ARCA Tag

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

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer A quick Google search on the name Spencer Davis yields results primarily for the musician who founded the 1960s rock band The Spencer Davis Group. The 18-year-old race car driver of the same name looks to change that and this season will compete in several series, including seven ARCA Racing Series events with Venturini Motorsports. “I had wanted to run some ARCA stuff this year. Billy (Venturini) got wind of it and he gave me a call. I was actually Go-Kart racing down in DaytonaRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer The Petty bloodline is making a return to the ARCA Racing Series as Thad Moffitt, the grandson of Richard Petty, will make his series’ debut on Saturday night at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville. In a partnership with Richard Petty Motorsports, Empire Racing Group has entered Moffitt in the No. 46 Petty Blue Ford with primary sponsorship from Transportation Impact. Empire Racing Group will be serving as the developmental team for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2016, providing young drivers with driver coaching, technical support, public relations andRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer Natalie Decker announced her racing schedule for the 2017 season on Wednesday, and it includes making her ARCA Racing Series debut with Venturini Motorsports. Decker will compete in three races behind the wheel of one of the team’s Toyotas, starting at Toledo Speedway on May 21. The 19-year-old driver will get a chance to settle in with the team, competing in three consecutive races with Elko Speedway and Pocono Raceway rounding out the trio of events. “This is definitely the biggest step in my racingRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer Austin Theriault added a victory at Daytona International Speedway to his racing resume on Saturday , winning the ARCA Racing Series season-opener over Terry Jones. Theriault got a push in the draft from the No. 77 Ford of Dalton Sargeant with eight laps to go, making the high line work just enough to pass Jones at the iconic 2.5-mile superspeedway to take the win  in the Lucas Oil Complete Engine Treatment 200 Driven by General Tire. The caution flew for the third multi-car wreck ofRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer Tom Hessert turned a lap at 186.943 mph to take the General Tire Pole Award for Saturday’s season-opening ARCA Racing Series event at Daytona International Speedway. Hessert, a 10-year veteran of the ARCA Series, dialed back his schedule for 2017 and will compete in only five of the 20 races on the schedule. The 30-year-old Cherry Hill, New Jersey native has six career victories, including a 2014 victory at Talladega, but would love to add a victory at Daytona to his resume. “Winning at aRead More