ARCA Category

By Aaron Bearden, Open Wheel Editor When Joe Graf Jr. took the checkered flag fifth at Iowa Speedway, it would be natural to assume that he would be happy with the run. Graf had never seen the 7/8-mile oval before, after all, and he had just one top five in his previous six ARCA Racing Series results. But when he climbed out of his No. 77 Ford, the Chad Bryant Racing (CBR) rookie was less than pleased. “No I’m not,” Graf told Motorsports Tribune when asked if he was content withRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Open Wheel Editor Harrison Burton’s in an interesting stage of his budding racing career. At 17 years old, the son of NASCAR veteran Jeff Burton is too young to leap up to the Camping World Truck Series full-time. Burton has already conquered the K&N Pro Series East – he’s the defending champion – and his nine-race Truck schedule for Kyle Busch Motorsports kept him from picking another tour to to contest for the championship in 2018. The North Carolinian is an upcoming prospect with wins ranging from Bristol Motor SpeedwayRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Open Wheel Editor MDM Motorsports driver Chase Purdy brought home his fourth-consecutive top five in Saturday’s Fans With Benefits 150. But unlike his other results, Purdy was far from content to be so close to his first ARCA Racing Series victory at Iowa Speedway. Purdy surged in the final run to the checkered flag to claim a third-place finish in ARCA’s lone 2018 trip to Iowa – a strong run, but one that fell short of what the Mississippian believed he was capable of that night. “It’s aRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Open Wheel Editor Chandler Smith came to Iowa Speedway without experience on larger ovals and unsure of what to expect. He nearly left the track with the checkered flag. Smith rose through the field over the course of the 150-lap event and shadowed ARCA Racing Series points leader Sheldon Creed to the finish en-route to a second-place result in Saturday’s Fans With Benefits 150. The run was Smith’s fourth top five and fifth top 10 in five-career ARCA starts. “This is my first time ever being on aRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer NEWTON, Iowa— After getting behind the wheel of one of his team’s Chevrolets at a recent Iowa Speedway test, team-owner Mason Mitchell decided he had to drive when the ARCA Racing Series rolled into his hometown track. Mitchell announced to the team on Monday morning at the competition meeting that he would drive a second entry for the team in Saturday night’s Fans with Benefits 150. Mitchell hails from West Des Moines, Iowa and parked it in victory lane at the 7/8-mile oval in aRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Open Wheel Editor NEWTON, Iowa — Sheldon Creed kept his summer streak of ARCA Racing Series dominance alive at Iowa Speedway. Creed led a race-high 85 laps and fended off a fierce challenge from Venturini Motorsports ace Chandler Smith in the closing laps to win Saturday’s Fans With Benefits 150. The victory was the Californian’s third in the past five races, and marked his seventh-consecutive finish in the top three. “We have some momentum right now,” Creed said afterward. “It’s so hard to get these race cars hookedRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer NEWTON, Iowa— Sam Mayer’s year started by being named to JR Motorsports’ championship-winning Late Model program and his motorsports career took the next step on Saturday at Iowa Speedway with his ARCA Racing Series debut. Mayer qualified the No. 40 MDM Motorsports Toyota in the 10th position and brought the car home with a 10th-place finish. Mayer gained a couple of positions in the early going as the first third of the race was run under green flag conditions. After the first trip down pit road,Read More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer NEWTON, Iowa— Sheldon Creed turned a lap at 131.349 mph to take the General Tire Pole Award for Saturday night’s ARCA Racing Series Fans with Benefits 150 at Iowa Speedway. It was the third consecutive pole award  for Creed and the fourth of his ARCA career. “It’s pretty cool. I think we needed a little momentum and a little confidence,” Creed said of taking the top qualifying spot for the third race in a row. “I’m actually pretty shocked; we were pretty terrible in practiceRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer Mason Mitchell will return behind the wheel for this Saturday’s ARCA Racing Series event at Iowa Speedway, Motorsports Tribune has confirmed. Mitchell, the 2014 ARCA Racing Series champion, will pilot the No. 98 Chevrolet in a second entry for his own team. Iowa is the home track for the West Des Moines, Iowa native and he is making his first start since this race last season. “Racing here is more important to me than racing anywhere,” Mitchell said. “It’s my home and will always beRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer JOLIET, Ill. — Making just his fourth career start in the ARCA Racing Series, Todd Gilliland had another strong showing in the SCOTT 150 at Chicagoland Speedway, leading 28 laps in the second-half of the race. However, a late-race caution erased Gilliland’s large lead, sent the leaders to pit road for fresh tires and resulted in a frantic green-white-checkered finish. The end result was a third-place finish and the second straight frustrating ARCA race in the No. 54 DGR-Crosley Toyota. In May at Charlotte MotorRead More