49.340 182.408
7 61 Joey Coulter 49.350 182.371
8 32 Chris Windom 49.360 182.334
9 35 Nelson Canache 49.439 182.043
10 29b Sloan Henderson 49.461 181.962
11 5b Damon Lusk 49.469 181.932
12 82a Sean Corr 49.475 181.910
13 5a Bobby Gerhart 49.502 181.811
14 58 Chad Hackenbracht 49.552 181.627
15 4 Brandon McReynolds 49.553 181.624
16 99 Buster Graham 49.637 181.316
17 14 John Ferrier 49.666 181.210
18 94 Steve Blackburn 49.717 181.025
19 16 Matt Lofton 49.725 180.995
20 00 Ed Kennedy 49.761 180.865
21 12 Jared Marks 49.772 180.825
22 63 Milka Duno 49.787 180.770
23 1 Alli Owens 49.813 180.676
24 69a Fain Skinner 49.862 180.498
25 68 Will Kimmel 50.016 179.942
26 6 Cale Gale 50.034 179.878
27 17a Chris Buescher 50.035 179.874
28 90 Zachary Ralston 50.114 179.591
29 08 Ross Chastain 50.131 179.530
30 69 Chris Brown 50.133 179.522
31 18 Michael Affarano 50.207 179.258
32 10b Ryan Glenski 50.223 179.201
33 90a Grant Enfinger 50.258 179.076
34 75 Ginny Quinones 50.278 179.005
35 11 Paul Harraka 50.403 178.561
36 75a Benny Chastain 50.461 178.356
37 11a Ed Pompa 50.579 177.939
38 11c Trevor Edwards 50.681 177.581
39 04 Scott Edwards 50.695 177.532
40 51 Drew Charlson 50.744 177.361
41 05 Spencer Gallagher 50.903 176.807
42 13 George Cushman 50.928 176.720
43 04a Juan Carlos Blum 51.029 176.370
44 04c Danny Esposito 51.089 176.163
45 11d Bill Coffey 51.162 175.912
46 06 Ricky Byers 51.173 175.874
47 10b Daryl Eustice 51.277 175.517
48 04b Nick Tucker 51.405 175.080
49 40d Larry Barford 51.511 174.720
50 04d Josh Watkins 51.674 174.169
51 40b Roger Carter 51.827 173.655
52 40 Michael Bockler 51.990 173.110
53 05a Derrike Cope 52.067 172.854
54 7 Brent Cross 52.376 171.834

2012 will be the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards’ 60th Anniversary Season, featuring 20 races at 18 tracks. The season begins with the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 18. The event will air live on SPEED.

The complete 2012 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 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 will visit Alabama’s Mobile International Speedway and Minnesota’s Elko Speedway for the first time; ARCA’s first visit to Minnesota will give ARCA a race in a 29th state.

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.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

Ty Dillon (L) and car owner and grandather Richard Childress (R) celebrate the ARCA Racing Series championship during the annual awards banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center (Photo Credit: ARCA)

Dillon and his No. 41 Chevrolet team were officially crowned ARCA champions at the series’ annual Championship Awards Banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. The 19-year-old from Lewisville, N.C. was among 15 drivers from the top 20 in the final point standings to be honored on stage, and left with more than $100,000 in point fund and special award earnings, as awarded by the numerous series partners at the ceremony.

To honor Dillon’s position as the 29th ARCA Racing Series champion in 59 seasons, ARCA president Ron Drager presented the driver a letter signed by North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue, as well as a series championship ring and a leather championship jacket featuring the series logo.

As is the custom, a video tribute featured photographs from the champion’s youth and ascent to championship status; special additions to this season’s video included special messages from Richard Childress Racing drivers Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton, as well as a collection of footage showcasing Dillon’s use of the word “awesome” in Victory Lane interviews.

Joining Dillon on stage were his grandfather and team owner, Richard Childress, grandmother Judy Childress, and crew chief Scott “Flash” Naset, who was joined by his wife Stephanie.

“It doesn’t really hit you, how special it is to do something like this, until you’re up on the stage like this and all these people you’ve worked so hard against all year are staring up at you and you’re getting crowned the champion,” said Dillon, who finished the season with seven wins, 13 top-fives, and 16 top-10 finishes. “It hit me pretty hard, and I’m just proud to be with the group of guys I’m with. It’s almost just surreal, to finally take it in. This experience right here has changed me a lot.”

Among the top awards Dillon and his team received were: $10,000 for winning the Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell after securing seven poles in 2011; $6,000 from Sunoco Race Fuel; $5,000 for winning the Aaron’s Lap Leader of the Year Award; $5,000 from Messina Wildlife Management; $5,000 from Hoosier for most wins by a car owner; $2,500 from the University of Northwestern Ohio; and the Fast Track High Performance Driving School Award. Jeff Abbott of Menards presented Dillon a check representing his winnings from the series points fund.

Naset also visited the stage on his own to accept the Cometic Crew Chief of the Year Award.

David Ragan, a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and ARCA Racing Series race winner, served as the Guest of Honor. SPEED television analyst Phil Parsons acted as the banquet host for the third consecutive year.

Chris Buescher, who drove to second place in the final standings for Roulo Brothers Racing, received the $10,000 ARCA Rookie of the Year Award, as well as $2,500 in cash and product certificates from Print Resources and $500 from JRI. Buescher also accepted the $15,000 Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Award and the R.E. Lightning Challenge Award, among other prizes.

Buescher won three of the season’s last four races, and the team’s Russell Roulo won the Klotz Engine Mechanic of the Year Award. Gary Roulo joined Buescher on stage when he was introduced for finishing in second place.

The team left with more than $100,000 in point fund and special award earnings after a season in which Buescher drove to three wins, 14 top-fives, and 16 top-10s.

Frank Kimmel was recognized on stage for finishing third in the series standings, as well as for winning the CGS Imaging Hard Charger of the Year Award and the S&S Volvo Laps Completed Award. He was joined for a final time on stage by brother and crew chief Bill Kimmel; the two will separate for the 2012 season with Frank Kimmel moving to ThorSport Racing.

Chad McCumbee, who finished fifth in the final series standings, joined owner Jennifer Belmont on stage to accept the Bill France Four Crown Award for his combined performances at New Jersey, Michigan, Springfield, and Salem.

Fourth-place driver Grant Enfinger and owner Mike Allgaier were introduced, as were fellow pairs from the top 10 in the final standings: Tom Hessert and team owner Ken Schrader (sixth); Tim George Jr. and crew chief Gere Kennon (seventh); Chad Hackenbracht and team owner Greg Hackenbracht (eighth); Sean Corr and team owner John Corr (ninth); and Darrell Basham (10th).

The top-10 honor – Basham’s first since 1976 – turned out to be the second recognition of the night for Basham. Earlier, he was honored with his second Spirit Award, following the same honor in 2003. The Spirit Award is given to a person for dedication and support of ARCA, uplifting spirit by way of example, perseverance, and positive attitude. Despite a late 2010 garage fire that destroyed nearly all his race equipment, Basham displayed all of those characteristics in driving to his best season finish in 35 years.

Nick Ramey accepted the Crane Cams Engine Builder of the Year Award on behalf of Roush Yates Engines, and Ramey himself was presented the H.G. Adcox Sportsman of the Year Award for his consistent willingness to assist any team in the garage.

In addition to stepping to the stage with Hessert, Schrader appeared to accept the Marcum Award, annually presented to an individual or entity whose positive efforts have elevated ARCA’s motorsports stature to the benefit of all associated. Schrader is a 15-time winner in the ARCA Racing Series, and continues to promote the series today as a team owner and television broadcaster.

Cathy Venturini and Nate Thiesse, the fourth and 10th-place owners, respectively, both spoke on stage.

To complete the honoring of the top 20 drivers, James Hylton (11th), Brad Smith (12th), Levi Youster (14th), Will Kimmel (15th), and Maryeve Dufault (16th) visited the stage to receive congratulations.

Jeff Kettman accepted the Manufacturer Championship on behalf of Chevrolet.

Andy O’Neal, dean of the College of Technology of the University of Northwestern Ohio – ARCA’s Official High Performance Education University – awarded a group of ARCA scholarships on behalf of the university.

Likewise, Parsons announced the winners of the Bob Loga Memorial ARCA Scholarships. Brianna Peterson – granddaughter of ARCA competitor Wayne Peterson – won $1,500. Peterson, of Hoover, Ala., holds a 4.23 grade point average as a sophomore veterinary student at Auburn University. Brittany Gaddis of Romulus, Mich. won $500. She is the daughter of ARCA Figure 8 driver Danny Gaddis, attends Romulus High School, and plans to study nursing at Wayne State University in Detroit.

The ceremony concluded just after 10 p.m. with a special video featuring an interview with Mildred Marcum, known widely as an ARCA founder. The interview led into a short mention of ARCA’s 60th Anniversary Season and the surrounding celebrations that will occur throughout 2012. A press conference in the afternoon included major series and team announcements.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards featured 19 events at 16 tracks on its 2011 schedule. The series 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. In 2011, 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.

The 2012 ARCA Racing Series schedule is currently available at ARCARacing.com. Testing for ARCA’s 60th Anniversary Season will begin Friday, December 16 at Daytona International Speedway. The season’s first race is scheduled for Saturday, February 18 at Daytona.

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.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

Scott Naset

Naset will accept the honor Saturday evening at the series’ annual Championship Awards Banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky. The banquet will close the 59th season of ARCA competition.

A native of Bloomer, Wis., the 40-year-old Naset has worked at Richard Childress Racing since 1999, notably serving as the car chief for Kevin Harvick’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series entry from 2002 to 2009 and as the truck chief for Austin Dillon’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series entry in 2010, among other roles.

Naset finished with 6850 points in the crew chief division, which awards $3000 at year’s end and tabulates points from qualifying and race action. The crew chief of the fastest-qualifying car earns 200 points, with descending positions earning five fewer points per position. The same scoring system is in place for race finishes. Competing crew chiefs must register at the beginning of the season and carry the decal of Cometic Gasket, Inc. on the car to be eligible to score. A maximum of 400 points is possible in each event weekend.

Naset and the No. 41 team started quickly, as Dillon won the pole and finished 11th in the season opener at Daytona and swept the pole and race wins at Talladega in the next race. The team captured seven wins and seven Menards Pole Awards presented by Ansell in 19 events this year. Naset won Cometic Crew Chief of the Race honors 10 times in 19 races, earning $250 for his team’s performances at Talladega, Salem (May), Chicagoland, Michigan, Iowa, Indianapolis, Pocono (August), and DuQuoin, and in two races at Toledo.

Cometic Gasket, Inc., a Concord, Ohio company, creates the Official Gasket of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and also contributes $3500 to the year-end championship point fund.

Gary Roulo of the No. 17 Roulo Brothers Racing team finished second in the competition with 6485 points and four race awards. Billy Venturini (No. 25 Venturini Motorsports) was third with 6135 points and one race award. Gere Kennon (No. 31 Richard Childress Racing; 5655 points and one race award) and Bill Kimmel (No. 44 Kimmel Racing; 5650 points) rounded out the top five.

Other $250 Cometic Crew Chief of the Race winners included: John Monsam (No. 52 Schrader Racing, two) and Bill Gerhart (No. 5 Bobby Gerhart Racing).

Other Cometic Crew Chief of the Race winners included: Mike Chaffee (No. 32 Win-Tron Racing, three); Paul Andrews (No. 22 Cunningham Motorsports, two); and Tony Liberati (No. 55 Venturini Motorsports, two).

Series champion Ty Dillon, Rookie of the Year Chris Buescher, other drivers from the top 20, and the top 10 car owners will be honored in Saturday’s program, which also features special award winners.

Additional special award presentations include the Bill France Four Crown, the Rookie of the Year, the H.G. Adcox Sportsmanship Award, the Manufacturer Championship, the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Award, the Crane Cams Engine Builder of the Year Award, the Marcum Award, the Spirit Award, the Klotz Engine Mechanic Award, and the CGS Imaging Hard Charger Award. In addition, scholarship recipients will be announced, compliments of the University of Northwestern Ohio and the Bob Loga Memorial Scholarship Foundation.

While open to teams, series and track officials, and sponsors, the annual formal gala is also open to ARCA Racing Series fans. Ticket information is available at ARCARacing.com.

The public schedule of events for Saturday, December 10 is as follows:

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Redline Racing Ministry Silent Auction

2 p.m. ARCA Racing Series Press Conference

3 p.m. Redline Racing Ministry Live Auction

4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Formal Portrait Photo Session

5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Guest Reception

6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Awards Dinner and Program

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards featured 19 events at 16 tracks on its 2011 schedule. The series 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. In 2011, 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.

The 2012 ARCA Racing Series schedule is currently available at ARCARacing.com.

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.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

David Ragan

Ragan made 31 ARCA starts between 2003 and 2008, and won at Lanier National Speedway in Georgia on May 28, 2005. He made his Sprint Cup debut for Roush Fenway Racing in 2006, began racing full-time for the team in 2007, and won at historic Daytona International Speedway for the team this July.

The 25-year-old from Unadilla, Ga. has made 308 starts in NASCAR’s three national series since 2004, and also has two NASCAR Nationwide Series wins.

Series champion Ty Dillon, Rookie of the Year Chris Buescher, other drivers from the top 20, and the top 10 car owners will be honored Saturday in a program that also features special award winners.

In an interesting connection, Ragan is a mentor to and has spotted for Buescher in ARCA competition. Ragan drove for Roulo Brothers Racing while in ARCA, preceding Buescher’s tenure with the team.

Additional special award presentations include the Bill France Four Crown, the Rookie of the Year, the Cometic Crew Chief of the Year, the H.G. Adcox Sportsmanship Award, the Manufacturer Championship, the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Award, the Crane Cams Engine Builder of the Year Award, the Marcum Award, the Spirit Award, the Klotz Engine Mechanic Award, and the CGS Imaging Hard Charger Award. In addition, scholarship recipients will be announced, compliments of the University of Northwestern Ohio and the Bob Loga Memorial Scholarship Foundation.

While open to teams, series and track officials, and sponsors, the annual formal gala is also open to ARCA Racing Series fans. Ticket information is available at ARCARacing.com.

The public schedule of events for Saturday, December 10 is as follows:

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Redline Racing Ministry Silent Auction

2 p.m. ARCA Racing Series Press Conference

3 p.m. Redline Racing Ministry Live Auction

4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Formal Portrait Photo Session

5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Guest Reception

6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Awards Dinner and Program

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards featured 19 events at 16 tracks on its 2011 schedule. The series 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. In 2011, 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.

The 2012 ARCA Racing Series schedule is currently available at ARCARacing.com.

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.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

Phil Parsons (Photo Credit: Automobile Racing Club of America)

The gala will officially close the 59th season of ARCA competition, and is scheduled for Saturday, December 10 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati.

Parsons, the younger brother of the late NASCAR and ARCA champion Benny Parsons, utilized the ARCA Racing Series as a stepping stone to launch a long career in NASCAR that included over 200 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts, a Cup victory at Talladega, and more than 250 Nationwide Series starts. Parsons posted one ARCA victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 1980 and a fourth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in 1981.

Parsons currently provides color commentary for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series on SPEED. He has previously hosted the ARCA banquet twice, in 2009 and 2010.

Series champion Ty Dillon, Rookie of the Year Chris Buescher, other drivers from the top 20, and the top 10 car owners will be honored in a program that also features special award winners.

Additional special award presentations include the Bill France Four Crown, the Rookie of the Year, the Cometic Crew Chief of the Year, the H.G. Adcox Sportsmanship Award, the Manufacturer Championship, the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Award, the Crane Cams Engine Builder of the Year Award, the Marcum Award, the Spirit Award, the Klotz Engine Mechanic Award, and the CGS Imaging Hard Charger Award. In addition, scholarship recipients will be announced, compliments of the University of Northwestern Ohio and the Bob Loga Memorial Scholarship Foundation.

While open to teams, series and track officials, and sponsors, the annual formal gala is also open to ARCA Racing Series fans. Ticket information is available at ARCARacing.com.

The public schedule of events for Saturday, December 10 is as follows:

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Redline Racing Ministry Silent Auction

2 p.m. ARCA Racing Series Press Conference

3 p.m. Redline Racing Ministry Live Auction

4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Formal Portrait Photo Session

5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Guest Reception

6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Awards Dinner and Program

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards featured 19 events at 16 tracks on its 2011 schedule. The series 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. In 2011, 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.

The 2012 ARCA Racing Series schedule is currently available at ARCARacing.com.

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.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Thumbnail

Two events are scheduled at the demanding, high-banked 0.555-mile oval between Indianapolis and Louisville, Ky. The 91st Salem race in ARCA history will take place Sunday, April 29, with the 92nd following on Saturday, September 15.

Salem Speedway first hosted ARCA in 1955, the third season of ARCA competition.

“ARCA’s history at Salem Speedway stretches back to the MARC era and our earliest decade,” said Ron Drager, president of ARCA. “The fans in southern Indiana and northern Kentucky turn out with great support year after year. We look forward to providing them with the traditional Sunday afternoon show in the spring and our classic Saturday night race in the fall.”

Indiana native Frank Kimmel is the all-time leading winner at Salem, with nine victories. Jack Bowsher is second in history with seven wins. Brennan Poole won at Salem in his first career start in May, and Chris Buescher won in September as part of his charge to the 2011 ARCA Racing Series Rookie of the Year Award.

“We are once again honored to have Salem Speedway represented with two dates on the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule,” said Salem Speedway general manager Richard Deaton. “ARCA has played a very prominent role in the storied history of the famed high banks and we are excited to carry on that tradition in 2012.”

More detailed schedule information for the season will be available shortly. The following race dates for the 2012 ARCA Racing Series schedule have been announced:

February 18 – Daytona International Speedway

March 10 – Mobile International Speedway

April 29 – Salem Speedway

May 4 – Talladega Superspeedway

June 9 – Pocono Raceway

June 15 – Michigan International Speedway

June 24 – Winchester Speedway

July 1 – New Jersey Motorsports Park

July 13 – Iowa Speedway

July 21 – Chicagoland Speedway

August 4 – Pocono Raceway

August 11 – Berlin Raceway

August 19 – Illinois State Fairgrounds

August 26 – Madison International Speedway

September 3 – DuQuoin State Fairgrounds

September 15 – Salem Speedway

October 19 – Kansas Speedway

The ARCA Racing Series will wrap up the 2011 season with the Championship Awards Banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati, on Saturday, December 10.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards featured 19 events at 16 tracks on its 2011 schedule. The series 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. In 2011, 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.

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.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

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Adding to the excitement of crowning a champion, the ARCA race will also debut the new racing surface at Kansas Speedway.

“To be able to crown the 2012 ARCA Racing Series champion at Kansas Speedway is exciting,” said Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren. “We have seen a lot of great ARCA races at Kansas Speedway, including this year’s ARCA race under the lights and I’m confident that next year’s event will be just as good. ARCA selecting Kansas Speedway to host the season finale is also a testament to our fans and the support they have shown for both the series and Kansas Speedway.”

The 2011 ARCA race was Kansas Speedway’s first race under the lights and 18-year-old Alex Bowman wanted to keep the lights shining on him as he passed Chris Buescher with two laps remaining to take home the checkered flag for his second ARCA win in just his second career start in the series.

Tickets for Kansas Speedway’s 2012 race events, including both NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races are on sale now by calling 866.460.RACE (7223). Parking is always free at Kansas Speedway and fans can bring in one 14x14x14-inch soft-sided cooler with their favorite food and beverages.

- Kansas Speedway Press Release

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The Illinois State Fairgrounds race will take place on Sunday, August 19; the DuQuoin race retains its traditional Labor Day date, Monday, September 3. The races are each scheduled under ARCA sanction for the 30th consecutive year, a key milestone that adds to the celebration of ARCA’s 60th Anniversary Season.

“Racing in Springfield and DuQuoin for three decades has directly connected us to a whole community of race fans whose affinity is dirt track racing,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “It’s important to reach out and connect with those racers and fans. Racing on the dirt is a vital, integral component of our schedule and a calculated part of our business plan. It differentiates our tour, and ties our series as it stands today to the very beginning of ARCA history, when racing on dirt built the foundation of our tradition.”

Championship stock car racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds predates even the ARCA Racing Series, having started in 1950. The ARCA Racing Series’ sanction of the Allen Crowe Memorial 100 – which remembers the fallen Sprint car driver who died at New Bremen (Ohio) Speedway in 1963 – began in 1983. Dean Roper won the inaugural ARCA race at the track for the first of his three series victories in Springfield.

Nine-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel won a series-high seven races at Springfield between 2000 and 2008, and 1989 series champion Bob Keselowski is second all-time with four wins on the mile dirt oval. In August, Chad McCumbee made a leap toward winning the Bill France Four Crown with his Springfield victory.

Like its counterpart 150 miles away, the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds has hosted ARCA-sanctioned races since 1983. Roper won the first Southern Illinois 100 on the oval, his first of four ARCA victories at the track.

Kimmel is the dean of DuQuoin, as well, with five victories between 2001 and 2008. Billy Thomas ranks just behind Kimmel and tied with Roper, with four wins. Chris Buescher won at DuQuoin on Labor Day this year to open a stretch of three wins in the final four races and a charge for the Rookie of the Year title.

More detailed schedule information for the season will be available shortly. The following race dates for the 2012 ARCA Racing Series schedule have been announced:

February 18 – Daytona International Speedway

March 10 – Mobile International Speedway

May 4 – Talladega Superspeedway

June 9 – Pocono Raceway

July 1 – New Jersey Motorsports Park

August 4 – Pocono Raceway

August 19 – Illinois State Fairgrounds

September 3 – DuQuoin State Fairgrounds

The ARCA Racing Series will wrap up the 2011 season with the Championship Awards Banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati, on Saturday, December 10.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards featured 19 events at 16 tracks on its 2011 schedule. The series 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. In 2011, 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.

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.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards Thumbnail

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 will set the tone for 2012 from the historic 2.5-mile superspeedway oval at 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 18. The race will air live on SPEED.

The race will be the 49th for ARCA at Daytona, which has hosted the series’ season opener every year since ARCA’s first visit in 1964. The race will also open ARCA’s 60th Anniversary Season, and will precede Saturday night’s feature race, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Budweiser Shootout. Those events will lead into pole qualifying for the Daytona 500 the next day.

Bobby Gerhart has won a record seven times at Daytona, including a victory over 2011 Rookie of the Year Chris Buescher this February.

“We race on the same day, at the same track, just a couple of hours before the Bud Shootout, and a week in advance of the season-opening Daytona 500,” said Ron Drager, president of ARCA. “It’s a great opportunity for us, and a great platform at a track where so much of our history has been written.”

On-track activity will begin with practice Thursday, February 16 and continue with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell on Friday, February 17. Start times will be announced shortly.

ARCA officials also announced today that the season’s second superspeedway event will take place Friday, May 4 at Talladega Superspeedway, leading off a weekend of NASCAR Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series action.

“These race tracks are great facilities in important racing markets, and speak to the long-standing relationship between ARCA and the International Speedway Corporation tracks, which dates back to ARCA’s first race at Daytona in 1964,” Drager said. “This is a real opportunity for our teams and drivers to be on track during the high-visibility ISC race weekends.”

The 2012 race at Talladega will be the 50th since 1969. Grant Adcox is ARCA’s all-time leading winner on the 2.66-mile superspeedway oval with five wins, but 2011 series champion Ty Dillon is the most recent ARCA winner at Talladega. Dillon passed nine-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel just before the checkered flag to win this April.

More detailed schedule information for the season will be available shortly. The following race dates for the 2012 ARCA Racing Series schedule have been announced:

February 18 – Daytona International Speedway

March 10 – Mobile International Speedway

May 4 – Talladega Superspeedway

July 1 – New Jersey Motorsports Park

The ARCA Racing Series will wrap up the 2011 season with the Championship Awards Banquet at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati, on Saturday, December 10.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards featured 19 events at 16 tracks on its 2011 schedule. The series 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. In 2011, 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.

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.

- Automobile Racing Club of America Press Release

Cunningham Motorsports

The team tested at Caraway Speedway last week in an effort to reacquaint Wallace with the ARCA Series cars. She last raced with the ARCA organization in 2008, competing at Talladega and Pocono—a definite change in track configuration to the .5 mile Toledo Speedway. When the #22 rolled off of the trailer, Wallace hit the track for the first practice session very comfortable, as she told crew chief Paul Andrews, “Everything is handling really, really well.” After the crew made many adjustments throughout the first 45 minute practice, Wallace showed 15th on the speed chart. She found the car more to her liking in the final practice, posting the 8th quickest time, picking up .5 seconds, with a 16.390. After finding another .25 seconds, Wallace posted the 5th fastest qualifying time.

After a two and a half hour rain delay on Sunday, the green/yellow flag flew for the 200 lap event. The first 41 laps were run behind the pace car, in order to continue the drying process after continuous rain. After multiple cautions over the first 30 laps under green flag conditions, Wallace maintained the 6th spot. Wallace ran the fastest lap, turned by all cars, during the race on lap 51.

Chrissy Wallace

A few laps later the caution flew again, awarding Wallace the Aaron’s Lucky Dog award, since she was the first car not on the lead lap. During this caution Wallace brought the car in for 4 fresh Hoosiers. One more pit stop for the Cunningham crew occurred on lap 159, to repair some cosmetic damage which happened during the previous spin, with Wallace restarting in 20th. From this point until the checkered flag flew, Wallace picked up one spot at a time. The final caution flag waved on lap 198 when the second place car of Ty Dillon spun out then-leader, Brandon Poole. The green flag flew for the final time on lap 205, with Wallace earning the 11th spot.

The top 5 finishers in the Federated Car Care 200 were Chris Buescher, Ty Dillon, Chad McCumbee, Tom Hessert and Grant Enfinger. Dillon won the season-long championship, with Buescher finishing second.

Cunningham Motorsports is looking forward to 2012, with many potential prospects for next season. Look for updates on the 2012 season on twitter @cunningham_race.

- Cunningham Motorsports Press Release

The No. 52 Pink Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala driven by Tom Hessert III in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Ken Schrader Racing (KSR).

Federated Car Care, a division of Federated Auto Parts showcased the title sponsorship of the 19th race of the season giving the team an added incentive to return to the half-mile oval stronger than ever.

With the United States Auto Club (USAC) sharing Saturday with the ARCA Racing Series at Toledo Speedway, practice which was normally run as one session would now be combined into two forty minute-efforts. Mounting the fifth and 13th quickest laps in each practice respectively, the KSR driver and team were looking forward to qualifying.

It was Hessert though who stunned the field after maneuvering a lap of 16.080 seconds at 111.940 miles per hour good enough to land his decoratively pink Chevrolet Impala to commemorate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to his second career ARCA pole, the other occurring at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in 2009.

Tom Hessert III

Unfortunately, teams returned to the ARCA-owned racetrack on Sunday under gloomy skies and consistent rain showers. Ultimately, the start of the contest would be pushed-back nearly two hours before the command to fire engines was given. ARCA would choose to utilize the 35-car starting field to finish the track drying process throwing both the green and yellow flags simultaneously for the first 40 circuits of the contest. With the yellow flag retracted and the green “officially” given to the field, Hessert controlled the field until lap 42 when eventual series champion Ty Dillon taking the top spot by lap 43 and sending Hessert back to runner-up position.

On a lap 56 restart, Dillon led Hessert by 0.454 second the first time around, using a strong jump to his advantage. Hessert closed the gap over the next several laps, though, and took advantage when Dillon encountered Milka Duno when trying to lap her on lap 62. Hessert and Enfinger drove to the right and around Dillon and re-secured the lead, controlling the half-way point but with the No. 17 of Chris Buescher hunting for the top spot. On lap 106, Buescher made a move going into turn three sending Hessert back into second only to be passed by Dillon a lap later to occupy the third position by lap 108.

Hessert would remain in a podium finishing position until the yellow flag waived 10 laps later which allowed the Cherry Hill, New Jersey native the opportune time to enter pit road for tires and fuel under the guidance of long-time Motorsports crew chief Donnie Richeson.

A solid effort for KSR on pit allowed their driver to return to the track in the 10th position and begin a charge back towards the front on lap 124. By lap 132, Hessert had brilliantly crafted his Chevrolet to sixth and closing. Just six laps later, the former CARS Pro Cup star found himself in the same position he did entering pit road sitting on the tails of leaders Buescher and Dillon.

As racing pressed on, the action heated up with Hessert now having to battle Brendan Poole for the third position. Poole would eventually win the spot bypassing the No. 52 on lap 153.

Hunkered in fourth, the pressure would be put on the 25 year old approaching lap 177 when battling the No. 58 of Chad Hackenbracht. Unable to maneuver around Hessert, Hackenbracht offered a shove from behind which knocked the No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala sideways igniting a short track feud with Hessert returning the favor a lap later but with Hackenbracht spinning out on the frontstretch, bringing out the yellow flag.

By lap 183 Hessert had fell to fifth after being passed by Chad McCumbee with Hessert finding his groove on the track. A green-white-checkered finish allowed Ryan Wilson and Grant Enfinger the opportunity to pass Hessert who by then had moved back into fourth after the leaders collided on lap 199, but to no avail. Hessert took the checkered flag in fourth, notching his fourth top-five finish at Toledo Speedway.

“We would have liked to close out the season with a win, but we just didn’t have the car at the end of the race,” said Hessert, who led a race-high 86 laps. “Everyone at Ken Schrader Racing put their heart and soul into this car this weekend and we were able to score the pole and run upfront all day long. I want to thank Federated Auto Parts and all of their partners for their support of our team all year long.”

Hessert’s pole which rewarded him with 15 bonus points toppled with his 13th top-10 of the season allowed the NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car ace to slide past Tim George Jr. in the ARCA Racing Series championship standings to claim sixth overall.

In all, Hessert made 19 starts this season posting one pole, seven top-fives, 13 top-10s and 114 laps led in two races (Salem (Ind.) Speedway and Toledo Speedway).

Next up for the ARCA Racing Series is the 2011 championship banquet which is set for Saturday, December 10th at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Ky., near Cincinnati. The top-20 drivers and top-10 owners and drivers will be recognized for their participation in the series this year.

In addition to Federated Auto Parts, Cherry Hill Classic Cars served as an associate marketing partner for Hessert’s 83rd career ARCA start. In those outings, he has maneuvered two poles, one win, 19 top-fives and 43 top-10s.

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

To join Hessert and Ken Schrader Racing in their plan to spread the message about Breast Cancer awareness and to order you own “Pink” KSR memorabilia, please visit SchraderRacing.com.

Chris Buescher, driver of the No. 17 Reliance Tool / David Ragan Ford / David Ragan Fan Club Ford Fusion for Roulo Bros. Racing poses with the plaque designating his win in the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge.

There are seven races on the 2011 ARCA Series schedule that qualify a driver to win the Superspeedway Challenge award and Buescher never finished outside the top five in any of the qualifying events. Buescher earned the title with the following finishes; Daytona – second, Talladega – fifth, Chicago – second, Pocono – second, Pocono – third, Michigan – fifth and then brought it all home in Kansas with a second-place finish.

Buescher heads into the final race of the 2011 season this weekend at Toledo Speedway second in the point standings. This season Buescher has earned back-to-back wins in September at DuQuoin State Fair Grounds and Salem Speedway, while also earning 13 top-five and 15 top-10 finishes in 18 starts.

“It’s a really humbling award for all of us, really,” said Chris Buescher. “I’m happy to get it, and I’m thankful. I think we had a little luck finally go our way this race, as far as getting this championship. It’s one of those deals that you’ll take them how you can get them. It’s obviously a lot of effort in finishing in the top five in every one of them. We’re real happy to get this award. We at the Roulo Brothers and I feel like we really deserve this Superspeedway Challenge. We worked really hard for it, and it’s something that we’re not really known for. It’s huge.”

About Roush Fenway Racing

Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating seven motorsports teams. Four in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; and three in the Nationwide Series with Edwards, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Trevor Bayne. For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto www.RoushFenway.com. Become a fan of Roush Fenway Racing on Facebook by going to http://www.facebook.com/roushfenway and follow us on Twitter @roushfenway.

- Roush Fenway Racing Press Release

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After participating in the open ARCA Racing Series test at the 1.5-mile oval last month, Enfinger and his Kelly Kovski-led team took their No. 36 Beasley-Allen Law Firm / Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger back to their shop and made some adjustments to their automobile with the intentions of propelling Dodge back into victory lane in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Earlier in the week, the team officially announced that Beasley-Allen Law Firm had joined the veteran ARCA team as the primary marketing partner for the 18th race of the season. The addition of a new partner to the Mike Allgaier-owned operation only gave the team further incentive and motivation to storm into the spotlight in the final speedway event of the season.

The No. 36 Beasley-Allen Law Firm / Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger driven by Grant Enfinger in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Allgaier Motorsports.

Satisfied with the performance of their Chrysler nameplate the team headed into Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying with encouraging thoughts. During his time trials run, Enfinger hustled his automobile to a lap of 31.697 seconds or 170.363 miles per hour, a substantial pickup from their quickest lap in practice earlier in the day. Once qualifying was complete, Enfinger found himself ironically seventh on the starting grid.

Buckling in for the inaugural night race at Kansas Speedway, Enfinger and 37 of ARCA’s finest took the green flag shortly after 7:45 p.m. local with the notorious short track racer quickly inching forward. By lap five, Enfinger had moved into the sixth position with his eyes set on fifth place runner Cale Gale.

10 laps later, Enfinger continued to hover comfortably in the top-10 battling the No. 20 of Scott Lagasse for the sixth position. When the first caution flag waived on lap 24, the 2008 ARCA championship team found themselves occupying the seventh position. Reporting a loose condition to Kovski, the team elected to join a majority of the field on pit road for tires, fuel and a slight chassis adjustment to tighten up his No. 36 Beasley-Allen Law Firm / Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger.

Restarting the event in the fifth position thanks to superior work on pit lane by his crew, Enfinger would challenge Cale Gale for fourth immediately after the restart before ducking his blue and white machine behind Gale to maintain a spot inside the top-five.

While still battling a loose racecar, Enfinger still managed to post competitive laps times and fight for a spot comfortably inside the top-10. Another caution would slow the field with Kovski informing his driver to stay on the racetrack where he would restart the contest in the ninth position.

Just past the halfway point of the event, the yellow flag waived again with Kovski deciding to bring his pilot to pit road for more tires, fuel and another chassis adjustment to thwart the car’s aggravating condition.

Racing resumed with 44 laps remaining with Enfinger in the ninth position. Quickly, the 26-year old began slicing and dicing his way through the field. By lap 57, he had climbed to sixth with his sights set on reassuming a spot inside the top-five.

With 28 laps left in the event, Enfinger made the pass on the No. 55 of Alex Bowman to claim fifth and set his sights on fourth place runner Max Gresham. On lap 87, the rising star utilized his strong racecar to pass the No. 33 of Gale to move into the fourth position.

Luckily, a yellow flag with 13 laps remaining allowed the former PASS Super Late Model competitor to tag onto the bumpers of the leaders which consisted of Max Gresham, Ty Dillon and Chris Buescher giving the Allgaier Motorsports driver an opportunity to battle it out for the win. With Dillon having to pit because of damage occurring on the racetrack, Enfinger would restart the race in the third position.

The green flag flew with five laps remaining with Enfinger hunting his prey. With three laps remaining, Enfinger made a bold move to pass the No. 25 of Gresham but he would be no match for the No. 55 of Bowman who rocketed through the field with four fresh tires, sliding Enfinger back into the third position.

Able to pull away from his closest competition of Gresham and Gale, Enfinger took the checkered flag in the third spot claiming sixth top-five finish of the year and his best effort since finishing fifth at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway in August. It was the team’s 13th top-10 of the season in 18 races.

Grant Enfinger

With just one race remaining in 2011, Enfinger retains fourth in the ARCA championship standings sitting 125 points behind nine-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel for third. Mathematically, the Allgaier Motorsports team has the potential to bump Kimmel from that spot at Toledo Speedway.

Speaking of Toledo Speedway, the ARCA Toledo 200 presented by Federated Car Care is set for Sunday, October 16th set to launch at 2:00 p.m. local live on SPEED. In May, Enfinger finished second behind winner and expected 2011 ARCA champion Ty Dillon after starting 10th and leading 35 laps.

Exiting Kansas, Enfinger has 36 ARCA Racing Series starts to his credit. In those events, he has maneuvered 13 top-fives and 23 top-10 finishes including a career-best finish of second three times at Kentucky Speedway (July 2009), Chicagoland Speedway (August 2009), and Toledo Speedway (May 2011). He has controlled the field nine times for 216 laps. His best qualifying run occurred at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway where Enfinger bolted to his first career pole.

For more on Grant Enfinger, please visit grantenfinger.com.

Additional input on Allgaier Motorsports is available by logging on to AllgaierMotorsports.com.

To learn more about Beasley-Allen Law Firm and its capabilities, please click onto beasleyallen.com.

PHOTO CAPTION 1: The No. 36 Beasley-Allen Law Firm / Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger driven by Grant Enfinger in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Allgaier Motorsports.

- Allgaier Motorsports Press Release

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The Mike Allgaier-owned team also hopes to utilize the 18th race of the season to rebound from their worst finish of the 2011 season at Salem (Ind.) Speedway last month where after starting fifth, the team would be relegated to a 22nd place finish after a rear-end failure took them out of competition after 99 of 200 laps.

“Salem was a disappointment because we had a super-fast car,” said Fairhope Alabama’s Grant Enfinger. “Sometimes in racing, you cannot predict obstacles like the ones we faced to occur and we just got bitten. Since then we’ve polished our assets and we’re ready to go, you will see.”

Part of the team’s eagerness to get back to the track comes on the heels of a solid testing session at Kansas Speedway on Tuesday, September 20th and the addition of Beasley-Allen Law Firm as the primary marketing partner for this weekend’s contest. Since the beginning of the ARCA season, the team has been patiently but aggressively working on their Kansas automobile fine tuning it and prepping it for Friday night’s shootout.

Unofficially, the 26-year old and his Kelly Kovski-led team maneuvered the 14th quickest lap during the eight hour test session but the veteran ARCA team was quick to point out that they were not showing their full deck of cards.

Grant Enfinger

Set to make his third start at Kansas Speedway in his ARCA career and the first time in two years, Enfinger is hoping to build on his third place finish in 2009 after starting 29th.

“If you have a good car, you can show that despite how quick the race goes by that you can get to the front if you use your head and bide your time. We think we’re going our No. 36 Beasley-Allen Law Firm / Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger is going to be capable of starting somewhere inside the top-10. It will just be a matter of hitting our marks and keeping ourselves in-check to have a shot at the win when the time comes.”

He added, “It really means a lot that the Beasley-Allen Law Firm has agreed to sponsor us for this race. The last time we were with them at Kansas Speedway we finished third. Hopefully, we can pick up two more spots for them on Friday night and take them and all of our other great marketing partners to victory lane.”

In 1979, Jere Locke Beasley founded the firm, which is now known as Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. The firm represents plaintiffs and claimants in civil litigation. Currently, the firm employs more than 60 lawyers and over 200 support staff.

Their support staff includes full time nurses, investigators, computer specialists, technologists and computer experts, a public relations department and a comprehensive trial graphics department. They are one of the country’s leading firms involved in civil litigation on behalf of claimants, having represented hundreds of thousands of people. We hold state and national records for the largest jury verdicts in numerous categories.

Mathematically, the Allgaier Motorsports team still has the potential to surge from fourth to second in the overall championship standings, but third place seems a little more realistic. Sitting just 155 points behind third place runner Frank Kimmel and 260 markers behind runner-up Chris Buescher – Enfinger is hopeful to reclaim the position he once held this year but also is ready to protect his current position with a comfortable cushion over fifth which consists of 105 tallies.

“It’s going to come down to the last lap at Toledo to decide the final rundown in the top-five as far as the championship standings are concerned,” commented Enfinger. “We know that Ty (Dillon) pretty much has the championship crowned wrapped up, but the heat is on from second to fifth. One bad for any one of us and we could lose a lot. It happened at Salem. We don’t know what these final two races hold for us. All we did know is that we’re going to the track with the same mentality we’ve hoisted all year long.”

Entering Kansas, Enfinger has 35 ARCA Racing Series starts to his credit. In those events, he has maneuvered 12 top-fives and 22 top-10 finishes including a career-best finish of second three times at Kentucky Speedway (July 2009), Chicagoland Speedway (August 2009), and Toledo Speedway (May 2011). He has controlled the field nine times for 216 laps. His best qualifying run occurred at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway where Enfinger bolted to his first career pole.

The Kansas Lottery 98.9 (99 laps / 148.5 miles) is the 18th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 11th ARCA event held at Kansas Speedway is a one-day show. Practice begins Friday, October 7 with a two hour and 15 minute practice session planned from 9:00 a.m. -11:15 a.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin later in the day at 5:35 p.m. The field will take the green flag approximately two hours later at 7:30 p.m. The event will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,330th race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com. All times are local.

For more on Grant Enfinger, please visit grantenfinger.com.

Additional input on Allgaier Motorsports is available by logging on to AllgaierMotorsports.com.

To learn more about Beasley-Allen Law Firm and its capabilities, please click onto beasleyallen.com.

- Allgaier Motorsports Press Release