The ARCA Racing Series continues its diverse and unique schedule this weekend at the historic Talladega Superspeedway for the annual running of the General Tire 200.
Last year’s race featured anything a race fan could ask for and your typical Talladega race. There were seven cautions for 38 laps and the race was ran under caution for 43.7 percent.
There were two big wrecks in the last few laps and the closest finish statistically in ARCA Series history with a computerized margin of victory of 0.00 at the finish line. The dead heat featured Zane Smith (now drives for JR Motorsports, part-time) who ended up winning the race with the ARCA officials having to use a photo to determine the winner.
On the other side of the outcome was Joe Graf Jr. who wound up a disappointing second. Despite the heartbreaking finish, Graf Jr. had to move on quickly.
“I moved past it and went on to the next race. Over the last twelve months, lots of things have changed. I am competing for a championship and at the time last year, I had no idea I was going to run the rest of the 2018 season. The finish at Talladega opened opportunities for me and I’m grateful.”
Even though Graf Jr. had a disappointing finish of second, he looks forward to heading back to Talladega and upping the finish one spot forward.
“I’m excited to get back to Talladega this weekend,” said Graf. “Obviously, everyone knows how close the finish was and I still think I won, but we can’t dwell on last year, there’s a race to be won on Friday afternoon and I want to win it.”
Graf Jr. will pilot the No. 77 Eat Sleep Race Ford Fusion Friday afternoon.
Other names to keep an eye on include Truck Series regular Gus Dean, who won the 2016 race a couple of years ago when, in another photo finish, he narrowly edged out Josh Williams for the win. The race was called short due to darkness and at the time, Dean was ahead of Williams and won the race.
To this day, Dean still remembers that finish and is excited to get back to Talladega.
“Very excited to come back to race in the ARCA Menard Series and especially at Talladega Superspeedway,” said Dean. “The victory in 2016 will be something I’ll never forget and is very important to me – but I’m ready to make new memories on Friday with Win-Tron Racing.”
One final competitor to keep an eye on is 2018 ARCA Daytona winner Michael Self. Despite his poor Daytona finish from this year, Self returns to Talladega in hopes of a win this weekend.
“Talladega was an up-and-down race for me last year, and fortunately ended positively overall, so maybe we can repeat that this year. I feel like I have the experience and knowledge to do well at Talladega, but there’s just so much that’s out of your hands at the superspeedways. I think we have to be smart the whole day, race around the right people and focus on staying clean and being in position to be up front at the end.”
Upset winner?
There have been many winners for this race. One that stands out the most could very well be Keith Segars winning his only ARCA race in 2002. Red Farmer in 1984 stands out and Kraig Kinser who won here in 2005 also stands out.
It will be an all day event for the ARCA Racing Series.
The only practice session kicks off Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET with group qualifying at 3:25 p.m. ET. Both events will be streamed live on Arcaracing.com.
The General Tire 200 is slated for 6:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.
