Kaulig Racing to Acquire No. 10 Entry Starting in 2025
LEXINGTON, N.C. (September 28, 2024) – Kaulig Racing announced today that Ty Dillon will drive the team’s No.10 Camaro ZL1 in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) season. The team will release the rights to the No. 31 at the conclusion of the 2024 season and acquire the No. 10 for the 2025 season.
“We’re excited to be able to acquire the rights of the No. 10 for the 2025 Cup Series season,” said Chris Rice, president of Kaulig Racing. “When we decided to move to the Cup series, the number was not available, so we are looking forward to having familiarity and synergy across both series with the Nos. 10 and 16.”
Dillon, who has made 244-total NCS starts, competed full-time for six seasons in the series between 2017 and 2023. Most notably, Dillon competed at Germain Racing for four seasons, before the team ceased operations following the 2020 season. Kaulig Racing went on to purchase the building, renovate it, and currently operates out of the building.
“I am incredibly grateful for another opportunity to run full-time in the Cup Series, and to be able to do it with the men and women at Kaulig Racing means a lot to me personally,” said Dillon. “They gave me a chance this year to go out and prove myself in a handful of starts. The team and I were able to connect early on and we put together a few strong runs in the No. 16. I’m really looking forward to what 2025 brings with this team. We have a bright future ahead of us and we’re going to give it our all each and every race next season.”
Dillon is currently competing in a part-time schedule for Kaulig Racing in the team’s No. 16 Camaro ZL1, finishing in the top 20 in two of his four starts for the team.
“Ty has done a really great job for us this year in our No. 16 car, competing in a limited schedule,” said team owner, Matt Kaulig. “He has been consistent each time he gets in the car and has really helped our program grow this season. We think he will be instrumental in continuing our Cup program in alliance with Richard Childress Racing.”
Dillon will compete in his final NCS race of the season with Kaulig Racing this weekend at Kansas Speedway, before taking over the No. 10 Camaro ZL1 in 2025. Information regarding partnerships for 2025 will be announced at a later date.
About Kaulig Racing
Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 23 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.
Ian Porter On Verge of Clinching First Career Driver’s Championship, With Caroline Candas On Tap for Female Driver Development, Porsche Junior Titles
SONOMA, California (September 28, 2024) – The RAFA Racing team makes its second stop in less than a week on two different continents, ready to turn their fortunes around with an eye on a number of Porsche Sprint Challenge North America championships this weekend at Sonoma Raceway.
Ian Porter and Caroline Candas are both on track to clinch their first career professional drivers’ championships in their RAFA Racing by JDX Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsports. Porter needs only to start Saturday’s first race of the weekend to clinch the Porsche Sprint Challenge Cayman Pro-Am title. Candas finds herself in the same situation to clinch the Mobil 1 Female Driver Development and Porsche Junior championships in the Cayman class.
Likewise, Rafa Martinez is searching for redemption after two strong weekends ended unfortunately early through no fault of his own. Martinez was part of the two-car RAFA Racing effort that competed just last weekend at Monza in the GT4 European Series. Teammate Jon Lancaster qualified and drove the No. 812 RAFA Racing McLaren Artura GT4 to second overall and the lead in the Pro-Am class before passing the car to Martinez. Martinez held serve, keeping a stream of cars behind him and holding on to a podium spot in the class before a rival driver badly misjudged a brake zone with just three laps remaining, taking out Martinez and leaving the car unable to compete in Sunday’s race two.
That unfortunate luck is now behind the three-car Porsche Sprint Challenge effort for RAFA Racing this weekend, with the focus fully forward.
Porter enters his No. 86 Grid Finder Porsche Cayman having won nine of 12 races in his first season behind the wheel. Though the three-time Call of Duty World Champion and X Games medalist is no stranger to top prizes, this season’s “analog” championship has been a brand-new challenge for the rookie racer. He’ll also drive the Porsche Endurance Challenge race solo, following his solo victory at Road America in the last round.
Like all three of the RAFA Racing by JDX drivers competing this weekend, it is Porter’s first competitive visit to Sonoma Raceway. As he has prior to each event this season, the esports Hall of Famer and OpTic gaming superstar known as Crimsix learned the track through iRacing, helping to get up to speed prior to Friday’s first official session.
Candas has followed her teammate through most of the season, locking down second in the Cayman Pro-Am driver’s championship and riding 10 podiums, including a win at Watkins Glen and five second-place finishes, to the Junior and Female Driver titles. Candas, a French-native, had never raced a rear-wheel drive car prior to this season. Instead, she leaned on what she learned during an outstanding karting career and a season in touring cars. While essentially locked into the second position in the standings, she’ll be gunning for a second win at Sonoma in her No. 84 8Twelve Wheels Porsche Cayman.
Martinez and regular fourth driver Paige Morales are swapping places from the previous round at Road America. An incident on the test day there left Martinez unable to compete in the Sprint Challenge races, waiting for the Endurance Challenge race at the end of the weekend. The start of that race featured a multi-car incident at the front of the Cayman field that collected both Martinez, driving the car that Morales drove in the sprint races, as well as Candas. The RAFA Racing by JDX team and crew spent the following weeks using parts from each of those cars to allow one Cayman to race as Martinez’ No. 85 RAFA Racing Club Porsche Cayman. Morales will spend the weekend onsite to support her RAFA Racing teammates, but step aside in competition for the season finale.
Following test sessions Wednesday and Thursday, official Porsche Sprint Challenge competition at Sonoma Raceway this weekend was officially underway on Friday with both morning and afternoon Cayman practice sessions, with solid results.
Porter, Martinez and Candas were second, third and fourth, respectively, in the opening practice, trailing Patrick Dempsey in the Cayman class. Porter and Candas jumped to the top two positions in practice two, showing the RAFA Racing pace entering the race weekend.
Saturday starts with Cayman qualifying at 10:20 a.m. PDT. The weekend’s first 35-minute plus one lap race goes green Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. PDT with Sunday’s second and final sprint scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. PDT. The one-hour Porsche Endurance Challenge closes the weekend Sunday afternoon with a 4 p.m. PDT start. All races can be seen live on Porsche Motorsports North America’s YouTube channel at Youtube.com/@PorscheMotorsportNorthAmerica.
About RAFA Racing Club:
RAFA Racing, utilizing the motto “Race As Family Always,” is a motorsports club and race team founded by and made for high-performance auto drivers, supporters, and fans of all types. Started by Rafael Martinez, the Club aims to create a space for high-performance car enthusiasts to enjoy like-minded individuals, network and share ideas on and off the track, and bond as one team with a common interest. The RAFA Racing Team made its debut in 2023 with a runner-up finish in the McLaren Trophy Europe Series, and expands that footprint to include Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and SRO GT4 Europe in 2024. The Club’s off-track presence can be felt on social media and beyond, including YouTube, Instagram and Facebook and at RafaRacing.Club.
Porsche Junior Driver Ayhancan Güven Joins Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R for Indianapolis 8 Hour Pro-Am Campaign
GMG Racing Provides Technical and Logistical Support for Herberth Motorsport for the Team’s Indianapolis 8 Hour Effort with Antares Au, Loek Hartog and Patric Niederhauser in the Pro-Am No. 4 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R
Washington Runs Second No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R in Season-Ending GT America Doubleheader in Indianapolis Alongside the No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO2 of James Sofronas and CJ Moses in the No. 58 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT2
Season-Ending Back-to-Back Stretch of Events Begins with this Weekend’s Porsche Sprint Challenge Finale for Washington and Patrick Mulcahy in the No. 254 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at Sonoma Raceway
SONOMA, California (September 28, 2024) – GMG Racing is all-in and more for a pair of season-ending event weekends Saturday and Sunday at Sonoma Raceway and next weekend in the Indianapolis 8 Hour SRO America and Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) finale at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). The nearly two-week run of races will see GMG Racing hustle from the Porsche Sprint Challenge finale in Sonoma this Sunday night and head straight to the legendary Brickyard 2,250 miles away for opening practice on Wednesday.
The highlight of the nearly two-week stretch will be GMG Racing’s Pro-Am effort in the Indianapolis 8 Hour with Fanatec GT World Challenge America contenders Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R. The winning duo of Washington and Sargent will be joined by Platinum-rated Porsche Junior Driver Ayhancan Güven in the Pro-Am class in the Indianapolis 8 Hour. Washington is a Canadian now living in California, Sargent hails from Australia and Güven is from Turkey.
Another international addition to GMG Racing for the Indianapolis 8 Hour is a logistics and technical partnership with German team Herberth Motorsport, which also fields a Pro-Am Porsche entry. The trio of Antares Au, Loek Hartog and Platinum factory Porsche pilot Patric Niederhauser co-drives the Pro-Am No. 4 Herberth Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 R. Au is a native of Hong Kong, Hartog is a top IMSA Porsche Carrera Cup driver from Holland and Niederhauser is Swiss.
“GMG Racing is proud to be a technical and logistics partner for the Herberth Motorsport effort in the Indianapolis 8 Hour,” said GMG Racing Principal and Founder James Sofronas, who will also drive in competition during the Indianapolis 8 Hour weekend. “Antares Au has been a good friend for many, many years and is an excellent Bronze driver. We are providing everything from logistics and trackside and technical support from our extensive experience over the years on the Indianapolis road course, including the Indianapolis 8 Hour. We look forward to supporting Antares and his Porsche teammates as well as our season-long GT World Challenge America entry with Kyle Washington and Tom Sargent, who will be joined by talented Porsche Junior driver Ayhancan Güven. Fielding two Porsches in the 8 Hour is something we are very excited about, and we are ready to provide the infrastructure for Herberth and welcome Antares and the team and Ayhancan as they come to Indianapolis for the SRO grand finale event.”
Both Güven and Au arrive in Indianapolis leading their respective driver championships going into the IGTC finale. Güven leads the overall Drivers championship with 50 points while Au is atop the Independent Cup driver championship standings with 50 points.
“I’m happy to join GMG Racing at the Indianapolis 8 Hour for the final round of both the IGTC and GTWC America championships,” Güven said. “I’ve had a strong IGTC season so far, while GMG Racing has also had a successful GTWC America season up until now. Hopefully, together we will have a great weekend and achieve our goal of a class win. Definitely, last week’s IMSA round gave us a good feeling about this track with Porsche winning both GTD classes. I think the Porsche 911 GT3 R suits the Indianapolis road course well. I’ve been to the USA once in my life, and that was for testing at Indianapolis with an LMP2 car. So, I know the track and am really looking forward to racing at Indy!”
One of the support series competing at Indy is GT America powered by AWS that will have a trio of GMG entries competing in the weekend’s twin 40-minute sprints. Washington drives a second No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R and looks for his first win of the GT America season after recording both second place and third place podium finishes so far. CJ Moses runs in the GT2 class in his No. 58 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT2 while Sofronas is always a contender for a win in his No. 14 GMG Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO2. Sofronas picked up his first GT America win of the season the last time he ran the Audi last month at Road America.
The first order of business for GMG Racing, however, is this weekend’s Porsche Sprint Challenge finale in Sonoma that brings the curtain down on both the overall North American championship and the USA West series. Washington takes advantage of the dual series format for the second straight race weekend and runs twin GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R entries – No. 232 in USA West and No. 234 in North America – in the Masters class in both series races for a total of four Sprint Challenge sprints over the course of Saturday and Sunday.
Joining Washington at Sonoma is Pro-Am class Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West competitor Patrick Mulcahy. A first-year driver, Mulcahy has shown great progress with GMG Racing and had his best USA West race weekend to date with a third-place Pro-Am finish in the Sunday Road America race in his No. 254 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
Visit www.porschesprint.com for the Sonoma weekend event schedule, results from every session and live timing and livestreaming of all the races.
The action next weekend from Indianapolis can be viewed live on the GT World YouTube Channel, including Saturday’s featured Indianapolis 8 Hour that starts at 12:15 p.m. EDT.
About GMG Racing: Founded in 2001, GMG Racing quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning facility. What began as a small 1,200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility located in Santa Ana, California in Orange County and with a trackside motorsports facility at 28,000 sq. ft. currently being built at The Thermal Club. The staff, attention to detail, and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. GMG, in its early years, was located directly across the street from Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA). This close proximity allowed GMG to build a strong relationship with the legendary racing brand which has helped us support our customers to the highest level possible. From club racing to Sebring, Daytona and Spa, GMG can take you as far as you want to go. More information can be found at www.gmgracing.com.
COREY HEIM DRIVES THROUGH THE FIELD TO SWEEP RACES AT KANSAS IN 2024 Heim, Taylor Gray advance to Round of 8 Playoffs
KANSAS CITY (September 27, 2024) – Corey Heim won his sixth race of the season in Friday night’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) race at Kansas Speedway. Heim drove through the field to earn the victory after a tire issue in practice resulted in the No. 11 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro not participating in Friday’s qualifying session. He led 64 laps (of 134) en route to victory lane after also winning the NCTS race at Kansas in May.
Heim advances to the Round of 8 in the NCTS Playoffs and is joined by TRICON Garage teammate Taylor Gray, who also clinched his spot in the next round of the postseason with an 18th-place finish at the mile-and-a-half oval. Tanner Gray also earned a sixth-place finish on Friday night for Toyota.
The NCTS returns to action next Friday, October 4 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Kansas Speedway Race 18 of 23 – 201 Laps, 134 Miles
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, COREY HEIM 2nd, Layne Riggs* 3rd, Christian Eckes* 4th, Kaden Honeycutt* 5th, Dawson Sutton* 6th, TANNER GRAY 13th, DEAN THOMPSON 18th, TAYLOR GRAY 20th, BRENDEN QUEEN 23rd, TIMMY HILL 24th, STEWART FRIESEN *non-Toyota driver
What was the first thought you had when you saw Ty Majeski fall to the apron?
“Just a deep sigh of relief. We were in the best truck all night. Just a huge thank you to my TRICON Garage guys. This is my favorite track. I love coming here. I look forward to this. I’ve had a huge smile on my face all week coming to this place. Just glad we could sweep the year here. It’s such an awesome place to come. Like I said, huge thank you to TRICON Garage, Safelite, Toyota Racing. Certainly, thought I had it lost there with the 98 (Ty Majeski) almost making it on fuel. It just shows my team made the right call.”
When did you know you had this win?
“Just from the very beginning. Honestly, at the beginning of the week knowing we were going to Kansas Speedway, my favorite place, our best track, I knew we had a good shot from the get go. Obviously, we had a tough issue in practice with the right front tire. My guys scrapped all day to get this thing back in shape and were able to come from the back. I think we finished third in the first stage which was just unreal just being able to pass 30 cars that fast. So thankful for Safelite, Toyota Racing, TRICON Garage. This was such an unbelievable truck.”
What was it like trying to chase down Ty Majeski knowing he was saving fuel?
“It certainly kept me honest. He did such a good job at making it almost to the end there. If he was one lap shorter, he would’ve made it.”
How good is this team as we look ahead at the next round of the Playoff races?
“I think to begin the season, we’ve had our strengths and we’ve had our weaknesses, but we’ve really been able to level that out in the last couple months. Coming here, we knew we would be good but just going to some short tracks and stuff we’ve made a lot of progress. I’m looking forward to showcasing them this next round.”
“I thought to fire off we were a little bit tight, but overall we were good. We made decent ground on that first start and got to eighth or so and then had a good pit stop and restarted seventh. We were probably a little bit too free on the second stage, but still had decent speed. We had another really good stop to start the third stage that put us a little closer to the front and struggled a little bit on those restarts just getting going so we lost a little track position and put ourselves behind. Just proud of everybody at TRICON Garage for bringing fast trucks. It’s cool to see Corey (Heim) win and to have another one run well. I’m proud of all of these guys and everyone back at the shop that builds our trucks.
TAYLOR GRAY, No. 17 A Place of Hope Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage
Finishing Position: 18th
What does it mean to be advancing to the Round of 8?
“I can’t thank all of my guys enough. Jeff Hensley (crew chief) on the box for bringing me a fast A Place of Hope Tundra TRD Pro. Obviously, had a really fast truck. Had a good stage one and stage two, starting so far in the back and able to make up a lot of ground there. Unfortunately, I’m having some issues with the right front under pit stops. We left pit road for the start of stage three and I had a right front rub and I had to come back down and clear it and just got back in the pack and just got wrecked. Overall, good to move on to the Round of 8 and just start over.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 47 million cars and trucks at our 12 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 13th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 29 electrified options.
Ford Performance Notes and Quotes NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Kubota Tractor 200 | Kansas Speedway Friday, September 27, 2024
UNOFFICIAL FORD FINISHING ORDER:
2nd – Layne Riggs 15th – Ty Majeski 21st – Jake Garcia 22nd – Ben Rhodes 25th – Matt Crafton 29th – Frankie Muniz 30th – Lawless Alan
LAYNE RIGGS, No. 38 Infinity Communications Group Ford F-150 (Finished 2nd)
“It feels amazing and shows the testament to this team and how much speed we have. I feel like our mile-and-a-half program was definitely the weakest link or everything we have going on right now. Everybody really progressed over the past year. The 38 truck just kind of stayed in its middle range, but to come out here with this new truck which we did a lot of R&D to get better with, and run that well I am super happy with it all. I just wanted a good solid finish today. Everybody wants to win but I just wanted to walk out of here with a good solid finish. To finish P2 at a mile-and-a-half track when I have only had like five or six mile-and-a-half starts ever, I learned a lot tonight. I think racing up front with those guys that have a lot of experience and can throw blocks and race for the lead, that really helps me a lot and helps me be a better race car driver. Running 25th to 30th all day you don’t really learn anything. It is the first time I feel like I have run with the good guys at this kind of track and learn something from them. This is the happiest I have ever been finishing second before because I feel like I we gave it all we have and that is all that matters.”
TY MAJESKI, No. 98 Soda Sense/Curb Records Ford F-150 (Finished 15th)
“Obviously we were trying to max save fuel but also manage the gap to the 11. I felt like I saved as much as I could and still put myself in position to win. The math just didn’t add up tonight. We had a good Ford F-150. I don’t regret the call because that was our only shot to win and there were only three laps that mattered to us tonight, the end of Stage 1 for a playoff point, the end of Stage 2 for a playoff point and the end of the race for five. We just went for the win and it didn’t pan out tonight.”
BEN RHODES, No. 99 Kubota Ford F-150 – (Finished 22nd | Eliminated from Playoffs)
“I was trying to stay in traffic to save as much fuel as I could and also manage the tires but ultimately where I was running it was too little too late. When we fired off something was wrong with the truck to start the race. We made massive adjustments and it didn’t seem like anything was fixing it. I think somehow our bar load got away from us. We have to go back and see what happened there. All in all, I hate it for Kubota and all of our partners and everyone at ThorSport Racing who work really hard. I wanted to give them a championship run. It comes and goes like that. We have had three really good seasons in the past with a first, second and first. I wish we had a better season all around. When you don’t have the finishes and the running positions to get the stage points, it leads to this.”
There’s a push for ideas and improvements in the world of cars and vehicles. Whether it’s about going staying safe or being more environmentally friendly, car makers are always looking for ways to make their products better. One of the recent changes is the use of high-quality composites. These modern materials are changing how cars are made, making them quicker and more effective and helping the environment. So, how exactly do these composites change how car parts are made, and why should you be interested?
The Speed Factor
We should kick things off by talking about speed—an exhilarating factor- in high-performance vehicles! The top choice materials for these machines are composites such as carbon fiber and fiberglass because they bring together strength with a nature like no other materials can offer. Why is this important? The lighter the car is, the faster it can zoom ahead on the road! Automakers have cleverly used composites in parts, like hoods, doors, and complete body panels, to trim down the vehicle’s weight without compromising its durability. This feature enables vehicles to speed up and achieve maximum speeds—an essential aspect of racing and sports cars.
Efficiency and Fuel Savings
Speed isn’t the sole benefit composites offer; fuel efficiency is another area where they are making an impact. Using materials in vehicles reduces the energy needed for movement, thereby decreasing fuel consumption. For the driver and their day-to-day use of vehicles, this translates to fewer stops at gas stations and ultimately leads to cost savings. Given the emphasis on curbing carbon emissions, the adoption of composites perfectly aligns with efforts to develop eco-friendly and highly efficient automobiles.
Durability for the Long Haul
High-quality composites also stand out for their lasting durability compared to steel materials, which are solid but susceptible to rust and deterioration with time. Composites offer resistance to corrosion and can endure challenging environmental conditions. This results in components crafted from composites having a longer lifespan, decreasing the frequency of replacements and cutting down maintenance expenses for car owners. It’s a situation for both manufacturers and consumers alike.
Sustainability in Focus
Concerns about sustainability have now extended beyond speed and durability for car manufacturers and automotive industry customers. Composite materials are proving to be crucial for the future. Unlike conventional materials that require significant resources for production, numerous composites can now be made using recycled materials. This shift not only lessens manufacturing processes’ environmental footprint but also meets the increasing desire for environmentally friendly goods.
Moreover, composites are lighter, leading to vehicles made with materials that need energy and reduce their carbon footprint. As electric vehicles (EVs) become more popular, the importance of using composites in car components increases. The less weight a car has, the longer it can travel per charge, which is a crucial aspect in making EVs more convenient for daily usage
A Shift in the Industry
High-grade composites are now commonly utilized in motorsports and high-end automobiles; however, there is a trend toward adoption in the automotive industry. Due to their advantages, major car manufacturers are starting to incorporate these materials into their manufacturing processes. With technological advancements continuously improving, we anticipate that composites will become increasingly prevalent and crucial in the construction of vehicle models.
High-quality composites are proving to be a game-changer in the quest for faster, more efficient, and sustainable vehicles. Whether boosting speed, enhancing fuel efficiency, or contributing to a greener future, these materials are reshaping the automotive industry. Companies worldwide are leading the way in innovating and producing advanced composites that not only improve vehicle performance but also help reduce environmental impact. As the industry continues to evolve, composites Australia will play an increasingly pivotal role in building future cars.
Corey Heim capped off a roller coaster event that started with starting at the rear of the field to quickly carve his way to the front, dominating and playing a late fuel-mileage battle to perfection on the final lap to win the Kubota Tractor 200 at Kansas Speedway on Friday, September 27.
The 22-year-old Heim from Marietta, Georgia, led three times for a race-high 64 of 134 scheduled laps in an event where he started at the rear of the 34-truck field due to hitting the wall when a part of his suspension rubbed against his right-side tire while trying to post a qualifying lap, which resulted with his No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota team opting to repair the truck and the driver not posting a qualifying lap.
Once he took the green flag from the rear of the field, Heim quickly rocketed his way to a third-place result after the first stage period that spanned 30 laps. He would then muscle the lead away from Playoff rival Christian Eckes at the start of the second stage period and proceed to claim the stage victory. Heim would dominate the final stage period before pitting from the lead with less than 30 laps remaining as part of a late cycle of green flag pit stops.
Then as he cycled his way back to the front in the closing laps, Heim zipped by Playoff contender Ty Majeski, who ran out of fuel on the final lap after he was trying to stretch his fuel tank to the event’s scheduled distance and proceeded to cruise to his sixth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory of the 2024 season. As a result of his victory, Heim and seven additional Playoff contenders officially transferred from the Playoff’s Round of 10 to 8 while two contenders, including the reigning series champion Ben Rhodes, were eliminated from title contention.
On-track qualifying determined the starting lineup on Friday. Playoff contender Ty Majeski secured his fifth Truck Series pole position of the 2024 season with a pole-winning lap at 175.023 mph in 30.853 seconds. Joining him on the front row was Connor Mosack, who posted his best qualifying lap at 174.565 mph in 30.934 seconds.
Before the event, Playoff contender Corey Heim dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to his TRICON Garage Toyota entry.
When the green flag waved and the race started, Ty Majeski received a push from Playoff contender Christian Eckes from the inside lane to muscle ahead of Connor Mosack through the first two turns and the backstretch. As the field behind fanned out to multiple lanes, Eckes issued an early side-by-side challenge with Majeski for the lead through Turns 3 and 4, where he would lead the first lap by a narrow margin from the outside lane.
Over the next three laps, Eckes and Majeski dueled fiercely for the lead through every corner and straightaway while Connor Mosack followed closely in third place. Amid the early battle for the lead, early trouble struck for Playoff contenders Rajah Caruth and Daniel Dye, both of whom hit the outside wall on separate occasions, with Caruth hitting the wall entering the backstretch on the second lap as Dye scraped the wall entering the frontstretch on the third lap. Amid the scrapes, both kept their trucks running straight and proceeding without drawing a caution.
By the fifth lap, Eckes managed to muscle ahead of Majeski to have both lanes under his control with the top spot. As Conor Daly served a pass-through penalty through pit road for diving his No. 44 Polkadot Chevrolet Silverado RST below the frontstretch’s white lines before taking the green flag, Playoff contender Taylor Gray bounced off the frontstretch’s outside wall and got loose off the front nose of Dawson Sutton while just behind, rookie Layne Riggs nearly spun sideways after he almost brushed the wall. Miraculously, both continued to race straight.
Through the first 10-scheduled laps, Majeski, who reassumed the lead from Eckes two laps earlier, was leading by over Eckes as Playoff contender Nick Sanchez, Stewart Friesen and Mosack were in the top five. Behind, Kaden Honeycutt, Playoff contender Ben Rhodes, Playoff contender Taylor Gray, Dawson Sutton and Layne Riggs were in the top 10 while Tanner Gray, Corey Heim, Jake Garcia, Matt Mills and Daniel Dye were mired in the top 15. With seven of 10 Playoff contenders racing in the top-15 mark, the remaining Playoff contenders including Tyler Ankrum, Grant Enfinger and Rajah Caruth were mired in 18th, 21st and 22nd, respectively.
Shortly after, Daniel Dye, who hit the outside wall for a second time, pitted his No. 43 NAPA Nightvision Chevrolet Silverado RST under green and lost a lap in the process. By then, Majeski had stretched his advantage to two seconds over Eckes as Sanchez, Friesen and Honeycutt followed suit in the top five.
At the Lap 20 mark, Majeski stabilized his advantage to more than two seconds over Sanchez while Eckes dropped to third place. Behind, Honeycutt and Taylor Gray followed suit in the top five while Friesen, Riggs, Heim, Tanner Gray and Mosack were running in the top 10. Meanwhile, Rhodes was mired in 14th, Ankrum was scored in 18th, Enfinger and Caruth were mired back in 20th and 21st, respectively, and Dye was mired in 33rd as he would pit for a second time to address a flat right-front tire, which cost him two more laps in the process.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 30, Majeski, who came into Kansas 58 points above the top-eight cutline in the Playoff standings, captured his sixth Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. With the 10 stage points, Majeski officially clinched his spot into the Playoff’s Round of 8. Eckes followed suit in second along with Heim, who thundered his way from the rear of the field, while Honeycutt, Riggs, Sanchez, Taylor Gray, Tanner Gray, Friesen and Mosack were scored in the top 10. By then, the remaining Playoff contenders that included Caruth, Rhodes, Ankrum, Enfinger and Dye were scored in 16th, 17th, 18th, 21st and 34th, respectively, with the latter three laps down.
Under the stage break, nearly the entire lead lap field led by Majeski pitted for a first round of service while Timmy Hill remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Eckes exited pit road first followed by Heim, Majeski, Sanchez and Riggs. With Hill eventually pitting under the caution period, Eckes cycled back to the lead.
The second stage period started on Lap 37 as Eckes and Heim occupied the front row. At the start, Eckes, who gained a strong start from the inside lane, quickly darted his No. 19 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet Silverado RST to the outside lane to move in front of Heim. Eckes’ move enabled Majeski to try to gain a run from the inside lane as the field fanned out through the first two turns and the backstretch. With Eckes proceeding to lead the following lap, Majeski and Heim dueled for the runner-up spot while Riggs and Sanchez battled for fourth place in front of Taylor Gray and Kaden Honeycutt. As a series of on-track battles towards the front continued, Eckes led by two-tenths over Heim, with Majeski, Riggs and Sanchez in the top five by Lap 40.
By Lap 45, Heim dueled with Eckes for the lead amid a crossover moves through the frontstretch, where he led a lap for himself for the first time from the inside lane and he would muscle ahead by three-tenths of a second over the following lap. Behind, Riggs trailed in third place by eight-tenths of a second followed by a trio of Playoff contenders that included Majeski, Sanchez and Taylor Gray. With Caruth scored in 11th place behind non-Playoff contenders Tanner Gray, Honeycutt, Bayley Currey and Friesen, Enfinger was in 14th place, Ankrum was scored in 19th place and Rhodes was in 21st place. Meanwhile, Dye was scored two laps down in 31st place.
Five laps later, Heim stretched his advantage to eight-tenths of a second over Riggs, who overtook Eckes for the spot, while Majeski, Taylor Gray and Sanchez continued to follow suit in the top six.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 60, Heim, who had already secured his spot into the Round of 8 by points, notched his eighth Truck stage victory of the 2024 season. Riggs followed suit in second place as he trailed by three-and-a-half seconds while Eckes, Majeski, Taylor Gray, Sanchez, Tanner Gray, Honeycutt, Currey and Caruth were scored in the top 10. The remaining Playoff contenders included Enfinger, Ankrum, Rhodes and Dye were mired in 15th, 16th, 21st and 31st, respectively.
During the stage break, the lead lap field led by Heim returned to pit road for another round of service. Following the pit stops, Heim exited pit road first as he was followed by Riggs and Eckes. Amid the pit stops, Brenden “Butterbean” Queen and Ankrum were both penalized for an uncontrolled tire violation while Dawson Sutton was penalized for being too fast while exiting pit road. Not long after, Taylor Gray, who had a slow pit service, returned to pit road due to an issue with his right front tire.
With 66 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Heim and Riggs occupied the front row. At the start, Heim and Riggs dueled for the lead through the first two turns until Heim muscled ahead from the inside lane. As the field fanned out to multiple lanes while Eckes challenged Riggs for the runner-up spot, Heim rocketed away with the top spot as he led the following lap.
Not long after, Eckes, who was fiercely battling Riggs for the runner-up spot, got loose and caused Riggs to step off the gas as he dropped to fifth place. With Eckes retaining second, Sanchez and Tanner Gray followed suit in third and fourth, respectively. Amid the fierce battle for the runner-up spot, Heim was leading by four-tenths of a second with 60 laps remaining.
A few laps later, the caution returned when Matt Mills, who was battling Taylor Gray and Corey Day for a spot in the top 15, veered dead right into Day as Day made contact against the side of Gray’s No. 17 Place of Hope Toyota Tundra TRD Pro before he hit the Turn 3 outside wall head-on as Mills also slipped and wrecked against the wall. During the caution period, select names including Playoff contenders Majeski, Taylor Gray, and Rhodes pitted while the rest led by Heim remained on the track. Soon after, Rhodes pitted for a second time for fuel that would enable him to reach the event’s scheduled distance on his full tank.
With the race restarting under green with 51 laps remaining, Heim and Eckes battled dead even for the lead in front of two stacked lanes from the first two turns through the backstretch as both Riggs and Sanchez tried to join the battle. Heim would then manage to muscle ahead of Eckes for the lead through Turns 3 and 4 and back to the frontstretch for the following lap. Riggs, who was battling Sanchez for third place during the previous lap, would then overtake Eckes for the runner-up spot a few laps later as he commenced his charge on Heim for the lead while Currey, Sanchez, Chase Purdy and Caruth battled for fourth place.
With nearly 45 laps remaining, the top five competitors were separated by a second as Riggs, who was trying to use every lane to gain ground on Heim through every turn and straightaway, only trailed Heim by a tenth of a second. Behind, Eckes retained third place ahead of Currey and Purdy as Sanchez, Caruth, Mosack, Majeski and Tanner Gray were racing in the top 10. Not long after, Matt Crafton was penalized for a restart violation. Then while trying to serve a pass-through penalty through pit road, Crafton was penalized a second time, this time for missing the commitment line to enter pit road.
As the event was down to its final 40 laps, Heim retained the lead by a tenth of a second over Riggs while third-place Eckes and fourth-place Currey trailed by two seconds. Purdy retained fifth as he trailed the lead by three seconds while Sanchez, Caruth, Majeski, Tanner Gray and Mosack continued to race in the top 10. By then, Playoff contenders Enfinger, Ankrum, Rhodes, Taylor Gray and Dye were mired in 12th, 13th, 17th, 19th and 27th, with the latter pinned two laps behind.
Then 10 laps later and with Heim slightly stretching his advantage to eight-tenths of a second, a late cycle of green flag pit stops and strategies ensued as Riggs and Enfinger peeled off the track to pit their respective entries. By then, Tanner Gray and Sanchez had pitted under green before Currey and Bret Holmes pitted during the following lap. Mosack, Ankrum and Dean Thompson would pit during the next lap before the leader Heim pitted with 27 laps remaining. More names including Caruth, Eckes, Purdy and Caruth would all pit with 25 laps remaining as Majeski cycled into the lead.
Down to the final 20 laps of the event, Majeski, who opted to remain on the track to stretch his fuel tank and worn tires as far as possible, was leading by seven-and-a-half seconds over runner-up Honeycutt and by eight seconds over third-place Sutton while Rhodes, who commenced his fuel stretch to the event’s scheduled distance and to race his way into the Playoff’s Round of 8, was scored in fourth place. Behind, Heim navigated his way up to seventh place behind teammate Taylor Gray while Enfinger was mired in 17th place behind Caruth.
Five laps later, Majeski continued to lead by nine seconds over Honeycutt while third-place Sutton trailed by 10 seconds. As Rhodes, who was locked in a heated duel with Enfinger for the final transfer spot into the Round of 8, retained fourth place and trailed the lead by 11 seconds, Heim was up to fifth place and trailing the lead by 16 seconds while Friesen, who opted to remain on the track to try to stretch his fuel tank to the distance, dropped to sixth place as he was in front of Riggs.
With 10 laps remaining, Majeski retained the lead by 10 seconds over Honeycutt as Heim boosted his way up to third place. With Sutton following suit in fourth place, Rhodes dropped to fifth place, which left him in jeopardy of not advancing to the Round of 8, as Enfinger, who boosted himself back above the cutline, was up to 13th place on the track and trying to overtake Currey for more.
Down to the final five laps of the event, Majeski, whose lap time continued to decrease while he was on fuel-conservation mode, was ahead by six seconds over a hard-charging Heim while Honeycutt, Riggs and Rhodes were scored in the top five. By then, Eckes and Caruth were in seventh and ninth, respectively, while Enfinger was up to 11th as Sanchez, Taylor Gray, Ankrum and Dye were mired in 15th, 17th, 19th and 27th, respectively.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Majeski, who led by three seconds during the previous lap, remained as the leader by more than a second over Heim, but he dropped his No. 98 Soda Sense Ford F-150 below the frontstretch’s apron as he ran out of fuel. By then, both Friesen and Rhodes also ran out of fuel and lost pace with the field as Heim rocketed past Majeski entering Turn 1. Having enough fuel in his fuel tank, Heim smoothly navigated his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro around the Kansas circuit for a final time before he returned to the frontstretch victorious as he claimed the checkered flag.
With the victory, Heim, who had already secured his spot into the Playoff’s Round of 8 by points, claimed his 11th career win in the Craftsman Truck Series division, his sixth of the season and his second at Kansas after he won the spring Kansas event in May. Heim also became the first competitor to sweep both Truck Kansas events in a single season as he continues his quest to return to the Championship 4 and contend for this year’s Truck Series championship.
Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“[I had] Just a deep sigh of relief [when Majeski ran out of fuel],” Heim said on the frontstretch on FS1. “We were the best truck all night. Just huge thank you to my TRICON Garage guys. This is my favorite track. I love coming here. I had a smile on my face all week coming to this place. Just glad we could sweep the year here. It’s just such an awesome place to come. [I] Certainly thought we had [the race] lost there with [Majeski] almost making it on fuel, but it just shows my team made the right [pit] call.”
Behind Heim, rookie Layne Riggs, who was bidding for a third consecutive Truck Series race victory, came home in second place as Christian Eckes, Kaden Honeycutt and Dawson Cram finished in the top five. Ty Majeski, who led 51 laps from pole position, coasted across the finish line in 15th place, the final competitor on the lead lap, after he ended up a single lap shy of having enough fuel to win.
Meanwhile, Grant Enfinger steered his No. 9 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST to a ninth-place result, which was enough for him to claim the eighth and final transfer spot into the Round of 8. He will join Corey Heim, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, Nick Sanchez, Rajah Caruth, Tyler Ankrum and Taylor Gray as eight Playoff contenders transferring into the second round of the Playoffs.
“[Tonight was] Definitely a little bit stressful. Definitely too close for comfort,” Enfinger said. “[Crew chief] Jeff Stankiewicz and all these guys at CR7 Motorsports have done a great job all year, but this is a round we want to forget. We snuck through here and now, we’re looking forward to going to Talladega next week.”
For Ben Rhodes, however, the reigning two-time series champion ended up in 22nd place and a lap down after he ran out of fuel despite trying to stretch his fuel tank in his No. 99 Kubota Ford F-150 to the distance from when he last pitted on Lap 82. The final result left both him and Daniel Dye eliminated from the Playoffs, with the former not remaining in contention for a third title in 2024.
“We could have been a lot better to fire off [tonight’s race],” Rhodes said. “All in all, I’m thankful for all of our partners. I wish we were able to get [my sponsors] another championship run, but the past three seasons have been really good to us.”
The remaining Playoff contenders including Rajah Caruth, Nick Sanchez, Tyler Ankrum, Taylor Gray and Daniel Dye finished seventh, 12th, 14th, 18th and 27, respectively, on the track.
There were 10 lead changes for three different leaders. The race featured three cautions for 20 laps. In addition, 15 of 34 starters finished on the lead lap.
Results:
1. Corey Heim, 64 laps led, Stage 2 winner
2. Layne Riggs
3. Christian Eckes, 19 laps led
4. Kaden Honeycutt
5. Dawson Sutton
6. Tanner Gray
7. Rajah Caruth
8. Bayley Currey
9. Grant Enfinger
10. Connor Mosack
11. Chase Purdy
12. Nick Sanchez
13. Dean Thompson
14. Tyler Ankrum
15. Ty Majeski, 51 laps led, Stage 1 winner
16. Bret Holmes, one lap down
17. Conor Daly, one lap down
18. Taylor Gray, one lap down
19. Nathan Byrd, one lap down
20. Brenden Queen, one lap down
21. Jake Garcia, one lap down
22. Ben Rhodes, one lap down
23. Timmy Hill, two laps down
24. Stewart Friesen, two laps down
25. Matt Crafton, two laps down
26. Justin Mondeik, three laps down
27. Daniel Dye, three laps down
28. Spencer Boyd, five laps down
29. Frankie Muniz, five laps down
30. Lawless Alan, six laps down
31. Jennifer Jo Cobb – OUT, Electrical
32. Corey Day – OUT, Accident
33. Matt Mills – OUT, Accident
34. Marco Andretti – OUT, Brakes
*Bold indicates Playoff competitors
Playoff standings:
1. Corey Heim – Advanced
2. Christian Eckes – Advanced
3. Nick Sanchez – Advanced
4. Ty Majeski – Advanced
5. Rajah Caruth – Advanced
6. Taylor Gray – Advanced
7. Tyler Ankrum – Advanced
8. Grant Enfinger – Advanced
9. Ben Rhodes – Eliminated
10. Daniel Dye – Eliminated
The Round of 8 in the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs is set to occur at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, for the Love’s RV Stop 225. The event is scheduled to occur next Friday, October 4, and air at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
ST. LOUIS (Sept. 27, 2024) – Two races remain in the 2024 season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+ and there’s still plenty on the line heading to St. Louis as part of this weekend’s NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.
It is the ninth of 10 races during the 2024 season and the third of four events in the “Road to the Championship,” with several top drivers still alive in the title chase. This weekend’s event in St. Louis is powered by both M&M Transmissions and Jerry Bickel Race Cars, and another huge field will entertain fans in St. Louis as the Pro Mod season hits a thrilling point.
A wild weekend in Charlotte included a first-time winner in Travis Harvey, as he filled in for former world champion Khalid Al Balooshi, sending the veteran to second in points in the process. Al Balooshi now trails Ken Quartuccio by just 19 points, with a flurry of additional contenders still racing for the championship.
A number of top teams, including Bahrain 1 Racing, Scott Tidwell Racing, Team Shelton Motorsports and title contender Jose Gonzalez, are M&M Transmission customers, with the company thrilled to be part of such an important race weekend at their home facility.
“St Louis is our home track, so it was a natural decision to support our NHRA Pro Mod racers and customers,” said Mark Micke, M&M Transmission Owner and CEO. “Our on-track maintenance services are an extension of our beliefs of delivering reliability and performance to enable the quickest and fastest doorslammers in the world to win and set records.”
Jordan Lazic won last year in St. Louis and, like Harvey in Charlotte, did so in his first career start. Lazic is currently seventh in points, 65 out of first, showcasing the number of standouts still in title contention. Former world champs Kris Thorne and Gonzalez are 38 and 45 points behind, respectively, while Kevin Rivenbark rounds out the top five, trailing Quartuccio by 46 points.
Justin Bond is just 48 points out of first, while other standouts in St. Louis include Charlotte runner-up Dmitry Samorukov, reigning world champion Mike Castellana, Billy Banaka, Mason Wright, J.R. Gray and Michael Stavrinos.
Rain wiped out qualifying on Friday in St. Louis, meaning the NHRA Pro Mod drivers will get two shots at the track on Saturday, with qualifying times set for 11:15 a.m. and 4:50 p.m. CT in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+. The first round of eliminations is slated for 9:05 a.m. CT on Sunday.
Tickets may be purchased at the WWTR ticket office, by phone at (618) 215-8888, or online at www.wwtraceway.com. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information on NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.
About M&M Transmission
Founded in 1996 by Mark Micke, M&M Transmission specializes in race-winning and record-setting drag racing transmissions, torque converters and shifters with trusted reliability and top technology. Today, M&M Transmission is based out of Jefferson City, Missouri. A comprehensive array of in-house machinery and equipment, such as a SuperFlow transmission and torque converter dyno, state-of-the-art lathes, mills, and more, allows the talented team to manufacture and assemble its performance drag racing transmissions, torque converters, shifters, and more with a commitment to upholding a strong “Made in the USA” standard of quality. Established by a diehard racer and staffed with a group of drag racing enthusiasts, Mark Micke’s M&M Transmission knows what it takes to win. Head over to mandmtransmission.com to join the race-winning team!
About Jerry Bickel Race Cars
Jerry Bickel Race Cars are synonymous with quality built, fast door cars around the world. Established in 1985, Jerry Bickel Race Cars created a new generation of innovative techniques and procedures that would continue WINNING races for over 35 years. In 2000, JBRC built a state-of-the-art building designed to engineer, fabricate, paint, and complete race cars from start to finish. JBRC also carries a full line of racing components to make Jerry Bickel Race Cars a “one stop chassis shop”. For more information visit www.jerrybickel.com
About NHRA
NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by LearnEV+, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With 110 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (Sept. 27, 2024) – ARCA and Menards announced a multi-year extension that keeps the Eau Claire, Wis.-based home improvement retailer as the entitlement partner for all three series within the ARCA Menards Series platform, including the ARCA Menards Series East and West.
The agreement extends the relationship between two Midwestern-based family-owned companies that trace their roots back to the 1950s. ARCA was started in Toledo, Ohio by John and Mildred Marcum and is overseen by their grandson, Ron Drager. Now in its 72nd season, the ARCA Menards Series has contested over 1500 races at 180 different racetracks. The first Menards opened in 1958, and from humble beginnings the company has grown to 341 stores in 15 states across the Midwest.
“Menards has been the cornerstone of a strong foundation for ARCA and the ARCA Menards Series since 2009 when they became a presenting sponsor,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “That relationship has only become stronger over the years and reached its pinnacle in 2019 when Menards became the series’ entitlement partner. It’s great to be associated with a company that knows racing inside and out and actively participates in building and growing the series. We are proud to continue to carry this relationship into the future.”
“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with the ARCA Menards Series,” said John Menard, President/CEO, Menards. “Our customers are hard-working people with strong Midwestern family values, and that aligns perfectly with the ARCA Menards Series, a series made up of hard-working racers who find a way to get things done on and off the racetrack.”
“Menards supports racing because the entire Menard family loves the sport,” said Mike Helton, Senior Advisor, NASCAR. “The continued partnership between Menards and ARCA is a tremendous benefit to the racers who compete in the ARCA Menards Series and the fans all across the country who love to see the stars of tomorrow racing at both grassroots-level short tracks and some of the biggest motorsports venues in the world.”
Acquired by NASCAR in 2018, the ARCA Menards Series platform has proven to be the premier training ground for drivers with aspirations of competing in one of the three NASCAR national series. In 2023, nearly 80% of the drivers racing across the three national NASCAR series – representing dozens of series championships and hundreds of race wins – started their journey in the ARCA platform.
The 2024 ARCA Menards Series championship will be determined on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the series’ home track, Toledo Speedway. The race will be televised live on FS2 starting at 4 pm ET; live timing and scoring data will be available at ARCARacing.com. Follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates.
About ARCA
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).
About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 341 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.
Daytona Season Opener Live on FOX for First Time Ever
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – (Sept. 27, 2024) – The ARCA Menards Series has announced a television broadcast agreement extension with FS1 and FS2 that features a full season of live television coverage in 2025. Additionally, as part of the new agreement, the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway will air live on FOX, marking the first time in series history that a race has aired on broadcast television.
The relationship, which began with Speedvision in 1999, is now extended through at least 2028.
“We’re proud of the long-standing partnership between ARCA and FOX Sports in what will span across three decades during the course of this most recent extension” said Ben Baker, NASCAR’s VP of Broadcasting & Production Operations. “FOX’s coverage of the ARCA Menards Series continues to expand to a larger audience and we’re looking forward to their coverage of great racing in the years to come.”
ARCA also has released the 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule, comprised of 20 races at 19 different tracks, with the season opener slated at Daytona International Speedway and, for the fourth consecutive year, it will close at its home track, Toledo Speedway.
The highlights:
The series will race at Daytona for the 62nd consecutive year dating to 1964; as it has for the last six years, the race will be the opener of a same-day doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series the day before the DAYTONA 500. FOX will broadcast the Daytona ARCA 200, the first time an ARCA Menards Series race will be broadcast live on an over-the-air network.
Kansas Speedway continues to be the only track on the schedule twice, with races scheduled in conjunction with the NASCAR national series in May and September.
Tandem races with the NASCAR Cup Series will also take place at Phoenix Raceway in March, Talladega Superspeedway in April, Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, Michigan International Speedway in June, Dover Motor Speedway in July, Iowa Speedway and Watkins Glen International in August, and Bristol Motor Speedway in September.
Stand-alone short track races will be held at Berlin Raceway and Elko Speedway in June, Madison International Speedway in August, the traditional fall classic date at Salem Speedway in September, and the championship finale at Toledo Speedway in October.
The two dirt miles at the Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair both return on their traditional weekends.
Lime Rock Park will join the schedule for the first time and the half-mile Madison International Speedway rejoins the schedule for the first time since 2019.
The race at Phoenix Raceway in March will be a combination race with the ARCA Menards Series West, while races at Dover Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Iowa Speedway, and Bristol Motor Speedway will be combination races with the ARCA Menards Series East.
The complete 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule (all times are Eastern):
Date
Track, Location
Time (ET)
TV
Feb. 15
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.
12:00 PM
FOX
March 7
Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ariz.
8:00 PM
FS1
April 26
Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Ala.
12:30 PM
FS1
May 9
Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.
8:00 PM
FS1
May 23
Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.
6:00 PM
FS1
June 6
Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mich.
5:00 PM
FS2
June 14
Berlin Raceway, Marne, Mich.
7:00 PM
FS1
June 21
Elko Speedway, Elko, Minn.
9:00 PM
FS2
June 28
Lime Rock Park, Lime Rock, Conn.
4:00 PM
FS2
July 18
Dover Motor Speedway, Dover, Del.
5:00 PM
FS1
July 25
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Brownsburg, Ind.
5:30 PM
FS1
Aug. 1
Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa
7:00 PM
FS1
Aug. 8
Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.
2:00 PM
FS2
Aug. 17
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill.
2:00 PM
FS1
Aug. 22
Madison International Speedway, Madison, Wis.
9:00 PM
FS1
Aug. 31
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Ill.
8:30 PM
FS1
Sept. 11
Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn.
5:30 PM
FS1
Sept. 20
Salem Speedway, Salem, Ind.
8:00 PM
FS2
Sept. 26
Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan.
8:00 PM
FS1
Oct. 4
Toledo Speedway, Toledo, Oh.
4:00 PM
FS2
All dates are tentative and subject to change.
Schedules for the ARCA Menards Series East and West will be released at a later date.
For further information please visit ARCARacing.com; for up-to-the-minute updates follow @ARCA_Racing on Twitter.
About ARCA
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).
About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 341 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.
