CONCORD, N.C. (Feb. 12, 2012)—Mark Thompson will be making his sixth career start in the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 300 at the Daytona International Speedway – six more than his other four Venturini Motorsports teammates combined.
Much like the iconic race track itself, Venturini Motorsports will maintain a focus on the future of the ARCA Racing Series during the season-opening event Feburary18 while still remaining grounded by its roots.
Thompson represents a wealth of experience, while Ryan Reed, Brennan Poole, Paulie Harraka and Nelson Canache Jr. provide a new and fresh approach.
“Our family has been coming to Daytona for 25 years and this lineup of drivers is one of our best efforts yet,” team owner Bill Venturini said. “This truly is an international lineup that breaks the mold. The reason we’ve been around for 30 years is that as a racing family, as an organization, we continue to think outside the box.”
The 60 year-old veteran will drive the No. 66 Phoenix Air Toyota. He has maintained a limited schedule, racing solely on the high banks of Daytona and its sister track at Talladega, Ala., for several years. He gave Venturini Motorsports a team-best second-place finish at Daytona in 2010.
Thompson will be paired with crew chief Teddy Brown.
Reed, Poole and Canache will embark on their rookie campaigns. Reed will drive the No. 15 JDRF/Advance Auto Parts entry; Poole will be in the flagship No. 25 Adcetera/Ad Man Chevrolet; and Canache will be aboard the No. 35 Venezuelan Tourism Toyota.
Like Thompson, Harraka will be making a selected start in the No. 55 Country Music Artist Jaclyn North Toyota.
“This is definitely a learning experience,” Reed said. “When we tested at Daytona last month, we had the fastest car one day. That was pretty incredible. They have prepared some really fast race cars.”
Reed, 18, will work with crew chief Jonathan Davis.
The Woodlands, Texas, native Poole has earned the nickname “The Bull” for his tenacious determination to succeed at every level of racing. Compiling 210 total career victories throughout the nation in 21 different states, the 20 year-old now hopes to leave his mark on Daytona.
“The Venturinis have very high standards, so I’m very confident we’re going to be prepared,” Poole said. “My goal is to not let them down.”
Canache is a two-time Venezuelan Super Touring GT Class Series champion. He most recently competed in the ROLEX 24 with APR Motorsports driving for team AUDI and now makes the transition from Grand-AM series sport cars to an ARCA stock car.
“I look forward to making everyone back home in Venezuela proud,” Canache said. “Stock-car racing has become a worldwide sport. I’m sure everyone back home will be watching the Daytona race.”
Longtime veteran David Ifft will be Canache’s crew chief.
Harraka, 22, a former NASCAR Diversity Driver and current student at Duke University will run this single event with Venturini Motorsports, as he will concentrate his efforts on the NASCAR Truck Series after the Daytona ARCA Racing Series event.
“This is a big step for me,” he said. “This is a long way from running short tracks. But along with (crew chief) Kevin Caldwell, I know we’re going to be prepared. We know the car will have speed. All the cars at Venturini Motorsports have speed. Now it’s a matter of mapping out a race strategy to be in the right place at the right time.”
The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 300 is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. ET green flag start. SPEED will provide live flag-to-flag coverage.
