(TOLEDO, Ohio) – Officials from the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and Menards, Inc. announced today that the Wisconsin-based home improvement retailer has renewed its sponsorship of the “Menards 200” – the spring ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards event at Toledo Speedway – for the 2011 season.
The announcement came as part of the annual Toledo Speedway preseason press conference, held at the Speedway Bar and Grille on the track grounds.
The Menards 200 on Sunday, May 15 will highlight the 7th Annual ARCA FanFest Weekend at Toledo Speedway, a three-day racing spectacular which will also include the Buckeye Sprint Car Series on Friday, May 13, and the ARCA Truck Series on Saturday, May 14. A fan-interactive festival – featuring numerous interactive displays and options for race fans of all ages – will be held on the speedway property all three days.
Fans will have the chance to “Save Big Money at Menards,” as Toledo-area Menards locations will offer advance sale tickets for the Menards 200 at a 40 percent discount off of the regular ticket price.
“Menards remains a very important strategic marketing partner, not only for Toledo Speedway, but for the entire ARCA Racing Series,” said Mark Gundrum, vice president of marketing and communications for ARCA. “Their involvement with the tour as the series’ presenting sponsor, a co-primary team sponsor, and an event sponsor positions them as one of ARCA’s most important marketing partners.”
Officials also revealed that the Menards 200 will be scheduled for a “same-day-delay” television broadcast throughout Northwest Ohio on Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN). The Menards 200 will feature ARCA Racing Series drivers racing for 200 laps on Toledo Speedway’s challenging half-mile paved oval. The race has gained a reputation with fans and competitors as one of the most entertaining and demanding on the circuit, complete with speed and thrilling side-by-side action. Chris Buescher drove the No. 17 Roulo Brothers Racing Ford to the first two wins of his ARCA Racing Series career at Toledo Speedway last season, sweeping the season slate on the series’ home track.
ARCA Racing Series practice for the Menards 200 is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 14, with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell following at 3:30 p.m. The Menards 200 will take the green flag at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 15.
The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned an ARCA national champion each year since its inaugural season in 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 28 states since its inception. The series tests the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, annually visiting tracks ranging from 0.4 mile to 2.66 miles in length, on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course.
Founded by John Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Closing in on completing its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in two professional touring series and local weekly events.
