ARCA | Karnac Racing News

Nemechek Wins Second Straight Champion Racing Oil “Master of the Pros” 144

img_5737e6f05b138-720x415 Salem, IN. (May 15, 2016) – John Hunter Nenechek left no doubt that he has mastered Lebanon I-44 Speedway Saturday night, when he won his second straight Champion Racing Oil “Masters of the Pros” 144, one of the top Pro/Crate Late Model events in the country sanctioned by the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance. Saturday night’s win was not as easy as last years, as fellow North Carolina native Trevor Noles battled Nemechek over the last 36 laps, swapping the lead a couple of times before Nemechek managed to pull away on the final green, white, checker restart to get the win.

“I really love this place, the track, the fans and this event is just awesome”, remarked Nemechek in victory lane. “I have to thank my crew for all the hard work and my dad for working out the plans to get me here to be able to race and get the win today.” (more…)

By Scott|2016-05-16T23:35:21-04:00May 16th, 2016|ARCA, CRA Racing Series, Front Page News|Comments Off

Gus Dean Wins ARCA Thriller at Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 29, 2016) – Bluffton, South Carolina rookie Gus Dean had just enough momentum to inch ahead of Josh Williams when it counted most to win the action-packed General Tire 200 Friday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway.
Dean, in the No. 98 GREE-Cab Installers Chevrolet, powered ahead of Williams down the backstretch just as the final caution came out for a multi-car crash behind the leaders. With weather approaching, accompanied by lightning, series officials put a period on the race two laps shy of the intended finish. The margin of victory – about two feet.
It was quite a turn-around for Dean, who was part of a multi-car wreck in the opening laps at Daytona, his only other ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards start.
“For such a build up to that race at Daytona…it was such a heartbreak to go out that way,” Dean said.
“I’m just so grateful for my sponsors GREE and Cab Installers. They took a chance on me and allowed me to come back and take another shot at this. I can’t thank Mason Mitchell Motorsports enough. No one is more meticulous when it comes to building race cars…piece by piece…he’s such a pro. It’s such a privilege to have a past ARCA champion as my driver coach. He’s really helped me through the learning process.”
When the race was over, both Dean and Williams circled the speedway side by side while series officials determined who was ahead at the exact moment the caution lights came on. (more…)

By Scott|2016-05-02T15:57:28-04:00May 2nd, 2016|ARCA, Front Page News|Comments Off

Mason Mitchell Motorsports sweeps the board in Daytona testing; Mitchell fastest overall

Mason Mitchell Motorsports Car (DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – January 17, 2016) – After engineering all three of his Mason Mitchell Motorsports (MMM) 98 cars into first, second and third on the chart in Saturday’s open test at Daytona Int’l Speedway, Mason Mitchell took his first turn at the wheel during the final hours of testing Sunday afternoon and went right to the top of the leader board.

Mason Mitchell Motorsports Test Daytona 2016Mitchell, the 2014 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards national champion driver and owner, not only took it to the top, the W. Des Moines, Iowa driver posted the fastest speed overall during the annual two-day ARCA test at the “World Center of Racing”.

“All three Mitchell Motorsports cars were fast this weekend,” Mitchell said. “We made the decision to bring three cars only a week ago, so all of the long hours by the crew paid off.” (more…)

By Scott|2016-01-18T02:00:10-05:00January 18th, 2016|ARCA, Front Page News, Racing News|Comments Off

Iowan Mitchell Wins ARCA 150 at Iowa Speedway Home Track

Mitchell Iowa (NEWTON, Iowa – July 17, 2015) – Mason Mitchell brought out Superman again. And, that meant he was headed to victory lane.

Mitchell, who grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa, won the #ThisIsMySpeedway150 at Iowa Speedway Friday night, winning at the .875-mile facility that he considers his home track.

“This is unbelievable,” an emotional Mitchell said after the race. “This was the whole reason we came to this race. These guys worked too hard to come home second. I didn’t care how much damage this car had, I wanted that checkered flag.”

Two late race cautions caused the race to extend beyond its advertised 150 laps. Mitchell, in the No. 78 Karl Chevrolet, passed Kyle Weatherman on the final lap, which was lap 159, for the win. Weatherman finished second in the No. 22 Crosley Brands/Cunningham Motorsports Dodge, his second runner-up finish at Iowa Speedway in three years. His Cunningham Motorsports teammate Tom Hessert, driving the No. 77 Barbera’s Autoland Dodge, was third. Austin Cindric, in the No. 99 AutoZone Ford, was fourth. Matt Tifft completed the top five in the Federated Auto Parts No. 52 Chevrolet.

Austin Wayne Self finished sixth in a car owned by Mason Mitchell, Blake Jones finished seventh in the No. 38 Asphalt Services of Tenn./Blake Jones Racing Ford while ARCA Racing Series point leader Grant Enfinger finished eighth. Also earning top 10 finishes were Todd Gilliland in the Renton Coil Springs No. 55 Toyota and David Levine in the MOMO-TraqGear-Ford Performance Ford. (more…)

By Scott|2015-07-20T20:02:51-04:00July 20th, 2015|ARCA, Featured|Comments Off

Enfinger conquers Salem; takes first three wins of ARCA season

(SALEM, Ind.) – Grant Enfinger made ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards history Sunday afternoon, winning his third race to start the 2014 season, becoming just the second driver in series history to do so.

“The stars are just lining up for us,” Enfinger said. “It’s pretty unbelievable.”

After leading the first 100 laps of the Federated Auto Parts 200 presented by Crunch’N Nutter at Salem, Enfinger moved back to the front late in the race and took the lead when Ken Schrader hit the wall in turn one on the last re-start. Schrader was leading when the re-start began with Enfinger in second.

“I wanted the chance to drag race him to the finish,” Enfinger said. “I think he just blew a right front there. That’s what happened. It was a lot of fun racing up front against him.”

Spencer Gallagher finished second, Frank Kimmel third and Cunningham Motorsports drivers Austin Wayne Self (fourth) and Tom Hessert (fifth) rounded out the top five. (more…)

By Scott|2014-04-28T18:46:49-04:00April 28th, 2014|ARCA, Featured, Front Page News, Race Results|Comments Off

Enfinger Wins 51st Lucas Oil ARCA 200 at Daytona

grant_checkered (DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.) — Grant Enfinger, in the Team BCR Motor Honey-Casite-Advance Auto Parts Ford, beat the field to the checkered flag Saturday afternoon, winning the Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAVTV American Real at Daytona Int’l Speedway. It was his third victory in the last 21 ARCA Racing Series races.

Enfinger, from Fairhope, Ala., took the lead from polesitter Dylan Kwasniewski on lap 52 and stayed there.

“Good track position won us this race,” he said. “We had the track position at the end.”

Frank Kimmel finished second in the Ansell-Menards Toyota with Clay Campbell third in the Ken Schrader Racing Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet. Tyler Reddick, 18, finished fifth in his first Daytona start in the Broken Bow-Cunningham Motorsports Dodge, one spot behind teammate Tom Hessert in the CAREGARD-AxiomWarranty.com Dodge. Reddick was the highest-finishing rookie and was named the SCOTT Rookie Challenge rookie of the race.

The rest of the top 10 included Bobby Gerhart, Mason Mitchell, Terry Jones, Chase Elliott and Sean Corr. John Wes Townley was 11th with Brian Silas 12th, Derrick Lancaster 13th, Kwasniewski 14th and Brian Rose 15th.

Enfinger, who won at Mobile and Iowa last year, started second and swapped places with Kwasniewski several times. At one point, he said, he was content with running behind Kwasniewski as he learned more about his own car. Then, he said, he tried a pass.

“I wanted to see what would happen for later in the race,” he said. “Then, I drove by him. It kind of surprised me. (more…)

By Scott|2014-02-17T16:43:47-05:00February 17th, 2014|ARCA, Featured, Front Page News, Race Results|Comments Off

Double file restart procedure changed for 2014 ARCA Racing Series, starting in Daytona

(TOLEDO, Ohio) – Officials from the Automobile Racing Club of America have announced the adoption of a revised “double file restart” procedure for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards 2014 season. The new rule will be in effect starting with the Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAVTV American Real at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 15.

Here’s how it will work: Following a caution period and pitting cycle, series officials will verify the running order and position cars in proper order. When the starter gives the “one lap to go,” signal, cars will line up in two columns for all restarts in the “double file” format after they cross the start/finish line, unless otherwise directed by ARCA officials. The leader will have the choice of which lane he or she will restart. Previously, ARCA’s double file restart placed lead-lap cars in the outside lane and all lap-down cars in the inside lane with no lane choice for the leader.

“I think it’s a good change,” said Cunningham Motorsports driver and ARCA veteran Tom Hessert. “The goal of any series is to make the races more competitive and more exciting and this will do that.” (more…)

By Scott|2014-01-25T16:27:41-05:00January 25th, 2014|ARCA, Featured, Front Page News, Racing News|Comments Off

Historic Day for Kimmel at Kansas

Earns Record-Breaking 80th ARCA Victory after Securing Record 10th ARCA Title

kimmel_kansas (KANSAS CITY, Kan.) – Everyone at Kansas Speedway Friday was part of racing history as Frank Kimmel won his series-record 80th race, plus clinched his unprecedented 10th series championship.

“This is kind of a dream come true, to win the championship and get our 80th win on the same day,”

Kimmel said in victory lane. “It’s a great day for us, a great day for Ansell and Menards. It’s a cool day.”

Kimmel’s historic win broke the tie he had with Iggy Katona, each with 79 prior to the completion of the race.

ARCA Racing Series and Kansas Speedway officials decided to shorten the Kansas Lottery 98.9 by 34 laps due to threatening weather approaching the greater Kansas City area and the desire to clear the grandstands. Lightning was visible in the distance when Kimmel exited the car in front of a celebratory crew and family. Heavy rains hit the track later.

Mason Mitchell, in the No. 82 Happy Cheeks Ford, finished second while Venturini Motorsports cars driven by John Wes Townley, polesitter Dylan Kwasniewski, and Justin Boston finished third through fifth respectively. (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-07T14:20:03-04:00October 7th, 2013|ARCA, Featured, Front Page News, Race Results, Racing News|Comments Off

Corey LaJoie takes off at Kentucky, wins ZLOOP 150

lajoievlky2013 (SPARTA, Ky.) – Corey LaJoie grabbed the lead with 33 laps to go in Saturday’s ZLOOP 150 at Kentucky Speedway and took his No. 17 Medallion Financial Ford into victory lane for the third time this season.

“We’ve had really good set ups for these cars lately, but, for Iowa, for some reason, our car was off,” LaJoie said. “We went back to the drawing board after Iowa and put together what we thought would be good at Kentucky, and it ended up being really good. It was a great day.”

LaJoie, a Richard Petty Motorsports Development Driver, won at Chicagoland Speedway in July and Pocono Raceway in August. In the Roulo Brothers Racing No. 17, LaJoie led the most laps in the ZLOOP 150, which was held Saturday after being rained out on Friday. LaJoie led 40 of 100 laps.

Mason Mitchell finished second in the Happy Cheeks Ford, Spencer Gallagher third in the Allegiant Travel Chevrolet, Grant Enfinger fourth in the Motor Honey-Casite-Advance-Ford and Chad Boat fifth in the SteppingOut4Hope.com Toyota.

Mitchell had his best career finish. He led 20 laps despite having to start back in 21st.

“In practice yesterday, we struggled a lot,” Mitchell said. “But, everybody did a great job in the shop this week and we had a really good car.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-09-23T13:38:25-04:00September 23rd, 2013|ARCA, Featured, Front Page News, Race Results|Comments Off

15-year-old Kyle Benjamin takes ARCA checkers at Salem

(SALEM, Ind.) – It’s been a big year for the number 15 in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Fifteen-year-old Kyle Benjamin won his second race of the season Saturday, winning the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic presented by Federated Car Care at the Salem Speedway Fueled by the Hoosier Lottery. Benjamin, fittingly, was driving the No. 15, which has now visited victory lane six times on the season for Venturini Motorsports.

Benjamin grabbed the lead from fellow teenager Kyle Weatherman on lap 192 of the 200 laps race and held on for the win in the No. 15 Renton Coil Springs-Cometic Chevrolet.

“I was hoping nothing broke and a caution wouldn’t come out,” the Easley, S.C. native said.

Weatherman, in the St. Charles Glass-United Nissan Dodge, finished second for the second consecutive race. He took the lead from Benjamin on the last caution when the No. 15 pitted for two tires. Weatherman stayed on the track.

“We got two tires and a few of the guys I was racing against stayed out,” Benjamin said. “It was a great call by my crew chief, Kevin Reed. Tires are so big here. Kyle was hard to pass for about five laps, but once the tires came to me, I knew I could get by him.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-09-16T15:28:13-04:00September 16th, 2013|ARCA, Featured, Front Page News, Race Results|Comments Off