(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – December 16, 2012) – Three days of open testing for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards at Daytona Int’l Speedway came to a conclusion Sunday afternoon with nary an on-track incident among 61 drivers who posted time and speed.
While several veteran teams and drivers utilized the open test in preparation for the 2013 season opener, several rookies circled the 2.5-mile superspeedway in search of seat-time with the intention to gain approval to compete in ARCA competition. Given the success of the test, ARCA’s newest rookie crop is off to a very good and safe start.
Venturini Motorsports, in all Toyotas, led the leader board in six separate sessions during which New Castle, Indiana rookie Caleb Armstrong posted the fastest speed overall at 184.192 mph. He was followed by rookie Justin Boston, veteran John Wes Townley and rookie Taylor Ferns.
“As a driver there is no doubt Daytona is the place to be,” Armstrong said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to see my progress in making the transition from open wheel to stock cars. The team has been totally supportive and given me really good equipment.”
Venturini Motorsports also provided some ‘really good equipment’ for Boston, who was second quickest overall at 184.158 mph.
“Obviously there are a lot of variables here but we’ve been able to quickly create a strong baseline and develop a lot of synergy,” said Boston.
“This is new territory for everyone, but the Venturinis prove year after year they can quickly adapt and make it real comfortable to fit in and find speed.” Boston, with title sponsorship from Zloop, announced recently a full season in the No. 25 Venturini Motorsports flagship machine. Daytona will mark his ARCA Racing Series debut.
“It’s an honor and privilege to drive at Daytona. This place is the real deal. No other place I’d rather make my series debut than here at Daytona. It’s true what they say – all roads do lead to Daytona.”
Rookie Matt Kurzejewski, with an assist from former ARCA champion Bob Keselowski, was the fastest Dodge in the line-up, fifth on the leader board overall at 184.121 mph.
Martinsville Speedway track president Clay Campbell, 52, was impressive, earning the sixth fastest speed in a Ford.
“I grew up in the business and I love this sport,” Campbell said. “I’m a race fan. I love the business. It’s my life. But who in their right mind would not come to Daytona and run a race? This is racing; this is what it’s all about. This place has so much history and tradition. This is big for me.”
Rookie Bo Lemastus, in a Dodge, was seventh overall with rookie Thomas Praytor earning the eighth fastest speed in a Ford.
“Two of our goals for the test were to earn the respect of the ARCA garage and prove our Mobile team could compete at this level,” Praytor said. “Hopefully our performance on and off the track this weekend shows were serious about what we’re doing.”
Cunningham Motorsports teammates Michel Disdier, of Nice France, and series veteran Tom Hessert completed the top-10 respectively. Both were driving Dodges. Eight-time winner Bobby Gerhart was 23rd fastest.
The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned 30 ARCA national champions in 60 seasons since 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 26 states since its inception. The series has tested the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, visiting tracks ranging from 0.375 mile to 2.66 miles in length on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course in its most recent season.
Founded by John and Mildred Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Having completed its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in four professional touring series – the ARCA Racing Series, the ARCA CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series, and new in 2013, the ARCA Midwest Tour – in addition to local weekly events at Ohio’s Toledo Speedway and Michigan’s Flat Rock Speedway.
Daytona Int’l Speedway Open Testing ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards December 14-16, 2012 (Overall Results) NODRIVERMFGTIMESPEED 155Caleb ArmstrongToyota48.862184.192 225aJustin BostonToyota48.871184.158 315John Wes TownleyToyota48.876184.139 455aTaylor FernsToyota48.876184.139 554Matt KurzejewskiDodge48.881184.121 608Clay CampbellFord49.092183.329 742Bo LemastusDodge49.113183.251 82Thomas PraytorFord49.305182.537 977Michel DisdierDodge49.323182.471 1022Tom HessertDodge49.382182.253 1192Brennan NewberryChevy49.394182.208 1204aGalen HasslerDodge49.447182.013 1368Will KimmelFord49.465181.947 143Drew CharlesonChevy49.527181.719 1516Ricky EhrgottChevy49.527181.719 165bBrandon HanksChevy49.618181.386 1799John FerrierFord49.643181.294 186Julien JousseChevy49.658181.240 1932Mason MingusToyota49.661181.229 2099aChris BuescherFord49.665181.214 2130Terry JonesDodge49.772180.825 2211eTrevor EdwardsFord49.782180.788 235Bobby GerhartChevy49.820180.650 2423Spencer GallagherChevy49.835180.596 2575Benny ChastainChevy49.845180.560 2694Milka DunoToyota49.941180.213 2758Chad HackenbrachtChevy49.958180.151 2804bJeremy MoralesDodge49.985180.054 2904Dominick CasolaDodge50.018179.935 3040eMichelle TheriaultDodge50.025179.910 3154aGarrett SmithleyDodge50.032179.885 3217Chris BuescherFord50.060179.784 3369Steve KempFord50.071179.745 3458aMason MitchellChevy50.075179.730 3575aScott GreenToyota50.103179.630 3640bJimmy WillsDodge50.148179.469 3709Grant EnfingerFord50.160179.426 3840Joel WillmanDodge50.310178.891 3919aNur AliChevy50.322178.848 4009aCharles Evans, Jr.Ford50.397178.582 4111bJonathan EilenFord50.409178.540 4219cDonnie NeuenbergerChevy50.504178.204 4338Andrew GreselFord50.512178.175 4440aRichard AltmanDodge50.531178.108 4510aRick CliftonChevy50.608177.837 465aBrian SmithChevy50.644177.711 4702Josh WilliamsFord50.782177.228 4840cGarrett FarmerDodge50.874176.908 4911fCasey HillenburgFord51.010176.436 5040dMichael BocklerDodge51.166175.898 5111cJohnny VanDoornFord51.195175.798 5211dTyler SpeerFord51.195175.798 5310Richard DohenyChevy51.244175.630 547aGeorge CushmanDodge51.319175.374 5519Cody WareChevy51.342175.295 5611Dakota CarlsonFord51.381175.162 5719eJames SwansonChevy51.558174.561 5811aTravis BradenFord51.575174.503 5919bNoel DowlerChevy51.657174.226 6019dDexter StaceyChevy51.731173.977 617Brent CrossChevy51.769173.849
