Chris Windom, driver of the No. 32 Champion Brands / Win-Tron Racing Dodge Charger in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Win-Tron Racing

Windom, driver 32, will be racing a Win Tron Racing Toyota for owner Kevin Cywinski.

The event will be shown live on the SPEED Channel.

Windom made his debut in an ARCA car on Aug. 21, 2011, when he drove for Win Tron Racing in the No. 32 Dodge.

Windom had a top 10 performance the night before in a USAC event.

- Canton Daily Ledger

Taylor Ferns

The 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals begins on Tuesday, Jan. 10 indoors at the QuikTrip Center’s Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla. Ferns will compete on the opening night of the five-day event aboard the Motor City Transport Inc. Spike, with a Stanton Mopar engine under the hood. The Chili Bowl will consist of four qualifying nights that will determine the feature lineups for the finale on Saturday, Jan. 14. The festivities will open with a practice session on Monday, Jan. 9, which Ferns will take part in.

“I’m really excited for the Chili Bowl,” said Ferns. “I’ve been going for the last few years and now I am finally old enough to race in it. I can’t wait. I’ve been counting down the days. It’s going to be a lot of fun and some great racing.”

The first Chili Bowl was held in 1987, which was eight years before Ferns, 16, was born. The entry list is a virtual “Who’s Who” of short track open wheel racing, and the high school sophomore is one of 19 drivers on the entry list that earned a championship in 2011.

“It’s always exciting to go to an event or a race track that has a lot of history,” she noted. “To be able to race there and be part of that history is pretty special.”

Ferns has raced indoors a couple of times this winter. She competed with the POWRi Midget Series at the Southern Illinois Center in early December on a temporary 1/6-mile dirt track. Most recently, she raced in the Rumble in Fort Wayne over New Year’s weekend, on the tight indoor track on the floor of the Memorial Coliseum. The temporary dirt oval inside the QuikTrip Center that the Chili Bowl is run on measures ¼-mile in distance.

“During the winter it certainly helps to race and be in the seat, which keeps you in shape,” explained Ferns. “I’ve had a chance to race a couple of times this winter, which has helped me stay sharp.”

Ferns will compete in the Chili Bowl against a number of fellow midget drivers, as well as drivers from winged and non-wing sprint cars, dirt late models, off-road racing and even a handful of NASCAR drivers, including three-time Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. A total of 261 drivers representing 31 states in addition to Australia, Canada, Finland and New Zealand are on the current entry list.

“It’s pretty awesome to have drivers from so many different series and types of cars come together for this one event,” she shared. “What makes it even cooler is that everyone comes together for a midget race.”

Ferns, who is the winningest female in USAC history, is taking the same approach to the Chili Bowl that she does for each and every race she competes in. The native of Shelby Township, Mich. started 16 feature events with the USAC Mopar D1 Midget Series last year and finished in the Top-10 in each and every one en route to claiming the title. She looks to use the experience she gained in a midget on the smaller, tighter bullrings in 2011 this week during the Chili Bowl.

“Even though the Chili Bowl is a big race, it’s just another race, and you have to go in it with that mindset,” noted Ferns. “I’m just going to race and not think about how many other cars are there or anything like that.”

Keep up with all the action: For the latest news and results, visit Taylor Ferns and Ferns Racing online at http://www.taylorferns.com.

- Ferns Racing Press Release

NASCAR Nationwide Series Logo

The 20-somethings could just as easily have been comparing fraternity rings. After all, Stenhouse and Dillon will be forever intertwined as part of an elite society of stock car racers.

Unlike the majority of graduates, however, Stenhouse and Dillon finished at the top of their class. And with “NASCAR title” topping their resumes, the future is bright for both the drivers and the sport.

What differentiates these youngsters from top champions in other sports is their humility and appreciation for the opportunities they have been given. While Stenhouse and Dillon came from different backgrounds, each driver received tremendous support from family and owners along the way to mold these champions for the challenges that lie ahead.

Stenhouse’s trials have been well-documented. Tony Stewart, who fielded cars for Stenhouse in USAC, recommended his driver to NASCAR team owner Jack Roush. At 20, he competed in the ARCA Series and won two races for RFR. In 2009, the rookie showed tremendous promise behind the wheel of a Roush Fenway Racing Ford during a limited seven-race run in the Nationwide Series.

By 2010, Stenhouse was set to run for rookie honors, but Roush parked the driver after he wrecked the No. 6 Ford five times in the first 12 races. Roush sent Stenhouse to work in the shop. He described his protégé as being “driven to be competitive to the extent of self destruction to start with.”

But Stenhouse didn’t argue. Nor did he complain. He showed respect for his owner, dug in and learned from the experience. He learned what it means to be part of a team. Certainly, the seasoning grounded him before he re-emerged, holding off NASCAR veterans on the way to his first title.

“The one biggest thing I think I learned from everything Jack has done for me is that he cares about me as a person and really wanted me to succeed,” Stenhouse said. “If he didn’t care he wouldn’t put me in the body shop. That is one thing I learned from my dad. He was tough on me growing up but it was always for a reason.

- SPEEDtv.com

Great Clips Racing

All three drivers have deep roots in open wheel racing and all three look to be strong contenders for the Golden Driller trophy. Leffler, who will be driving for owner Keith Kunz, is credited with multiple USAC championships throughout his career. His best performance in the five-day event occurred in 1998 when he came away with a second-place finish. Other top finishes include a fifth-place in 2004 and ninth in 2000. Leffler did lay claim to the title as an owner when Damion Gardner won in the event in 2008, driving under the Leffler Racing banner.

Sweet and Hummel will both be driving KKR entries in the event. Sweet also made a name for himself in the national open wheel racing circuits. Tapped to drive for KKR in 2008, Sweet became a superstar in his own right in the USAC racing world with victories including the Belleville Midget Nationals, the Knoxville Midget Nationals and both the Sprint Car and Midget “Four Crown Nationals” at Eldora Speedway. Sweet has made four starts in the Chili Bowl Nationals with a best finish of ninth in 2010.

Hummel, who works for KKR as a mechanic, will be making his third start in the Chili Bowl Nationals. Prior to working at KKR, Hummel moonlighted in the midget series in California and Indiana. His career-best finish was seventh at Belleville.

After a practice session on Monday, January 9th, the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals will kick off one night later with the first of four qualifying nights. For Leffler, Tuesday night will include the fourth annual International Chili Bowl Race of Champions, featuring past event winners and other top Chili Bowl contenders squaring off in a special feature race. The action continues with Wednesday’s River Spirit Casino Qualifier, Thursday’s Suburban Chevrolet Qualifier and then Friday’s International Qualifier.

The top-three finishers from each of the Qualifying Night features will automatically lock into the Saturday night (January 14th) Lucas Oil Chili Bowl championship feature, with the balance of Saturday’s Lucas Oil championship feature events lined up according to Qualifying Night finishes.

Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Quick Facts

What: 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals

Where: Tulsa Expo Raceway – ¼-mile clay oval inside the QuikTrip Center at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds

When:

January 10-14, 2011

Tuesday – Warren CAT Qualifying Night plus Vacuworx Chili Bowl Race of Champions

Wednesday – River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night

Thursday – Suburban Chevrolet Qualifying Night

Friday – Vacuworx International Qualifying Night

Saturday – Lucas Oil Championship Feature Events

The five nights of racing action will be preceded by a practice session on Monday, January 9.

Past Winners: Kevin Swindell (2010 and 2011), Sammy Swindell (2009, 1998, 1996, 1992 and 1989), Damion Gardner (2008), Tony Stewart (2007 and 2002), Tim McCreadie (2006), Tracy Hines (2005), Cory Kruseman (2004 and 2000), Dan Boorse (2003 and 1999), Jay Drake (2001), Billy Boat (1997), Donnie Beechler (1995), Andy Hillenburg (1994), Dave Blaney (1993), Lealand McSpadden (1991), Jon Heydenreich (1990), Scott Hatton (1988), Rich Vogler (1987).

Trade Show: Always a popular attraction at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals is the Trade Show, which is open to the public each day (Tuesday through Saturday) free of charge. All variety of racing products, apparel and more is available with well over 100 different vendors. The Trade Show covers approximately 20,000 square feet.

Tickets: A limited number of reserved seats for Tuesday night’s Warren CAT Qualifying Event and the Fourth Annual Vacuworx International Chili Bowl Race of Champions are available for $43 per person and may be obtained by calling 918-838-3777 or at the gate if still available. Pit passes for all five nights are available at the gate as well.

Chili Bowl on the Net: All official news pertaining to the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, including official entry lists, race results and recaps, is available first at www.chilibowl.com. Also, all five nights of the Chili Bowl Nationals will be broadcast live (audio) on www.racinboys.com.

- Stringer Motorsports / Great Clips, Inc. Press Release

JR Motorsports

Whitt, a 20-year-old native of Alpine, Calif., will also compete for Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year honors. He comes to JR Motorsports from the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where he finished ninth in last year’s championship standings with one pole, two top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. To date he is the youngest driver ever to win the USAC (United States Auto Club) National Midget championship, as his title-winning effort in 2008 put him alongside esteemed former USAC national champions such as Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Kasey Kahne.

“Cole is the guy we wanted, and we’re lucky to get him,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He’s got raw, untapped talent, but we are most impressed with his ambition. I sought advice and input from people I respect in the industry, and the overwhelming consensus was that Cole has the potential to do great things in this sport.”

The signing of Whitt completes the 2012 driver line-up for JR Motorsports, which will compete in Nationwide Series competition with Whitt in the No. 88 Chevrolet, Danica Patrick in the No. 7 Chevrolet, and Earnhardt Jr. in select races in the No. 5 Chevrolet. All three drivers will compete in the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 25.

“This is a big opportunity for me, and I’m happy to be a part of the JR Motorsports team,” said Whitt, who was introduced to employees Wednesday morning. “I’m grateful to Dale, Kelley and everyone at JR Motorsports for giving me this chance. It’s an honor to work with the Eurys, and I will do everything in my power to put this No. 88 team where it belongs in Victory Lane.”

Whitt got his start racing karts and saw immediate success with eight International Karting Federation championships and two World Karting Association grand national championships. He was the Hoosier Sprint Car Rookie of the Year in 2006 and earned 34 top-10 finishes in 60 USAC starts in 2007 before winning the championship in 2008. Whitt advanced to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2010, promptly notching two poles and finishing fourth in points in his first year.

OTHER NEWS: JR Motorsports has hired Bruce Cook as crew chief for the No. 5 team, which will run primarily with Earnhardt Jr. in select races. Cook comes to JR Motorsports from Kevin Harvick, Inc., where he served as crew chief in 2011 in the Camping World Truck Series, predominately for the No. 2 KHI Chevrolet, which won the owner’s championship. With Cook atop the pit box, his team scored six wins, 19 top-fives and 22 top-10s. Cook was also the winning crew chief of the Nationwide Series season-opener at Daytona in 2011 with driver Tony Stewart.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:

Based in Mooresville, N.C., JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s nine-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races. JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series where the team owns 10 victories. To learn more about the organization and its stable of drivers which include Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick and Cole Whitt, visit www.JRMracing.com. The JR Motorsports facility also houses the JR Nation retail store, Hammerhead Entertainment and JRM Licensing.

- JR Motorsports Press Release

Allgaier Motorsports Logo Thumbnail

The family-owned team elected to bring back the same No. 36 Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger that they recorded a second-place finish in the Spring event at the half-mile oval. Looking to finish what they started, the Kelly Kovski-led organization had high hopes for the season finale.

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 second and first quickest laps in each practice respectively, the short track ace along with his team were looking forward to strutting their stuff in Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell.

Despite not being able to maneuver his second pole of the season, Enfinger did log the third quickest lap which gained him five crucial points in the critical championship race. Somewhat content with their starting position, the team remained focused on the bigger goal at hand.

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, Enfinger hovered inside the top-three waiting for the early stages of the race to settle in.

No. 36 Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger

Settled in third, a caution waived just before lap 90, allowing Enfinger to bring his automobile to the attention of Kovski where the team changed tires and added fuel, electing to get out of sequence with the leaders – hoping it would pay off in the long run.

The lap 94 restart showed the Fairhope, Alabama native in the 18th position but quickly negotiating his way through the field. Climbing into the top-10 by lap 110, Enfinger proved that he had a car capable of running the multiple grooves around the racetrack.

When the leaders dished to pit road, Enfinger did the same offering the final stop of the afternoon with more tires and a splash of fuel. With the significant number of cars on the lead lap, Enfinger restarted the race deep in the pack in the 17th position.

With a determined attitude, Enfinger began charging his No. 36 Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger through the tough field once again finding himself knocking on the door of re-entering the top-10 by lap 132.

12 laps later, the mission had been accomplished with Enfinger officially being scored in the 10th position. That though wasn’t good enough for the short track standout as he continued to manhandle his way through the field. By lap 175 and a few cautions later, Enfinger had moved into seventh position.

On the bumper of the No. 32 of Ryan Wilson, the two would hash it out coming to the white flag, but as the two began racing for a spot inside the top-five, leaders Dillon and Brennan Poole collided. With the No. 25 of Poole stalled on the racetrack, Enfinger passed him bumping him up into the sixth position. Now set for a green-white-checkered finish, Enfinger knew that the opportunity to outsmart Wilson, a new recruit to the ARCA Racing Series was capable.

With the green and white flags waiving together, the two began hashing it out fighting for a spot inside the top-five. As the two cars shoved their way out of turn four onto the frontstretch, Enfinger’s No. 36 Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger cleared the No. 32 by inches awarding the team with their seventh top-five of the year.

Grant Enfinger

He added, “That was a good battle on the last lap with Ryan (Wilson). He raced me hard but cleaned and it gave the fans something to watch coming to the checkered flag.”

With the team’s 14th top-10 finish of the year, Enfinger unofficially secured third place in the championship standings, the best championship effort for Allgaier Motorsports since notching the 2008 championship with driver Justin Allgaier. In all, the team tallied 19 starts, one pole, seven top-fives, 14 top-10s, 18 top-15 finishes. All season long, the team had just one effort outside the top-20 late in the season at Salem (Ind.) Speedway where a rear-end failure relegated a 22nd place run.

“We didn’t have a lot as far the sponsorship department went, but we still made it,” Enfinger explained. “This is a team with a lot of heart and desire. We had our share of ups and downs, but it was worth it. I’m so appreciative of the Allgaier family for the opportunity and hope that sponsorship can materialize, so that they can race in 2012.”

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.

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

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

- Allgaier Motorsports Press Release

No. 58 Tastee Caramel Apple Chevrolet Impala

The Mooresville, North Carolina-based team led by crew chief Kevin Reed were among the list of pre-race contenders for the 19th event of the season, especially after a private test session earlier in the week boosted the team’s confidence level for their second tango with the Northern Ohio short track.

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 seventh and third quickest laps in each practice respectively, the CGH Motorsports team was looking forward to qualifying.

The New Philadelphia, Ohio native whipped his No. 58 Tastee Caramel Apple Chevrolet around the half-mile oval to post the ninth fastest lap overall to start on the inside of row number five. After a long day, the team was ready to recharge their batteries and prepare for action on Sunday afternoon.

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, Hackenbracht quickly tried to filter his way through traffic and mix himself into the lead pack.

Patiently working his way up through the field, Hackenbracht had guided his No. 58 Tastee Caramel Apple machine up to the sixth position by lap 92 where he remained until lap 118, when the yellow flag waived offering Reed the opportunity to bring his driver to pit lane.

The 2010 ARCA crew chief of the year made a gutsy call for just two right side tires and fuel which propelled Hackenbracht to become the leader off pit road but find himself fifth overall on the track as several automobiles elected to stay on the racetrack.

Restarting fifth, Hackenbracht attempted to saw his way to the lead but would find himself hung up in a wad of racecars which consumed of both lead lap and lap down machines, forcing Hackenbracht to back off and regroup and settle into the eighth position just three laps later.

Again showing patience from a rookie driver allowed the opportunity to climb back into the top-five by lap 144 where the No. 58 Tastee Caramel Apple car found itself behind the No. 52 of Tom Hessert. Hackenbracht would stalk his fellow competitor for several laps before using a nudge in traffic on lap 177 to maneuver around the No. 52. By the time the two cars returned to the frontstretch the next lap, Hessert retaliated by spinning the No. 58 on lap 178 and making light contact with the wall.

Hackenbracht was able to drive away from the scene of the incident under his own power but would have to come to pit road where four tires and damage control were on the agenda for the family-owned team. While the CGH Motorsports organization remained on the lead lap, they found themselves mired in the 16th position for the lap 183 restart.

Quickly slicing and dicing his way through traffic, Hackenbracht would hover in the 11th position but with laps quickly running out. A caution on the final lap threw the event into overtime which allowed Hackenbracht to tag onto the back bumpers of the lead-lap contenders for a green-white-checkered restart.

A man on a mission when the green and white flags flew together, Hackenbracht craftily maneuvered around the cars of Charles Evans Jr., Jared Marks and Chrissy Wallace knocking off three cars in one lap and propelling from 11th to eighth where he took the checkered flag, six laps after the scheduled distance of 200 circuits.

Chad Hackenbracht

When asked about the incident with the No. 52 of Hessert, he remarked, “We were running fifth all day and we go into Turn three (on Lap 168) and a lapped car was in front of the 52 (Hessert) and I was behind the 52,” he said. “He blocked (Hessert) coming up out of Turn two, and we go down into three, and the 52 just straight turned the lapped car. It wrecked me; it wrecked the No. 52, and so I went up beside the car on caution and let him know I didn’t like it. There on the next start, we were faster anyway and I moved him. I got by him, he got loose and shuffled it up. We come around, and I don’t know if he tried to move me and didn’t know how, but he just flat out wrecked us. I really didn’t like it at all, so I went up and let him know again. We’ll live and learn from this and move on.”

With his eighth place run, Hackenbracht was able to unofficially secure eighth in the final 2011 ARCA Racing Series championship standings tallying 19 starts, three top-fives, 10 top-10, 67 laps led in four races (Chicagoland, Winchester, Berlin and DuQuoin) and accumulating 4,145 points.

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.

CGH Motorsports still has marketing partnerships available for the 2012 ARCA Racing Series season. Interested parties can contact Jordan Dahl at Jordan@cghmotorsports.com or 570.234.5449.

For more information on Chad Hackenbracht and CGH Motorsports, please visit ChadHackenbracht.com and CGHMotorsports.com.

To purchase the popular “What’s A Chad Hacken-Something” tee-shirt, please log on to store.cghmotorsports.com or CGHMotorsports.com.

Connect with Chad Hackenbracht and CGH Motorsports through Facebook by clicking here.

Tweet with Chad Hackenbracht through Twitter at @ChadH58 or CGH Motorsports @CGH5858.

About CGH Motorsports:

CGH Motorsports (CGHMotorsports.com), established in 2007 by Ohio entrepreneur Greg Hackenbracht is located in a 10,000 sq. foot facility located in Mooresville, North Carolina. CGH Motorsports is home of rising sensation Chad Hackenbracht, who competed in nine ARCA Racing Series races in 2010 after an aggressive ARCA testing schedule in 2009. Chad Hackenbracht is the 2008 National Asphalt Legends champion, winning 33 percent of his races and finishing in the top-10, 85 percent of the events he competed in. The team has stepped up their commitment from a partial schedule in 2010 and ran a full-effort in 2011, with the prospects of a potential two-car operation in 2012.

- CGH 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.

Drew Charlson (Photo Credit: ARCA Racing Series)

Charlson just completed the Main Event Racing Series season, finishing 6th in points just one point out of the top five and only 100 points behind the champion. “This is a great opportunity for me and I am looking for a successful run. We tested at Toledo a couple weeks ago and I know we can be competitive,” Charlson said. “We are teaming up with some experienced pit crew members so they will be a big help also.

“We are lucky to have Aluma Trailers and Amsoil Synthetic Oil onboard, but we have room for more names on the car. We will do our best to give our sponsors their moneys worth. ARCA is a great series with a storied history, especially at Toledo. Past winners here include Benny Parsons, Frank Kimmel, Ken Schrader and Justin Allgaier. I’m looking forward to this weekend to compete with some great drivers and to see if we can add our name to the list of Toledo winners.”

Charlson has had a successful racing career so far with over 150 kart wins and 17 championships, 5 USAC Midget Feature wins and a runner up points finish. He also set a USAC record as the youngest driver (age 13) in his 1st USAC National Level Midget race, the Ft. Wayne Rumble indoor, qualifying 15th, winning his heat and finishing 6th behind NASCAR veteran Tony Stewart.

- Charlson Motorsports Press Release

Iowa-Speedway Thumbnail

Save the dates for these 2012 race weekends:

- May 19–20 — NASCAR K&N Pro Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series

- June 22–23 — USAC, Indy Lights and IZOD IndyCar

- July 13–14 — ARCA and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

- August 3–4 — NASCAR K&N Pro Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series

- September 14–15 — ASA Midwest Tour and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

“We added a fall date because our fans asked for it — the 2012 season is all about bringing even more value to our fans,” says Iowa Speedway President Jerry Jauron. “Now, season ticket holders can experience five action-packed weekends at the track.”

Fans can expect a lot of exciting changes on the racing circuit next year, including NASCAR Camping World Truck Series making two stops at Iowa Speedway, new drivers in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and a new style of IndyCars. Plus, two NASCAR K&N Pro Series races, ARCA, ASA and USAC support races.

Current season ticket holders will receive renewal information in the mail soon. Season tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, November 3 starting at just $129. Visit www.iowaspeedway.com or call 1-866-RUSTY-GO to secure your seats!

About Iowa Speedway

Iowa Speedway is a state-of-the-art 7/8 mile asphalt paved tri-oval race track and motorsports facility located just 30 miles east of Des Moines at I-80 Exit 168 in Newton, Iowa. The track is owned and operated by U.S. Motorsport Corporation and designed by former NASCAR Champion Rusty Wallace, now an anchor and analyst for ABC-TV/ESPN. Iowa Speedway is designed for year-round use and includes 30,000 permanent grandstand seats. Call 1-866-RUSTY-GO, visit www.iowaspeedway.com, “like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at @IowaSpeedway to learn more.

- Iowa Speedway Press Release

No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala

By the end of the lone practice session on Labor Day, it was easy to deviser why. Hessert in his No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala sported the quickest time throughout the one-hour assignment. When the cross-flags had waived Hessert landed the second fastest time overall.

Confident in his racecar, Hessert leaned into Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying with high hopes. By the time Hessert’s Chevrolet bow-tie took to the one-mile dirt track, lap times began to drop because of the track’s changing characteristic. When time trials came to a close, Hessert would start the 100-lap shootout from the 13th position.

Disappointed but still highly optimistic about his racecar, Hessert climbed into his racecar shortly after 1:00 p.m. ready to do battle in the 16th race of the season.

Hessert wasted no time maneuvering through the field as by the completion of lap five, the Cherry Hill, New Jersey native bolted into the top-10 with some very quick lap times.

Six laps later, Hessert had nestled his way into the eighth position and climbed up to seventh just five circuits later before his day took a dramatic turn.

While gaining ground on the competition ahead of him, the engine seized on lap 22 forcing a trail of white smoke to emerge from the tailpipes of the No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala. Hessert was able to bring his machine to pit road but made the quick left hand-turn into the garage area as he knew his day was done.

Tom Hessert III

“There was no warning whatsoever,” offered the 25-year old. “The car felt weird for about one lap and then it went away and the next thing I knew she blew up. It’s extremely disappointing because I think we had one of the top-contending cars. We were moving through the field quickly before our day abruptly ended. I hate it especially for Federated Auto Parts who was a presenting sponsor for our annual trip to DuQuoin. We’ll do everything we can to make it up to them at Salem.”

Unofficially with three events remaining on the 2011 schedule, Hessert slipped to seventh in the championship standings just 15 markers behind Tim George Jr. for sixth and 75 markers for fifth currently occupied by Chad McCumbee.

Next up for the ARCA Racing Series is a return trip to Salem, Indiana for a Saturday-night shootout at the brutal half-mile short track for the running of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic by Federated Car Care. The one-day show is set for Saturday, September 17th with the green flag scheduled to drop just after 7:15 p.m. Hessert will make his eighth-start at legendary short track and aims to improve on the team’s seventh place outing in May. Overall, Hessert has collected two top-fives and five top-10s there.

In addition to Federated Auto Parts, Cherry Hill Classic Cars served as an associate marketing partner for Hessert’s 80th career ARCA start. In those 80 outings, he has maneuvered one win, 18 top-fives and 42 top-10s.

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

- Tom Hessert Racing Press Release

Win-Tron Racing

It appeared that Windom, a native of Canton, Illinois had his second top-five finish in the books but after being spun-out in the closing laps of the contest, it left little time for him to make a worthy comeback.

In the lone practice session of the day on Monday, Windom cleverly crafted his way to seventh quickest overall in his No. 32 Champion Brands / Win-Tron Racing Dodge Charger.

With a few tweaks made by crew chief Mike Chaffee, the team for the second-consecutive dirt race in a row would be the final car to take their qualifications lap. Being the 34th car to maneuver a lap allowed the ARCA rookie to watch qualifying extensively from the infield.

The No. 32 Champion Brands / Win-Tron Racing Dodge Charger driven by Chris Windom in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Win-Tron Racing.

The green flag waived just after 1:15 p.m. with Windom quickly finding his comfort zone and maintaining his fifth place starting spot by lap five. By lap 11, the driver of the No. 32 Champion Brands / Win-Tron Racing Dodge Charger found himself slipping back to sixth but had climbed back to fifth by lap 17.

Five laps later the yellow flag waived with the Lakeville, Minnesota-team still hovering inside the top-five. With some cars electing to make their mandatory pit stop during the break, the No. 32 moved into third for the restart.

Immediately, he took off and began battling the No. 58 of Chad Hackenbracht for the runner-up spot. Overtaking his fellow driver charging out of turn one, Windom set his sights on leader Ty Dillon. With the leader extending his advantage to more than a second from Windom, the dirt ace would have to wait until a caution waived on lap 36 to find himself on the rear bumper of Dillon’s Chevrolet.

Under the yellow, Chaffee though elected to bring his driver to pit road for two tires and fuel. A quick performance by the Win-Tron Racing pit crew would be all for nothing as Windom tried to exit his pit stall, the No. 57 of Rodney Melvin tried entering his pit section thus blocking him and costing him crucial track position.

A lap 40 restart had Windom hunkered in the 15th position – but he wouldn’t stay there long.

Five laps later, Windom had climbed to 13th and 11th by the half-way mark. Using patience, he re-appeared in the top-10 by a lap 55 caution.

Racing resumed on lap 61 with the No. 32 Champion Brands / Win-Tron Racing Dodge Charger secured in the ninth position.

Four laps later, the driver shoved his way into the seventh position. By lap 80, Windom had manhandled his way into fifth. A restart in the final 10 laps of the race would abruptly change the team’s day as a competitor made contact with the No. 32 on lap 92 which slipped Windom up the racetrack and fall from fourth to outside the top-10.

Agitated with what just transpired, Windom tried to collect himself and fight for a spot back in the top-10. Luckily, the caution flag would waive on lap 98 allowing the team to concentrate on combating from the unexpected shove from behind.

With a two-lap shootout now in place, it was all or nothing for the Win-Tron Racing driver. Restarting in 14th, Windom would be able to advance one position but found himself battered coming to the checkered flag in 13th.

Chris Windom, driver of the No. 32 Champion Brands / Win-Tron Racing Dodge Charger in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for Win-Tron Racing

These ARCA cars are a blast and I want to thank Win-Tron and Kurt Smith (Rising Star Management) for the opportunity. Hopefully, we’ll be able to do something more together down the road.”

Win-Tron Racing co-car owner Nate Thiesse admitted while the finish failed to reflect the performance of the team, Windom stepped up his game in just his second start.

“The kid is impressive,” Thiesse said. “We knew with his dirt background that we had a chance to be competitive but for him to be stalking the leaders in just his second start in one of these heavy cars – just shows his ability and talent. We had fun working with him and thank him for doing a super job representing Win-Tron Racing.”

Next up for the ARCA Racing Series is a return trip to Salem, Indiana for a Saturday-night shootout at the brutal half-mile short track for the running of the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic by Federated Car Care. The one-day show is set for Saturday, September 17th with the green flag scheduled to drop just after 7:15 p.m.

Further information including driver opportunities with Win-Tron Racing is available by visiting win-tronracing.com or contacting Nate Thiesse at 612.306.1641

For more on Champion Brands LLC and their extensive line of products, please log on to championbrands.com or championsusechampion.com.

- Win-Tron Racing Press Release

Entering Monday’s Labor Day tradition, momentum is definitely on Hessert’s side.

No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala

Knowing it’s just a matter of when not if that Hessert will roar his No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet Impala to victory circle, the Cherry Hill, New Jersey native wouldn’t mind if it came in ARCA’s annual stop at the one-mile oval.

“I’ve been ready for DuQuoin,” offered Hessert. “Our cars have been really good lately and with our second at Springfield, we’re thirsty for a win. We’re bringing the same car that we raced at Springfield to the track on Monday, so I think our chances are as good as anyone else.”

The win would not only be huge for Hessert, who is considered one of the most popular drivers in the ARCA garage but even bigger for Ken Schrader Racing and Federated Auto Parts who is a presenting sponsor for the 16th race of the season.

“I know it’s been a while since KSR has been in victory lane and I couldn’t put together a better picture other than to do it on Monday in a race supported by our great sponsor Federated Auto Parts. It’s been a blast carrying their colors in 2011, but I’m ready to get my suit drenched in water and Gatorade.”

While some drivers and teams tend to compare the Illinois State Fairgrounds and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds as sister tracks, Hessert knows that’s far from the case.

Tom Hessert III

Currently locking the fifth position in the championship standings with just four races remaining, Hessert knows that moving up the ladder is still possible but he also knows that defending his current spot is just as important.

“The competition has been so strong this season that even with our strong runs lately we’ve haven’t been able to make as big of a dent as we want to do in the points. We’re not going to give up. We’re going to stay focused and hope to keep our strong runs alive and hopefully earn a win or two before the end of the year,” sounded Hessert.

On top of everything, Hessert has the ammunition in the back of his mind of last year’s Southern Illinois 100 where he took the checkered flag in second behind Steve Arpin, keeping him away from victory, something he was accustomed to in his USAC days.

“One more spot. That’s all we need on Monday,” concluded Hessert.

The Southern Illinois 100 presented by Federated Auto Parts (100 laps / 100 miles) is the 16th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 29th ARCA event held at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds is a one-day show. Practice begins Monday, September 5 with a one hour practice session planned from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. The field will take the green flag that afternoon shortly after 1:00 p.m. The event will not be televised but race coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,328th 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.

In addition to Federated Auto Parts, Cherry Hill Classic Cars will serve as an associate marketing partner for Hessert’s 80th career ARCA start. In his previous 79 outings, he has maneuvered one win, 18 top-fives and 42 top-10s.

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

- Tom Hessert Racing Press Release

Venturini Motorsports Thumbnail

Bowman, a former USAC Champion and a regular on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East circuit used a balance of skill and horsepower to claim victory in his ARCA debut at Madison International Speedway.

“I can’t believe it, to be honest with you,” Bowman said. “I knew we were going to have a shot here with Venturini Motorsports. They put a really good car together. To bring home the win is pretty special. I want to thank the entire team for putting together such a great effort”

Bowman, who led the final 59 laps of the race, was challenged after a late race caution spawned a thrilling 3-lap shootout between Bowman, Chris Buescher and Venturini teammate, Clint King. Bowman, driving the No.55 St Jude Children’s Cancer Research Hospital / Lauren Briant.com Toyota took the restart and led the train of pursuing cars around the ½ mile track, ultimately holding off the hard charging Buescher and King en-route to his first major stock car series victory of his career. Alex dedicated this special victory to his childhood friend, Scott Impellizeri, who died tragically a few weeks ago in an automobile accident.

Bowman’s win is the second of the season for Venturini crew chief, Kevin Caldwell.

Not to be overshadowed by Bowman’s winning performance was the amazing effort given by 16-year Clint King from Denton, North Carolina. Not only did King make history on his 16th birthday by becoming the youngest driver to compete in the series, but he also cemented his name into the history books as the youngest competitor to earn the Menards Pole Award presented by Menards with a new track qualifying record of 18.205 seconds.

“After practice, we mocked up the engine,” King said. “We had a really good lap in practice but I didn’t know it was that good. The first lap, we pulled up the track a little bit and I didn’t think it was good enough for the pole, but the second lap I really gained a ton of grip and we were really good.”

King, driving the famed No.25 Venturini machine proved his qualifying effort was no fluke as he kept his Design Warehouse sponsored Chevrolet securely in the Top-5 before he finally took the lead on lap 104. Unfortunately for King his lead was short lived as the No.31 car driven by Tim George showed little patience pursuing the leader and drove aggressively down into turn 2, spinning out the rookie and taking over the top spot.

Keeping his composure, King brought his car down pit lane where his awaiting pit crew cut away the damaged sheet metal and slapped on new tires. Although this misfortune put King to the end of the lead lap cars it did nothing to raddle his composure. If anything the incident brought out the best of him, showcasing his character, no quit attitude and determination to win.

King would waste little time getting himself back into the mix. As his teammate climbed to the front on lap 142, King was flying back up through the field, picking off car-after-car until pulling up to the bumper of Chris Buescher in the No.17 car, crossing the finish line in the third position.

“What an amazing day,” added King. “We came here focused on gaining experience and finishing all 200 laps – winning the pole and finishing 3rd in my first ARCA race, that’s incredible.”

King’s 3rd place finish is also the highest finish on record for a 16-year old making their ARCA racing debut.

So far during the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season Venturini Motorsports has utilized an unprecedented (19) unique drivers during the first 16-series events, capturing 2 victories (Brennan Poole/Alex Bowman), 5 pole position awards (Josh Richards/Brennan Poole/Ryan Blaney/Max Gresham/Clint King), 9 Top-5’s and 16 Top-10 finishes. Collectively the drivers coming out of the Venturini stables have led an impressive 486 laps and have led laps in 14 out of 16 races.

- Venturini Motorsports Press Release

Chad Hackenbracht

So Lucas Oil Raceway was an interesting weekend to say the least for us at CGH Motorsports. Starting the day Thursday, I was fairly confident that we were going to have a very strong race car. After the driver’s meeting and some USAC practice we finally got our turn on the track. I was one of the first cars out on the track for practice. I went out and made a lap of warm-up to get some heat in the tires and brakes, and just get everything up to temperature before going green.

When the green flag flew for practice I was coming out of turn four, and when I came off of turn two, the motor made a studder and sounded off key and not good at all. So i reported it to the crew and I immediately brought the car down pit road. They jacked the car up and saw oil coming out of the back of the motor. After a lap of practice, we were forced to go to a backup motor and try to change motors in time for qualifying.

After running around for an engine hoist, a spare motor, and other misc. items I was told to take a break while they work on the car and get it ready. We missed the in-line time for pre-qualifying tech forcing us to go to the end of the qualifying order. I finally made it out on the track for my two laps to feel the car out. I was now on a mission to figure the track out and get a quick lap out of the car. My first lap was my quickest setting me fourteenth in the starting order.

I was satisfied with qualifying being that I out qualified a lot of top-team cars, and I had only seen the track for one lap prior to qualifying. Though we qualified decent, we were forced to start at the rear of the field due to missing the in-line time. This put us in a bad position but I was not concerned a bit. I was determined to race my way to the front as soon as I could. I didn’t waste any time following other cars sent to the tail, I led the way and quickly broke into the top-20 and soon the top-15.

After a great pit stop I was already into the top-10 at halfway and coming on strong. At times we had the fastest car on the race track. We took a bunch of swings at changing the car on the various pit stops and they were all for the better.

By lap 140 when the caution flew, I had moved into the fourth position. I knew I was faster than at least third place, so I wanted to get a great restart like all of the other restarts earlier in the race. When the green flag flew, I was told over the radio “green, green, green.” So I eased into the gas, only to find that the car in third didn’t do the same. I’m still not sure if he missed a shift, spun the tires, or simply thought there was another caution lap. I have been told about fifty different stories of the incident, but who knows.

The incident tore up the front end of our race car and virtually took us out of contention for any good finish. We decided the damage wasn’t too bad and stayed out during the caution. Restarting third with a very tore up race car, I treated it as if it wasn’t bent up at all and the car drove great considering all the damage. I wasn’t too concerned with anything happening to the tires or to the car, and I thought I could keep my position fairly well. I was passed by some cars but didn’t fall too far back by the time the caution rolled around. We took advantage of the caution and came down pit road with the leaders and took four tires, as well as pulling out the right front fender. After the pit stop, I started deep in the field and started to work my way back up, when two laps into the run the right front tire blew. If this tire hadn’t blown, I feel we would have had a top-10 or top -15 car without going the laps down that we did. Instead, we finished 16th with a tore up race car.

Onto Pocono the next week, I felt strong going back to the tricky triangle and I was ready for it. Practice started off decent and ended alright with some work to do to get a little quicker. I qualified 12th, which I was not pleased with because I felt the lap was stronger than 12th and the car was better than a 12th place effort. On to the race, the car took off early in the race extremely well. Soon worked our way into the top-five and eventually third at one point with a very fast race car.

After a not so good pit stop, we restarted in sixth or seventh but slowly faded back being passed by a few cars. Turns out we made the wrong adjustment on the pit stop and tightened the car up when we should have loosened it up. Just a minor communication mix up between Kevin and I. We ended up finishing seventh at the end of the day, all in all fairly satisfied with our weekend.

Now we head to the dirt track in Springfield, IL which I am looking forward to. I have never been on dirt, but I have been told it turns into a regular race after the track gets a few laps on it.

The crew and I will be on the road for the following week after the dirt race, headed to do some in-store appearances with the Madison race car for Hampton Farms, whose returning after their stint at Lucas Oil Raceway.

We’ll also get a little bit of down time during the week as well, and have our second CGH road tour of 2011. My goals for the dirt race are to come home in one piece with a clean race car and top-10 finish.

Thanks for reading and I’ll connect again soon!

- Chad Hackenbracht