Renowned Stock Car Tour Takes Ferocious Title Fight to Magic Mile Dirt

(TOLEDO, Ohio) – Two major league milestones will meet in the small, sleepy southern Illinois town of DuQuoin Labor Day weekend.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, celebrating its 60th Anniversary Season in 2012, is steering for the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds “Magic Mile” dirt, where the 60th running of the Southern Illinois 100 presented by Federated Car Care comes alive Labor Day Monday, September 3.

The momentous meeting will take shape alongside the 90th annual DuQuoin State Fair.

Fittingly, much of ARCA’s rich history played out on dirt tracks across America. In fact, the 2012 Southern Illinois 100 marks the 347th ARCA race on dirt since the series’ inception in 1953.

“The Illinois State Fair mile dirt venues are vitally important to the character and identity of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards,” said ARCA President Ron Drager. “It’s a conscious effort on our part to continue to recognize the role non-pavement tracks played in the development of our series, and motorsports as a whole, and the role dirt racing continues to play today.” (more…)

(MADISON, Wis.) – Discounted tickets for Sunday’s Herr’s Live Life with Flavor 200 at Madison International Speedway, just south of the city, remain available at 19 Menards stores in the state.

In addition to roles as the presenting sponsor of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and as a co-primary sponsor on Frank Kimmel’s No. 44 Ansell/Menards Toyota, the Wisconsin-based company is participating heavily in promotion of the race. As the ARCA Racing Series continues through its 60th Anniversary Season, race fans in Wisconsin have the chance to “Save Big Money” on tickets to see the action live. (more…)

(TOLEDO, Ohio – August 16, 2012) – As the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards entry list continues to build momentum for this Sunday’s 50th Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile dirt in Springfield, so too does the interest from the locals.

Last check, eight drivers from Illinois are shaking off the dust on their ARCA cars. Apparently, the lure of racing with ARCA’s finest fulltime competitors, combined with the tradition of this historic race in their home state, is just too much to avoid.

El Paso, Illinois’s Ryan Unzicker leads the charge. Unzicker, driving for fellow Illinoisan Bill Hendren, is the 2011 UMP Late Model National Champion and has a strong contingent of fans that follow his career. In two career ARCA starts at Springfield, Unzicker finished a career-best sixth in 2003. (more…)

(TOLEDO, Ohio – August 16, 2012) – Fort Frances, Ontario’s Steve Arpin cut his teeth in dirt modified racing in Canada and the upper Midwest. When the affable and energetic racer first landed on the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards tour a few years back, ARCA’s dirt tracks seemed like a natural fit.

Arpin proved it when he smoked the competition with a runaway victory at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds mile dirt in 2010, driving for Venturini Motorsports. After a brief tenure in the NASCAR Nationwide Series tour, Arpin is steering back toward his dirt track roots this Sunday for the 50th running of the Allen Crowe 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds mile dirt in Springfield. And that’s all just fine and dandy with him.

“I can’t wait,” Arpin said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else this weekend. A dirt track, ARCA, the State Fair. What could be better? (more…)

Frank Kimmel, Rookie/Defending Winner Alex Bowman Ready for ARCA Short Track Go

(TOLEDO, Ohio – August 14, 2012) – ARCA veteran Frank Kimmel knows how to win races. The second-generation racer has 75 career ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards victories, second on the all-time ARCA win list.

Team Messina Rookie Challenge contender Alex Bowman is certainly learning how to win races, and it didn’t take long. The Tucson, Ariz. driver won at Madison Int’l Speedway in his ARCA debut in August of 2011.

Both championship contending drivers will be returning for the Herr’s Live Life with Flavor 200 at Madison Int’l Sunday afternoon, August 26, ready to test their short track skills on the half-mile short track oval.

Kimmel finished sixth in last year’s race, and was not happy with the result. However, Kimmel has joined forces with ThorSport Racing for 2012, and has shown marked improvement in performance. In fact, the Clarksville, Indiana racer snapped a winless streak that stretched nearly four years when he dominated the ARCA race at Lucas Oil Raceway just last month. In addition, the nine-time ARCA champion is currently third in championship points, just 45 points from the lead. (more…)