ARCA Category

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer This weekend’s ARCA Racing Series event at the historic Salem Speedway will feature another young up-and-coming driver when Colby Howard climbs behind the wheel of the No. 78 Mason Mitchell Motorsports Chevrolet. Howard is a third-generation racer whose grandfather Buddy and father Rodney achieved great success running on the short tracks of South Carolina. The 16-year-old Howard began his career racing dirt bikes before switching to mini stocks and limited late models. In 2016, Howard earned seven wins and finished runner-up in the Southeast LimitedRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer Toni Breidinger, an 18-year-old driver out of Hillsborough, California, has inked a deal with Venturini Motorsports to compete in three ARCA Racing Series events behind the wheel of one of the team’s Toyota Camrys. Breidinger will have a busy month of June as she will make her debut at the half-mile Madison International Speedway on June 15 before competing at Gateway Motorsports Park (June 22) and then Chicagoland Speedway (June 28). “I’m definitely expecting to learn a lot. It’s going to be a huge learningRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer The ARCA Racing Series opener at Daytona International Speedway was a chaotic war of attrition. But for Willie Mullins and his volunteer-based Mullins Racing, it was the night an offseason of effort proved worthwhile – when trash was turned into Daytona treasure. Mullins dodged the race’s seven crashes and held his position through the final one-lap sprint to the checkered flag to claim a second-place finish in the Feb. 10 Lucas Oil 200. The result was Mullins’ first top five in 12-career ARCA starts, a feat madeRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer After Saturday night’s chaotic season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway, it will be two months before we see the ARCA Racing Series fire the engines for the second race of the 2018 season at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville. It’s completely understandable why the series wants to open the schedule on the high-banks of storied Daytona. Not only does it provide valuable experience for a series that helps develop young drivers looking to break into the top three series of NASCAR, it provides valuable exposure for theRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Despite a host of late-race carnage, Michael Self started the ARCA Racing Series season off the same way he ended 2017 – in victory lane. Self survived two late pileups to win Saturday’s Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire at Daytona International Speedway. The Park City, Utah native took the lead after the first attempt at a one-lap shootout on lap 87 went haywire in Turn 3. The top four of Sean Corr, Sheldon Creed, Chase Purdy and Travis Braden ran side-by-side, bumper-to-bumper inRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Saturday’s Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona International Speedway has as diverse a field as the ARCA Racing Series has seen in a long time. The race marks the first time ARCA will use composite bodies at a restrictor plate track, giving a fair playing field for all 39 drivers who’ll accept the 80-lap grind. The historic field consists of long-time veterans, a Navy Academy grad, female teammates and young guns in top budget teams. Let’s begin with Venturini Motorsports teammates Natalie Decker and Leilani Münter.Read More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer Natalie Decker turned a 49.489 second lap (181.859 mph) around Daytona International Speedway on Friday afternoon to win the pole for Saturday’s ARCA Racing Series Lucas Oil 200. The Wisconsinite edged out Zane Smith by .001 seconds, earning her first General Tire Pole Award in eight series starts. Decker is the first female to claim the top spot at the 2.5-mile superspeedway since Erin Crocker in 2007. Decker is set to run the full 20-race ARCA schedule this season, piloting the No. 25 Toyota withRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer Natalie Decker has signed a full-time deal with Venturini Motorsports and will pilot the team’s No. 25 Toyota for the 2018 ARCA Racing Series season. The deal was officially announced on Friday afternoon at Kansas Speedway prior to the series’ 20th and final race of the 2017 season. “I’m so excited,” Decker told Motorsports Tribune. “I’ve known for so long, so I’m just so pumped to finally tell everyone and be able to talk about it in my interviews. “I’ve known for like five months andRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer What was originally announced as a three race ARCA schedule for the 2017 season back in March has expanded to seven races for Natalie Decker as the 20-year-old driver has experienced success and gained valuable experience behind the wheel of a Venturini Motorsports Toyota. Decker has achieved several accomplishments with her family-owned Super Late Model team over the past few seasons, including earning the first podium finish for a female racer in the ARCA Midwest Tour. After recording several victories in Super Late Model competitionRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer As a young kid, Blaine Perkins loved going out with his dad and a bunch of his friends and running go-karts. About the age of 10, the Bakersfield, California native got his own go-kart and launched his racing career. Progressing through the SRL Legends Tour, SRL Southwest Tour and the Lucas Oil Modifieds, Perkins landed a ride in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. On Friday night at Kentucky Speedway, Perkins takes the next step in his racing career when the 17-year-old driver makes hisRead More