ARCA Category

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer MADISON, Ill. — Sheldon Creed earned the General Tire Pole Award for Friday night’s ARCA Racing Series Papa Nicholas 150 at Gateway Motorsports Park. The top starting position was the second of his career in his 27th start. Creed’s lap on the repaved track shattered the previous ARCA qualifying record, set by Tim Steele (33.646 seconds, 133.745 mph) in 2001. Creed leads the championship standings by 55 points over his MDM Motorsports teammate Zane Smith and picks up an additional five championship points from his qualifying effort.Read More
By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer One week removed from the first ARCA Racing Series victory of his career, Sheldon Creed didn’t get off to a good start at Madison International Speedway for Friday’s Herr’s Potato Chips 200. Creed qualified his No. 28 Toyota back in the 12th position in the 19 car field and had his work cut out to maneuver through the talented field. Battling with Eddie Fatscher for the fourth spot on Lap 50 of 200, Creed spun in Turn 4 to bring out the caution. “We ‘struggle bused’Read More
Courtesy of ARCA Communications Madison, Wisc. — Fifteen-year-old Chandler Smith scored his first career ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards win in the Herr’s 200 at Madison International Speedway on Friday night. Smith also led the practice session earlier in the day, and earned his fourth consecutive General Tire Pole in qualifying. Smith dropped to the tail of the lead lap with loose right side wheels in the early portion of the race. As Smith was slowing with those wheel issues on lap 37, Tommy Vigh, Jr. spun in TurnRead More
By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer After finishing eighth in his ARCA Racing Series debut in April at Salem Speedway, Colby Howard indicated he hoped to put more races together in 2018 with Mason Mitchell Motorsports. That hope has come to fruition, as the team announced on Tuesday that Howard would compete in Friday’s Herr’s Potato Chips 200 at Madison International Speedway. The Simpsonville, South Carolina native will pilot the team’s flagship No. 78 Chevrolet with sponsorship from Champion Power Equipment and the Howard Family Foundation. Taking what the teenage driverRead More
By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer  Even though Michael Self is competing part-time in the ARCA Racing Series, he continues to finish well. After a disappointing day at Charlotte Motor Speedway two weeks ago, Self rebounded in the Zomongo 200 presented by Drydene. On the final restart, Self’s No. 15 Sinclair Lubricants Toyota Camry was one of just nine cars left on the lead lap. Despite that fact, the Park City, UT native did not have the speed to keep up with Sheldon Creed and Riley Herbst. Self had to defendRead More
By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer For this week’s edition of Climbing the Ladder, Seth Eggert sat down with U.S. Navy Lt. Jesse Iwuji. Lt. Iwuji is a 30-year-old that drives the No. 34 BBMC Mortgage Chevrolet SS in the ARCA Racing Series for Patriot Motorsports Group. He also competes in NASCAR’s K&N Pro Series West full-time and the East Division sporadically. Lt. Iwuji is also the first Naval Academy Graduate to compete in the ARCA Racing Series. Seth Eggert: How did you become interested in Motorsports? Lt. Jesse Iwuji: “Most of theRead More
By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer  For the second time this season, MDM Motorsports finishes 1-2-3 in the ARCA Racing Series. While Harrison Burton scored the victory and Sheldon Creed second, Zane Smith, who was an early favorite, settled for third in the General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 at Pocono Raceway. In the waning laps of the race, Smith’s No. 41 LaPaz Margarita Mix Toyota Camry struggled to move forward. As back-to-back cautions waved, restarts became a key. Unfortunately for Smith, the line he would restart in would struggle to get movingRead More
By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer As Natalie Decker continues to recover from her recent surgery, she will start the ARCA Racing Series General Tire #AnywhereIsPossible 200 on Friday at Pocono Raceway but yield the wheel of her No. 25 Toyota on Lap 1. Brennan Poole has been named as the relief driver and will run the remainder of the race in place of Decker. Last Friday, Decker underwent successful hernia surgery at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte to repair a small tear in her abdomen and while recovery is progressingRead More
By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards made its return to Charlotte Motor Speedway after a 14-year absence Thursday, where it came down to a two-man battle for the win during the final seven laps. Brandon Jones, who made his first ARCA start of the season, held off a hard charging Riley Herbst by 0.293 seconds to win the General Tire 150 for his fifth career series win. Jones, who led 32 laps, said late cautions helped his No. 12 TRD/Mobil 1 Toyota holding offRead More
By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer CONCORD, N.C. – A dominant day in the ARCA Racing Series return to Charlotte Motor Speedway slipped away for Todd Gilliland. His No. 54 Frontline Enterprises Toyota Camry was the favorite to win the General Tire 150 after Gilliland topped the charts in testing, practice, and qualifying. On the final restart, Gilliland restarted in second, but the car was just too tight. Slight contact with Sheldon Creed sent him up the track while Creed fought for control. Both drivers regained control, but Gilliland continued toRead More