ARCA Racing Series
Category | Stock cars |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Inaugural season | 1953 |
Manufacturers | Chevrolet Ford Toyota Dodge |
Engine suppliers | Ilmor |
Tire suppliers | General Tire |
Drivers' champion | Sheldon Creed |
Teams' champion | MDM Motorsports |
Official website | ARCA Racing |
Current season |
The ARCA Racing Series Presented by Menards is an American stock car series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor but professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three national touring series of NASCAR,[1][2] and hosts events at a variety of track types including superspeedways, road courses, and dirt tracks.[3] The series has a longstanding relationship with NASCAR, including using former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series cars, hosting events in the same race weekend such as Daytona Speedweeks, and naming an award after NASCAR founder Bill France, Sr.[3][4][5] The series was not officially affiliated with NASCAR until its buyout on April 27th, 2018[6].
The series was known as the ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series from 1986 until 1991, the ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series from 1993 until 1995, and as the ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series from 1996 to 2000.[7][8] The series was sponsored by real estate company RE/MAX as the ARCA RE/MAX Series from 2001 until 2009.[9] Midwest-based home improvement company Menards began sponsoring the series in 2010 jointly with RE/MAX, and became the lone title sponsor in 2011.[9]
Contents
1 History
2 ARCA Racing Series cars
2.1 ARCA Ilmor 396 engine
2.2 Composite car bodies
2.3 Specifications
3 Championship results
4 Legacy
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
History
The series was founded in Toledo, Ohio in 1953 as the Midwest Association for Race Cars (MARC), a local touring group in the Midwestern United States.[4] The series was founded by John Marcum, a friend and former competitor of Bill France, Sr. and former NASCAR employee, who created MARC as a northern counterpart to the southern-based NASCAR. Early drivers included Iggy Katona and Nelson Stacy.[5]
The series became a part of Daytona Speedweeks in 1964 at the request of Bill France, allowing the series to open its season alongside the Daytona 500.[4][10] The same year, the series name was changed from MARC (Midwest Association for Race Cars) to the current ARCA (Automobile Racing Club of America) as a suggestion from France to give the series more national exposure.[5]
The series races on a variety of tracks from small ovals to superspeedways such as Daytona International Speedway. It is one of the last major oval track circuits to still compete on dirt tracks. In 2008 the series returned to racing on a road course.[11] The series is currently headed by Marcum's grandson, Ron Drager.[5]
Due to the similarity between the cars and racetracks of the two series, the ARCA Racing Series is frequently used to develop young drivers looking to break into the top three series of NASCAR. The series has spawned such drivers as Benny Parsons, Ken Schrader and Kyle Petty, and helped more recent Monster Energy Cup Series drivers Kyle Busch, Justin Allgaier, Casey Mears, and Sam Hornish, Jr. get acclimated to stock cars.[1][12] Young drivers will often race in the series opener at Daytona International Speedway to gain NASCAR approval to run at superspeedways in the Truck or Xfinity Series.[13] Other drivers, such as 10-time champion Frank Kimmel and 9-time race winner Bobby Gerhart remain in the series as opposed to pursuing a full-time career in NASCAR.[7] NASCAR regulars, notably Ken Schrader, are known to frequent the series as well.[12]
The general minimum age for drivers is 18. However, drivers as young as 17 may be approved to drive on speedway tracks, and drivers as young as 15 years can be permitted to drive at courses less than one mile in length and road courses.[14][15] This is one year younger than the minimum age of 16 in the Camping World Truck Series (also for short tracks and road courses only).
After the 2015 season, ARCA ended its 30-year relationship with the Hoosier Racing Tire company, with General Tire replacing Hoosier.[16]
On April 27th, 2018 it was announced that the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) had bought out the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It was announced that the 2018 & 2019 seasons will continue as planned, with undetermined changes coming in the 2020 racing season[6].
ARCA Racing Series cars
The series is known for using veteran steel-bodied Generation 4 cars from the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series, running cars until they are several years old and even after a model's discontinuation in the Cup Series. For example, Bobby Gerhart's winning Daytona car in 1999 used a chassis built by Hendrick Motorsports in 1989. Following the transition of the Cup and Xfinity Series to the Car of Tomorrow in 2007 and 2010 respectively, the ARCA Series continued to use the 2007-style models of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS (re-branded as the Impala), Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, and Dodge Charger. The carbureted V8 engines used by the series are also built under similar specifications to their NASCAR counterparts, and occasionally purchased from NASCAR teams.[2][3][5][17] In spite of the similarities, ARCA racing is much more affordable than its more popular counterpart, with car owner Larry Clement estimating the required budget to run an ARCA car as "10 percent of what a NASCAR Winston Cup (now Monster Energy Cup) budget is."[12]
ARCA Ilmor 396 engine
On August 1, 2014, ARCA president Ron Drager announced a new engine package option for the 2015 season, in addition to the current open motor rules package. The package is called the ARCA Ilmor 396 engine, alternately known as the ARCA Control Engine (ACE). Developed by Ilmor, which has also developed engines for the IndyCar Series, the engine is a "purpose-built powerplant" using Holley electronic fuel injection and based on the Chevrolet LS engine family that is able to deliver 700 horsepower and 500 ft. pounds of torque. The engine costs $35,000 to build and $15,000 to be re-built, and allows teams to use the same engine at all track types for up to 1500 miles between re-builds.[2][18][19][20]
The Ilmor engine debuted during testing at Daytona International Speedway in December 2014, with Sean Corr's Ilmor-powered #48 Ford topping the speed charts at 188.478 mph (47.743 seconds).[2][21] The new engine has generated controversy, with some teams that use the former engine package believing that their motors will become obsolete and converting to the new package will be too costly. Teams and outside engine builders also cannot perform maintenance on the engines, and minimal tuning is allowed (including a specification lubricant from Valvoline). The spec engine also reduces manufacturer identity for teams, with construction based off the Chevrolet engine package and branded as an Ilmor. Non-Ilmor engines, meanwhile, are subject to intake and RPM restrictions to maintain performance limits relative to the new package.[2][14][15][20]
Composite car bodies
On November 4, 2014, at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NASCAR president Mike Helton unveiled a new body style for the K&N Pro Series East and West that would also be eligible for use in ARCA competition, based on the Sprint Cup Series Gen 6 models of the Holden Commodore, Ford Fusion, and Toyota Camry. The new body, developed with Five Star Race Car Bodies, is constructed of a composite laminate blend and designed with easily replaceable body panels, to reduce the costs of fabrication, and to eliminate on-track debris after accidents. The composite body is also significantly lighter than traditional steel bodies.[22][23] The body style was made eligible in the 2015 ARCA season only on tracks one mile or shorter in length.[22][24] The composite body debuted at preseason testing at Daytona, with the intent of approving it for tracks over a mile in length.[25] The composite bodies made their superspeedway debut at Pocono Raceway on June 3, 2016.[23][26]
For 2018, ARCA will mandate the Five Star composite bodies at Daytona and Talladega.
Specifications
[14][15]
Engine displacement: 350-360 cu in pushrod V8
Transmission: 4-speed manual
Weight: 3,400 lb (1,500 kg) minimum (steel); 3,300 lb (1,500 kg) (composite); without driver
Power output: ~700 hp unrestricted
Fuel: Sunoco unleaded gasoline
Fuel capacity: 18 U.S. gallons (68.1 liters) or 22 U.S. gallons (83.3 L)
Fuel delivery:
Fuel injection – Ilmor only
Carburetion – All other engines
Compression ratio: 12:1
Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
Wheelbase:
- 105 in (2667 mm) – except restrictor plate tracks
- 110 in (2794 mm) – all tracks
Car body:
- Steel (Gen 4) – Fit to templates
- Composite (Gen 6) – Unmodified
Rear spoiler: Minimum angle 65 degrees (steel); 70 degrees (composite)
Steering: Power, recirculating ball
Championship results
Below is the list of all-time ARCA Racing Series champions, along with the Rookie of the Year and Bill France Four Crown award winners.
The Rookie of the Year award – currently sponsored by Scott Paper Company – is given to the rookie that scores most points at the end of the season. Winners have included future NASCAR drivers Benny Parsons, Davey Allison, Jeremy Mayfield, Michael McDowell, and Parker Kligerman.
The Bill France Four Crown award, inaugurated in 1984, is a prize given to the driver with most points at four specific events, combining dirt ovals, short ovals, superspeedways and road courses. The award was known as the Bill France Triple Crown prior to 2009, when the road course component was added to the competition. Future Winston Cup Series star Davey Allison won the first Four Crown. Frank Kimmel is the top Bill France Four Crown winner with seven titles.[3][27][28][29]
Other awards include the Superspeedway Challenge, the Pole Award (most poles), the Marcum Award, the ARCA Motorsports Media Award, the Bob Loga Memorial Scholarship, the Spirit Award, Most Popular Driver Award, Most Improved Driver, and Engine Mechanic of the Year.[30][8]
Year | Drivers Champion | Rookie of the Year | Bill France Four Crown |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Austin Theriault | Riley Herbst | Austin Theriault |
2016 | Chase Briscoe | Dalton Sargeant | Chase Briscoe |
2015 | Grant Enfinger | Kyle Weatherman | Kyle Weatherman |
2014 | Mason Mitchell | Austin Wayne Self | Grant Enfinger[31] |
2013 | Frank Kimmel | Justin Boston | Frank Kimmel |
2012 | Chris Buescher | Alex Bowman | Chris Buescher[32] |
2011 | Ty Dillon | Chris Buescher | Chad McCumbee[33] |
2010 | Patrick Sheltra | Dakoda Armstrong | Joey Coulter |
2009 | Justin Lofton | Parker Kligerman | Parker Kligerman[29] |
2008 | Justin Allgaier | Matt Carter | Frank Kimmel[34] |
2007 | Frank Kimmel | Michael McDowell | Frank Kimmel |
2006 | Frank Kimmel | Blake Bjorklund | Blake Bjorklund |
2005 | Frank Kimmel | Joey Miller | Frank Kimmel |
2004 | Frank Kimmel | T. J. Bell | Brent Sherman |
2003 | Frank Kimmel | Bill Eversole | Jason Jarrett |
2002 | Frank Kimmel | Chad Blount | Frank Kimmel |
2001 | Frank Kimmel | Jason Jarrett | Frank Kimmel |
2000 | Frank Kimmel | Brian Ross | Tim Steele[28] |
1999 | Bill Baird | Ron Cox | Bill Baird |
1998 | Frank Kimmel | Bill Baird | Frank Kimmel |
1997 | Tim Steele | Josh Baltes | Tim Steele |
1996 | Tim Steele | Blaise Alexander | Tim Steele |
1995 | Andy Hillenburg | Dill Whittymore Harris DeVane | Harris DeVane |
1994 | Bobby Bowsher | Gary Bradberry | Bob Hill |
1993 | Tim Steele | Jeremy Mayfield | Bob Keselowski |
1992 | Bobby Bowsher | Frank Kimmel | Bobby Bowsher |
1991 | Bill Venturini | Ron Payne | Bobby Bowsher Bill Venturini |
1990 | Bob Brevak | Glenn Brewer | Bob Keselowski |
1989 | Bob Keselowski | Graham Taylor | Tracy Leslie |
1988 | Tracy Leslie | Bobby Gerhart | Grant Adcox |
1987 | Bill Venturini | Dave Weltmeyer | Grant Adcox |
1986 | Lee Raymond | Mark Gibson | Lee Raymond |
1985 | Lee Raymond | Dave Simko | Lee Raymond |
1984 | Bob Dotter | Davey Allison | Davey Allison |
1983 | Bob Dotter | Bill Venturini | |
1982 | Scott Stovall | Lee Raymond | |
1981 | Larry Moyer | Gorden Blankenship | |
1980 | Bob Dotter | Scott Stovall | |
1979 | Marvin Smith | Steve Ellis | |
1978 | Marvin Smith | Bob Slawinski | |
1977 | Conan Myers | Bill Green | |
1976 | Dave Dayton | Tom Meinberg | |
1975 | Dave Dayton | Charlie Paxton | |
1974 | Ron Hutcherson Dave Dayton | Jerry Hufflin | |
1973 | Ron Hutcherson | Bruce Gould | |
1972 | Ron Hutcherson | Delmar Clark | |
1971 | Ramo Stott | A. Arnold | |
1970 | Ramo Stott | Tom Bowsher | |
1969 | Benny Parsons | Larry Ashley | |
1968 | Benny Parsons | Cliff Hamm | |
1967 | Iggy Katona | Norm Meyers | |
1966 | Iggy Katona | Dave Dayton | |
1965 | Jack Bowsher | Benny Parsons | |
1964 | Jack Bowsher | Charlie Glotzbach | |
1963 | Jack Bowsher | ||
1962 | Iggy Katona | Curly Mills | |
1961 | Harold Smith | Virgil Oakes | |
1960 | Nelson Stacy | ||
1959 | Nelson Stacy | Bob Bower | |
1958 | Nelson Stacy | Paul Wensink | |
1957 | Iggy Katona | Bill Granger | |
1956 | Iggy Katona | ||
1955 | Iggy Katona | ||
1954 | Bucky Sager | ||
1953 | Jim Romine |
Legacy
An Indiana-based indie game developer created ARCA Sim Racing '08 to simulate the Remax championship.[35]
See also
- List of ARCA drivers
- Allen Crowe Memorial 100
References
^ ab Christie, Toby (January 15, 2009). "ARCA Loses Series Title Sponsor RE/MAX For 2010". Bleacher Report. Bleacher Report. Retrieved 27 November 2014..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ abcde Smith, Steven Cole (December 21, 2014). "Controversy brewing in the ARCA series". motorsport.com. Daytona, Florida: motorsport.com. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
^ abcd Carollo, John (April 30, 2012). "Stock Car Engines and Sanctioning Bodies: Different Groups, Different Rules". Engine Builder Magazine. Babcox Media, Inc. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
^ abc "ARCA again starts its season at Daytona on February 14, 2015". motorsport.com. motorsport.com, ARCA. October 23, 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
^ abcde "ARCA At 50: Series Presses On While Staying True To Its Roots". stockcarracing.com. TEN: The Enthusiast Network. February 1, 2002. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
^ ab "NASCAR acquires ARCA, reaffirms commitment to growth | NASCAR.com". Official Site Of NASCAR. 2018-04-27. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
^ ab Automobile Racing Club of America (November 18, 2009). "ARCA - Driver development 1990-1999". motorsport.com. Toledo, Ohio: motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
^ ab "Kimmel dominate banquet". motorsport.com. Cincinnati, Ohio: motorsport.com. December 9, 2000. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
^ ab Automobile Racing Club of America (December 6, 2010). "Series announces 2011 presenting sponsor". motorsport.com. Covington, Kentucky: motorsport.com. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2007-11-18.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
^ [1]
^ abc "Why Race ARCA RE/MAX? Development, Training And Preparation". Stock Car Racing (magazine). Stock Car Racing, TEN: The Enthusiast Network. December 2, 2003. Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
^ Coble, Don (February 15, 2014). "After ARCA crash, NASCAR faces difficult decision on Chase Elliott's Nationwide eligibility". The Florida Times-Union. The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
^ abc "ARCA Racing Series: 2015 Official Rule Book" (PDF). thepitlane.org. Automobile Racing Club of America. 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
^ abc "ARCA Racing Series: 2016 Official Rule Book" (PDF). Automobile Racing Club of America. 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
^ "ARCA MOVES ON FROM HOOSIER AS GENERAL TIRE ENTERS FRAY". Associated Press. Kansas City, Kansas. October 16, 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
^ "HMS Invites Gerhart to 25th Anniversary Celebration; Old 'Dusty' with a New Debut". arcaracing.com. Charlotte, North Carolina: Automobile Racing Club of America. February 1, 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
^ "ARCA Announces New Engine Package Option for 2015". Automobile Racing Club of America. Long Pond, Pennsylvania: Automobile Racing Club of America. August 1, 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
^ "ARCA Ilmor 396 Engine announcement produces positive reactions". ARCA. Toledo, Ohio: ARCA. August 12, 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
^ ab Magda, Mike (December 25, 2014). "Ilmor 396 ARCA Engine Saves Money, Lays Off Engine Builders". EngineLabs. Power Automedia, LLC. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
^ Radelbaugh, Don (December 21, 2014). "Corr tops overall ARCA speed charts in Daytona testing". AccessNorthGa.com. Daytona Beach, Florida: Jacobs Media Corporation. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
^ ab Media Release (November 4, 2014). "NASCAR unveils new K&N Pro Series car at 2014 SEMA show". Fox Sports. Fox Sports. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
^ ab Radebaugh, Don (May 9, 2016). "ARCA composite body cars to make superspeedway debut at Pocono". Automobile Racing Club of America. Toledo, Ohio. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
^ "NASCAR and ARCA unveil new car in Vegas". Newton Daily News. Newton Daily News. November 13, 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
^ "ARCA Racing Series composite body makes superspeedway debut at Daytona". arcaracing.com. Daytona Beach, Florida: Automobile Racing Club of America. January 17, 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
^ Automobile Racing Club of America (May 31, 2016). "Parker Kligerman quickest in ARCA testing at Pocono; Composite body cars prepare for superspeedway debut Friday". Catchfence.com. Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
^ "ARCA's 2014 Bill France Four Crown championship kicks off at NJMP road course Sunday, June 1". ARCA Racing Series. Toledo, Ohio: ARCA Racing Series. May 21, 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ ab "Bill France Triple Crown award". motorsport.com. Toledo, Ohio: motorsport.com. October 18, 2000. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
^ ab Automobile Racing Club of America (October 1, 2009). "Kansas: Series notes on Four Crown, Kligerman winner". motorsport.com. Kansas City, Kansas: motorsport.com. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
^ Automobile Racing Club of America (November 26, 2007). "2007 Awards banquet preview". motorsport.com. Covington, Kentucky: motorsport.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
^ Inabinett, Mark (September 1, 2014). "Grant Enfinger gets dirty in pursuit of ARCA Racing Series championship". AL.com. AL.com, Advance Publications. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
^ "Prestigious France Four Crown Going to Buescher". Arcaracing.com. Toledo, Ohio: Automobile Racing Club of America. December 5, 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
^ "Belmont "Overwhelmed" by Winning Four Crown". arcaracing.com. Toledo, Ohio: Automobile Racing Club of America. September 19, 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
^ Automobile Racing Club of America (October 5, 2008). "Talladega: Kimmel wins Bill France Triple Crown". motorsport.com. Talladega, Alabama: motorsport.com. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
^ http://www.gamesradar.com/forget-nascar-theres-a-new-stocker-in-town/
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). |
- Official website
- The Pit Lane – ARCA Racing Series News and Rumors
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