Concord, NC (January 8, 2013) — Fifteen-year old racing prodigy Kyle Benjamin from Easley, South Carolina has committed to taking his career to the next level by choosing the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and Venturini Motorsports as the next step in his driver development process.
Armed with heaps of talent and self-possessed goals of one day becoming a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver, Benjamin has signed on with Venturini Motorsports for a partial season deal which will include visits to Mobile International Speedway, Toledo Speedway, Winchester Speedway and a nationally televised race on FOX Sports Media Group’s SPEED Channel in September at Iowa Raceway.
“I’m excited to announce our plans with Venturini Motorsports this upcoming season. They’ve got a great history of success with young drivers and it gives me a great opportunity to gain experience and add more seat time to my 2013 racing schedule,” says, Benjamin.
Despite his seemingly brief career Benjamin has excelled in everything he’s driven helping him showcase his talent and cast a spotlight which is currently shining bright on his budding career.
Benjamin, a first generation driver is no stranger to the racing community. Since the early age of 6 he’s been honing his skills and calculating his career path competing and winning championships in everything from Quarter Midgets, Bandoleros to the Pro and Super Late Model divisions around the Southeast.
During a career trending one break-out season after another, Benjamin once again found himself re-writing the record books by capturing the 2012 ARCA/CRA Super Series Southern Championship becoming the youngest champion in the series’ history.
Already with an impressive racing resume Benjamin’s most recent championship adds to a growing list of accomplishments including the 2009 Pro Challenge Southern Division Champion, 2008 Bandolero Winternationals Champion, 2008 Battle of Bristol Champion, 2008 Speedway Champion at Atlanta Motorspeedway and the 2006 & 2007 South Carolina State Bandolero Championship.
In 2012 Benjamin captured more national headlines by beating out Kyle Larson and scoring three-straight wins during “Speedweeks” at New Smyrna becoming the youngest Super Late Model Champion in the 46-year history of the New Smyrna World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing event.
Adding to his list of notable accomplishments in 2012 Benjamin captured the checkered flag in Indianapolis during the Fatheadz Eyewear 100 at Lucas Oil Raceway securing his place in history as the youngest winner in the ARCA/CRA Super Series.
Benjamin also found himself center stage following the late summer ARCA/CRA Super Series Winchester 400 making a dramatic last lap pass – 100 feet from the stripe on Ross Kenseth to seemingly win the all-star event but was later disqualified for a technical infraction.
Completing his season Benjamin finished seventh in his debut at the 45th annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida and scored a third place finish in the preceding Snowflake 100.
Benjamin’s impending Mobile Int’l Speedway debut (March 2013) in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will make him the youngest driver ever to compete in the series. This record is currently held by VMS driver, Erik Jones, who entered the record books as “ARCA’s youngest competitor” at the very same track during the spring of 2012.
In addition to Benjamin’s 2013 ARCA racing schedule he will concentrate on running selective “big” late model and super late model events which include trips to the RedBud 300, World Crown 300, Winchester 400 and Kyle Busch’s Rowdy 250 at Berlin Raceway.
Official: www.KyleBenjamin.com | Twitter: @KyleBenjamin71 | Facebook: Kyle Benjamin #71
About Venturini Motorsports
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars in the ARCA Racing Series, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. The 2012 season marks the team’s 30th Anniversary of competition in the ARCA Series. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports.
Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Steve Arpin, Brian Scott, Max Gresham, Miguel Paludo, Josh Richards, Ryan Blaney, John Wes Townley, Scott Lagasse, Jr., and Kevin Swindell.
Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com | Twitter: @VenturiniMotor | Facebook: Venturini Motorsports
