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[/media-credit]TOLEDO, Speedway (May 15, 2012) – – Brandon Kidd, a well-known figure on the DIRTcar Crate Late Model (DCCLM) tour will take a brief hiatus from slinging on the dirt and return to the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards in Sunday’s Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care at Toledo Speedway.
Late last week, Andy Belmont Racing (ABR) announced that the 20-year old will compete in a minimum of four ARCA Racing Series events beginning with the fifth race on tour Sunday afternoon driving the No. 2 NASCAR Racing Experience Ford Fusion.
Even though the Manlius, New York native has zero experience at the half-mile oval nestled in the backyard of ARCA’s corporate office, Kidd and his crew chief Lee Leslie are relying on the success of a recent test at Toledo Speedway to help the rising phenom score big in his fifth career ARCA start on Sunday afternoon.
“I’m stoked about being back in the ARCA Racing Series and this great opportunity with Andy Belmont Racing,” said Kidd. “I’ve never been or seen Toledo Speedway before the test, but I feel with the number of laps we’ve turned it will be extremely beneficial for us.”
He added, “I enjoy short track racing, three out of four of my prior ARCA starts have come on short tracks. I savor the fact in a challenge of short track racing, where you never know what’s going to happen. Over the years, ABR has shown that they are a fierce threat on the ARCA tour, especially when it comes to short tracks, so I’m anxious to see what we can do on the track.”
In his four previous ARCA starts at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway, Iowa Speedway, Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and Pocono (Pa.) Raceway respectively, the New Yorker has amassed a best finish of 12th at Berlin in his inaugural debut in 2010. Keen to improve on that finish from nearly two years ago, Kidd knows that patience will be critical to the 200-lap slugfest this weekend.
“We’ve done a lot of testing between Toledo and Caraway (N.C.) Speedway to get me ready for Sunday. It doesn’t matter though how much testing you do — nothing is like the race itself. I have the utmost faith in Lee (Leslie, crew chief) and the guys and we’re going to do everything in our power to bring the No. 2 NASCAR Racing Experience Ford Fusion home with a satisfying finish.”
Kidd added, “I want to thank NASCAR Racing Experience, Myrtle Beach Speedway, Romano Auto Dealerships and Pinnacle Investments for jumping on-board with us this weekend. I hope my good vibes about the race come true.”
Andy Belmont, team principal at ABR offered his sentiments on this weekend’s activities. “Brandon’s incredibly upbeat and that’s great music to this entire team. Not only does he have faith in himself, but he is comfortable with all the guys on the team. He hasn’t set any major goals for himself – he just wants to go out there, do the best he can for his sponsors and us and that’s exactly what we plan to do.”
Following, Toledo, Kidd will return to the tour with ABR at Iowa Speedway (July 13), Lucas Oil Raceway Park at Indianapolis (July 27) and a to-be-determined race.
Mikey Kile will be a teammate to Brandon Kidd in the No. 1 ModSpace Ford Fusion giving the field a double-dose of short track racing Andy Belmont Racing style.
The Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care (200 laps / 100 miles) is the fifth of 20 events on the 2012 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 71st ARCA race at Toledo Speedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Saturday, May 19 with a forty-five practice session planned from 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. A final practice is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell is set for later in the day slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. The event will take the green flag Sunday, May 20 shortly after 2:00 p.m. The race will be televised live on SPEED with additional coverage including timing and scoring available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com. All times are local (Eastern).
For more on Brandon Kidd, please visit brandonkiddracing.com.
Additional information on Andy Belmont Racing is available by logging on to AndyBelmont.com.
