“ARCA Veteran Returns To Business With Daytona Win On His Mind”
With nearly a four month hiatus slowly coming to a close, the Cherry Hill, New Jersey native is eager to show that the off-season hasn’t stalled his momentum when he returns behind the wheel of the No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Toyota Camry for the season-opening Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Saturday, February 18, 2012.
The first of 20 races for the new season marks the second year for the 25-year old pilot leading the helm for Ken Schrader Racing (KSR), a long-time fixture in the ARCA Racing Series community. Unfortunately, a strong showing for the duo in the season-opener last February was abruptly halted when Hessert was caught up in an-on track incident 52 laps into the race – but the Donnie Richeson-led team is craving a monstrous rebound.
“I’m glad to be back at Ken Schrader Racing with the support of Federated Auto Parts,” said Hessert, a second-generation driver. “Our season came to a close in style with a pole and fourth place finish at Toledo Speedway. I honestly feel like we can go to Daytona next month and pick up right where we left off in October.”
Of course, Hessert’s performance at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway last April, the other restrictor plate track for the ARCA warriors solidifies his pre-race thoughts. A fifth place qualifying effort at the 2.66-mile superspeedway comprehended by a sixth place finish in the 94-lap dash keeps the team in-balance of what restrictor plate racing is all about.
“If you can survive, you’re probably going to finish well,” Hessert noted. “We had a super car at Talladega. We were able to draft our way back into the top-10 in the final laps of the race and grab a solid finish. Daytona is ARCA’s version of the Super Bowl; and we’re taking that same car, so to say our focus is glued upon duplicating a similar performance from ‘Dega would be an understatement.”
The former NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car driver will begin his fifth year on the ARCA tour in February and plans to deliver his first top-five finish at the “World Center of Racing.”
“My first year at Daytona, I was able to leave the track with a satisfying sixth place run,” Hessert sounded. “Since then, it’s been a little turbulent. But, you go into every new season with high hopes and this year will be no different. We have the capabilities of putting Ken Schrader Racing and Federated Auto Parts back in victory lane and it sure would be awesome to pull that off feat at a place like Daytona!”
He concluded by saying, “ARCA’s been a great home to me and I’m glad to be back in 2012. You never know what to expect when you get to the track; but I can promise you that we’re going to give no less than all we have to give and put our No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Toyota Camry in the spotlight.”
The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (80 laps / 200 miles) is the first of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 49th ARCA race held at Daytona is a three-day show. Practice begins Thursday, February 16 with a four hour practice session planned from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for Friday, February 17 slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. A forty-five minute final practice session is etched in on Saturday, February 18th from 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. The event will take the green flag later that day shortly after 4:30 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional race coverage including live timing and scoring and radio broadcast through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com. All times are local. ARCA, celebrating its 60th season in 2012 is the preamble for the highly anticipated Budweiser Shootout for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) set to ignite under the lights later that night.
Leaning into Daytona, Hessert has 83 career ARCA Racing Series starts. 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.
- Tom Hessert Racing Press Release
