(TOLEDO, Ohio) – Brennan Poole still has his eye on the big prize – the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards national championship. Currently third in points overall, he trails current point leader Chris Buescher by 175 points with just two races remaining in ARCA’s 60th Anniversary Season.

While his championship possibilities may seem like a long shot, there are other accolades well within his grasp, including ARCA’s prestigious Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge title, which will be decided in the Kansas Lottery 98.9, the season finale at Kansas Speedway October 19.

“We’re still going after the main championship, and still believe we can accomplish that main goal,” Poole said. “We know we’ll need some help from Chris Buescher and Frank Kimmel, and then we’ll need near perfect days at DuQuoin and Kansas. If we run well at both, we’ll just let it all fall where it will fall.

“If we’re not able to win the overall title, the Superspeedway championship would be a great title to have in your hip pocket.” (more…)

Toledo, Ohio-September 29, 2012: Wayland, MI driver Terry Senneker made a great save on lap 173, then took the lead for the first time with just 4 laps to go when race leader Steve Needles engine let go, paving the way to the win for Terry at the 24^th running of the Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 Late Model race Saturday night at Toledo Speedway. Meloney Lojko and her son, Brandon, representing Great Lakes Helicopter, presented the 5 foot trophy to Terry in the Sun Drop Winner’s Circle.

Perhaps the strongest field in several years assembled for the event, with 33 cars on the grounds. A total of 32 cars started the 200 lap grind, the longest race of the season for the outlaw-bodied Late Models. Mike Luberda withdrew from the race after having engine trouble during Friday’s practice session. Track record holder JR Roahrig lowered his mark in the PASSTIME time trials, clicking off a lap of 14:628 to set a new 1 lap record and picking up the $500 bonus. JR pulled the 10 chip for the inversion, putting North Carolina driver Brad Rogers and Johnny Belott on the front row. (more…)

Kovski, Cooksey Comment on Late Season October 14 Fall Affair

(TOLEDO, Ohio) – The interest from the Illinois locals is still steady and strong as the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards steers back towards the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds for the 60th running of the Southern Illinois 100 presented by Federated Car Care Sunday afternoon, October 14.  Originally scheduled for Labor Day, the renowned stock car classic was rained out and rescheduled much deeper in the ARCA season, right in front of the season finale at Kansas Speedway October 19.  Currently, nine drivers from Illinois are entered at DuQuoin, including Springfield’s Kelly Kovski, who’s searching for his career-first win on the one-mile fairgrounds oval.

Kovski likes the idea of running during the cooler fall season rather than in the oppressive heat of late summer.  “The track’s going to be different going back in the fall, and I think that will provide an opportunity for a guy like me,” Kovski said.  “That’s the fun of dirt track racing, keeping up with the changing track conditions, and being able to read it right.  “Ken Schrader always told me (about running the ARCA dirt tracks), ‘you don’t know what you have until the race is over,’ and it’s the truth. So you come back each year and hope you took good notes from last year.  “I’m going back with a little different state of mind – set up-wise. I’m not running for points, so I’ve got nothing to lose, so I can gamble and get outside the box a little.”  Kovski’s career-best ARCA finishes were a pair of fourth-place runs at DuQuoin in 2011 and most recently on the Springfield mile dirt in late August. (more…)

(TOLEDO, Ohio) – With just two races remaining in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season, rookie drivers Alex Bowman and Brennan Poole are in a tight competition for the year-end Aaron’s Lap Leader Award.

One point toward the $2500 Aaron’s Lap Leader Award is earned for every lap led by an ARCA Racing Series driver carrying on their car the decal of Aaron’s, Inc., the nation’s leader in sales and lease ownership and the official sales and lease ownership company of ARCA.

Bowman (No. 22 Cunningham Motorsports Dodge) leads Poole (No. 25 Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet or Toyota) by 15 laps over the course of the 2012 season’s first 18 races, 487-472. Bowman has led laps in a series-high 11 events, while Poole has led in seven. (more…)

(TOLEDO, Ohio) – A classic blast-from-the-past fairgrounds mile dirt track, and a first-class superspeedway will serve to conclude the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards 60th Anniversary Season in 2012.

With three of the tour’s top titles still very much in play, including the National Championship, the tight fights forge toward the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds mile dirt Sunday afternoon, October 14 for the 60th running of the Southern Illinois 100 presented by Federated Car Care.

Just days later, the world’s most versatile tour heads further west to the 1.5-mile Kansas Speedway for a Friday night championship finale under the lights October 19. The 12th annual ARCA Kansas Lottery 98.9 will determine a national champion, the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Champion, the Team Messina Rookie Challenge Award, and much more. (more…)

VanDoorn Also Files Entry

(TOLEDO, Ohio) – Recently crowned ARCA Allegiant Gold Cup Series late model champion Dakota Carlson of Cedar Springs, Mich. has filed his entry for the 24th Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 super late model invitational Saturday, September 29 at Toledo Speedway. Carlson tuned up for the 200 by winning the 100-lap feature last Saturday night at Owosso Speedway in Michigan.

Carlson’s entry was in the mail box this past weekend, as were several others. Current ARCA/CRA Super Series point leader Johnny VanDoorn of Coopersville, MI will be at Toledo for the season-ending 200 lap contest. VanDoorn won the Miller Lite 100 at Toledo August 17. Johnny’s plans for the weekend start at Toledo with practice Friday and the race Saturday.   His team will then take the trip down to Lucas Oil Raceway near Indianapolis, IN for the ARCA/CRA event Sunday afternoon.

Former Flat Rock and Toledo champion Joe Hawes of Brownstown, MI is also entered, along with another former Toledo champ and reigning Toledo Sportsman titlist Ron Allen of Lincoln Park, MI. Barry Hartwell of Ada, MI and second-generation driver Marcus Malcuit of Strasburg, OH has also filed entries for the prestigious event. (more…)

ARCA Racing Series News & Notes from Salem

(TOLEDO, Ohio) – After leaving Salem Speedway and the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic, Chris Buescher has an 85-point lead atop the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards standings, greater than any leading driver’s advantage through 18 races this year.

Immediately following Lap 48 of Saturday’s race, though, such a scenario might have been completely unexpected. Buescher (No. 17 Roulo Brothers Racing Ford) found himself caught up in a Turn 4 accident with substantial rear end damage, among other issues. Having taken the lead from Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell winner Chase Elliott on the first lap, Buescher had led every lap but found himself driving to pit road. He came back onto the track 15th, the last driver on the lead lap.

Buescher rebounded to finish second, though, passing Elliott with less than 10 laps to go to take the first spot behind race winner Tom Hessert. On a night when Buescher’s championship hopes could have taken a severe blow, he actually improved his chances and made the race one to remember. (more…)

Chris Buescher Extends Points Lead and Wins France Four Crown

(SALEM, Ind.) – After taking three races off after the halfway point of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season and effectively removing himself from championship contention, Tom Hessert’s goal was simple: Win.

That’s just what Hessert did in the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic presented by Federated Car Care at Salem Speedway, leading the final 78 laps for his second ARCA victory.

Hessert (No. 52 Federated Auto Parts Chevrolet) was excited to win not only in a race supported by his primary sponsor, but also at such a historic track. He made clean start after clean start on restarts as the race wound down.

“I’m really into the history of our sport and hearing all about Salem and all of the guys who raced here, I’m glad I got to be one of the guys to go to Victory Lane here,” Hessert said. “The track just kind of worked out for us. We were all on the right tires at the right time. I knew if we could maintain with whoever was behind us for the first 10 laps (of a run), we could eventually inch away and that’s the way it ultimately worked out for us. Federated’s been our sponsor for the year, so it’s really, really cool.” (more…)

(TOLEDO, Ohio) – Toledo-area cable television provider Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN) and nationally-recognized short track racing internet site SPEED51 will each provide coverage of the 24th Great Lakes Helicopter Glass City 200 super late model invitational Saturday evening, September 29 at Toledo Speedway.

BCSN has telecast races from the track for several seasons, including a record 8 events of the 2012 race schedule. The 200 will be taped for airing at a later date on the local cable access channel. More Buckeye Cable information can be obtained at www.bcsn.tv. (more…)