Concord, NC (March 4, 2013) – Already in 2013, young Kyle Benjamin has turned heads in the racing world with performances well beyond his 15 years. This week at Mobile International Speedway in Alabama, Benjamin will become the youngest competitor in 61 years of ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards competition.
Benjamin earned four wins and seven fast-time awards in super late model action at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing just weeks ago at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway. With Venturini Motorsports this week, the Easley, S.C. driver will aim for more success and his first ARCA win in Venturini Motorsports’ No. 15 The Truth Band Chevrolet.
While he’s a rookie by series standards, Benjamin is no stranger at Mobile’s high-banked, half-mile oval. Last year, he competed in each race of the five-leg Miller Lite Super Late Model Series at the track, winning on April 28 and finishing second on June 23. The year before, he competed three times in pro late model action, winning once.
“I’ve been there a handful of times in a late model and won a few races, so I have a fair amount of laps on the track,” said Benjamin, who will follow his debut with ARCA races later this season at Toledo, Winchester, and Iowa Speedways. “ARCA cars are obviously different than late models so I have some things to learn. They’re both really hard to drive, just in different ways. The ARCA car handles completely different. They’re both competitive, so it’s a huge learning deal that’s going on now. I’ll have to learn everything, how the car falls off, what happens when the tires wear, all that stuff.”
Benjamin and his Venturini teammates were among a group of over 10 drivers who tested at Mobile Saturday to gain extra seat time before the Mobile ARCA 200.
“In race runs, our car was stout,” he said. “It didn’t seem to drop off as fast as everybody else, so I’m pretty excited about the race.”
Last season, Venturini driver Erik Jones made his ARCA debut at Mobile, becoming the series’ youngest competitor at 15 years, 284 days. Born on November 3, 1997, Benjamin will make his first series start even earlier, at 15 years, 126 days. Jones started third and led 14 laps in his debut, and Benjamin feels he can contend in the same way.
“We wouldn’t go if we didn’t think we could win the race,” he said. “Obviously, it’s going to be tough because I’m still learning a lot every time I get in the car. Everybody in the ARCA Racing Series is really experienced, so we’ll see how it goes. I feel like I’ve proven myself in a late model and I want to do the same in an ARCA car.”
Benjamin said Venturini teammates Justin Boston, Taylor Ferns, and Brennan Poole have been helpful in his development and transition to ARCA competition. Poole ran the full season last year and has four series wins. Boston made his debut at Daytona last month, and Ferns is joining Benjamin in a debut effort this Saturday.
“They’ve been nice to me and have given me information to help me transfer into the ARCA car and speed up the learning process.”
If Benjamin’s recent history – the New Smyrna success, ARCA CRA Super Series victories in the prestigious Watermelon 100 super late model race and at Lucas Oil Raceway last year, and the 2012 ARCA CRA Super Series Southern Tour championship – are any indication, that learning process may very well move through Victory Lane at Mobile International Speedway.
Benjamin’s race sponsor, rock band The Truth, will kick off the Mobile ARCA 200 weekend at the Home Mortgage of America Green Flag Party this Thursday, March 7. The party will take place at Grand Central on Dauphin St. in downtown Mobile. The Truth vocalist Ayesha Scott will perform the national anthem for Saturday’s race.
Two 45-minute practices are scheduled for Friday at Mobile International Speedway, beginning at 2:30 and 4:15 p.m. Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell is scheduled for that evening, at 7 p.m. Benjamin and the rest of the ARCA Racing Series field will participate in an on-track autograph session at noon Saturday, just before the 200-lap, 100-mile race at 2 p.m. All times listed are Central.
About the TRUTH Band
National Recording Artists, THE TRUTH BAND, formed in Pittsburgh, PA by lead vocalist and guitarist Paul Benson, brings a driving rock and roll sound back to the forefront from the days when bands rocked arenas. This eclectic group of musicians’ debut album, “Can’t Let Go”, was produced by Kid Rock’s Kenny Olson and features original songs written by the band and co-writers Jeff Thurston and legendary, number one song writer Bernie Nelson.
Founder, Paul Benson has had a passion and uncanny musical ability from a very young age. Both Paul, a veteran performer of the big stage, and drummer Josh Gerba, a road warrior, have performed hundreds of live shows with various bands. Shayne MacLaughlin brings the distinct guitar sound Paul has been searching for. Beautiful and multi-talented vocalist Ayesha Scott, who joined Paul after several guest appearances on his live shows, has been collaborating on music and lyrics ever since, gelling their musical styles together to form the sound of The Truth. The band will be touring this summer with the ARCA Racing Series, serving as the official ‘Music Partner” of Venturini Motorsports and has a full fall college tour scheduled. Twitter: @thetruthisrock
About Venturini Motorsports
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars for over 30 years in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. With 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, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Brian Scott, Kevin Swindell, Miguel Paludo, John Wes Townley, Josh Richards, and Ryan Reed. In 2012, VMS was inducted into the National Italian Sports Hall of Fame, and 2013 will highlight the team’s debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com | Twitter: @VenturiniMotor | Facebook: Venturini Motorsports
