LAKE BALBOA, CALIF. (February 7, 2011) – The 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will be joined by talented 19 year-old rookie Joey Licata, Jr. driving for Cunningham Motorsports.
Licata, a member of the Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle driver development program, won back-to-back championship in the ASA TRUCK SERIES and also won his first career NASCAR Modified race in 2010. Licata also made several starts for Tim Huddleston’s High Point Racing at TOYOTA Speedway in a NASCAR Late Model.
With crew chief Jonathan Davis at the helm, the Kerry Sherer-owned Cunningham Motorsports should be a threat right out of the box at Daytona. Cunningham Motorsports is most notably known for its success in 2009 with Penske Development Driver Parker Kligerman, who finished second in the standings with nine victories as a rookie.
A litany of talented drivers has competed for the team over the years, including Josh Wise, Kevin Swindell, Scott Lagasse, Jr., and more.
Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle is a NASCAR-oriented driver development program that works with an international roster of talented drivers who have the commitment and potential to succeed in NASCAR racing.
The success Licata enjoyed throughout 2010 on the West Coast earned him the opportunity to test with Cunningham Motorsports last fall. Licata impressed team representatives in the testing session and was offered the chance to drive for Cunningham in 2011.
Licata made his official ARCA Racing Series debut at Rockingham Speedway, where he practiced in the top-three all day for Marks Racing before a practice crash ended his weekend early.
Poised to make a big impact this season, Licata came out of the gate with a huge performance in the Daytona testing in January. Although it was his first experience on the freshly repaved Daytona International Speedway, Licata ran sixth overall for the week out of nearly 60 competitors that participated. His best speed was 185.670 miles per hour.
Licata is looking forward to competing in the “Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200” at Daytona, which will be live on SPEED on February 12.
“Winning the race isn’t that far fetched on this one with all the updates we have made since the test,” Licata said. “It’s a privilege to be racing for Cunningham Motorsports and a big step in my career.”
Licata will be the first driver from Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle to compete in the ARCA Racing Series
“I truly feel that Joey has earned this opportunity and has the skills to make the most of it,” Driver Coach Ron Sutton said. “Joey has the talent to race with the best of them and is very prepared to succeed in ARCA and beyond!”
Joey Licata, Jr. Racing and Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle thank partners: K&N Filters, Scribner Plastics, Allstar Performance, Sunoco Race Fuels, and Star Racing Supply. Licata would also like to thank supporters Jordan Kidushim and Luke Forstmann.
Joey Licata, Jr. Racing is online at www.joeylicata.com
For more information on Ron Sutton’s Winner’s Circle, log on to www.winners-circle-racing.com
