ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series
Encyclopedia
The ARCA Truck Series is a pickup truck racing
series which runs on numerous short tracks throughout the American Midwest, running mainly in Indiana
and Ohio
. It races Mid-size trucks with V-6 engines unlike the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series which run Full-size trucks with V-8 engines. Most of the teams in the series are owner-driver combinations or family owned. Current NASCAR Nationwide Series owner Todd Braun started as an owner/driver in the ARCA
Truck Series.
Truck Series ran exhibition races late in 1998 with the first full season in 1999. The
series evolved from the series which ARCA
sanctioned from 1990 through 1998 called The Pro 4 Series. The Pro-4
Series cars were full tube chassis stock cars with highly modified 4-cylinder engines. Both full
body and open wheel cars competed in the series together . With the popularity of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and trucks in general, a long time ARCA
Official came up with the idea to race compact trucks.
The inaugural season consisted of eleven asphalt and four dirt races in four states in the Midwest. The series produced
ten different winners but sixteen year old Aaron Hulings dominated the series with six wins and eight
pole awards but sat out the last race of the season for unknown reasons and the championship went
to Pro-4 Series veteran Bill Withers
. The decision to go to trucks was popular with fans and
competitors alike. Over twenty three different trucks with twenty five drivers competed in the fifteen
races the first season.
approved builders, stock
appearing fiberglass body from ARCA
approved suppliers ,and specification Hoosier Racing tires. Body
styles are Mid-size trucks, the Ford Ranger
, Chevy S-10 and the Chevy Colorado, Dodge Dakota
, and Toyota Tacoma
. The rules have been very stable in the history of the series. The biggest change being the
introduction of V-6 engines in 2003. The V-6 has proven to be much more reliable and cost effective
than the 4-cylinder
engines partially because of the rules ARCA has established to build them. Plus
the fans seem to be more interested in the V-6 powered trucks.
Pickup truck racing
Pickup truck racing is a form of auto racing which involves modified versions of pickup trucks on racing circuits, mostly oval tracks. Race pickup trucks are mechanically similar to coupé-shaped stock cars, with the main difference being the more boxy shape of the cab, which does not give as good...
series which runs on numerous short tracks throughout the American Midwest, running mainly in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. It races Mid-size trucks with V-6 engines unlike the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series which run Full-size trucks with V-8 engines. Most of the teams in the series are owner-driver combinations or family owned. Current NASCAR Nationwide Series owner Todd Braun started as an owner/driver in the ARCA
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
Truck Series.
History
The ARCAAutomobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
Truck Series ran exhibition races late in 1998 with the first full season in 1999. The
series evolved from the series which ARCA
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
sanctioned from 1990 through 1998 called The Pro 4 Series. The Pro-4
Series cars were full tube chassis stock cars with highly modified 4-cylinder engines. Both full
body and open wheel cars competed in the series together . With the popularity of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and trucks in general, a long time ARCA
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
Official came up with the idea to race compact trucks.
The inaugural season consisted of eleven asphalt and four dirt races in four states in the Midwest. The series produced
ten different winners but sixteen year old Aaron Hulings dominated the series with six wins and eight
pole awards but sat out the last race of the season for unknown reasons and the championship went
to Pro-4 Series veteran Bill Withers
Bill Withers
William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"...
. The decision to go to trucks was popular with fans and
competitors alike. Over twenty three different trucks with twenty five drivers competed in the fifteen
races the first season.
Rules and Truck Bodies
The basic rules required the use of a tube frame racing chassis from ARCAAutomobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
approved builders, stock
appearing fiberglass body from ARCA
Automobile Racing Club of America
Automobile Racing Club of America is an auto racing sanctioning body in the United States, founded in 1953 by John Marcum. The current president of ARCA is Ron Drager. The ARCA RE/MAX Series races stock cars similar to those seen in past years in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, and indeed most cars...
approved suppliers ,and specification Hoosier Racing tires. Body
styles are Mid-size trucks, the Ford Ranger
Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger is a pickup truck produced by the Ford Motor Company. The "Ranger" name had previously been used for a premium styling package on the F-Series full-sized pickup trucks since 1965. The name was moved to this line of North American compact trucks for the 1983 model year.In North...
, Chevy S-10 and the Chevy Colorado, Dodge Dakota
Dodge Dakota
The Dodge Dakota is a mid-size pickup truck from Chrysler's Ram division. From its introduction through 2009, it was marketed by Dodge. The first Dakota was introduced in 1986 as a 1987 model alongside the redesigned Dodge Ram 50...
, and Toyota Tacoma
Toyota Tacoma
The Toyota Tacoma is a pickup truck produced and manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation since 1995. The Tacoma was a compact pickup until a model redesign in 2005 when it was reclassified to a mid-size...
. The rules have been very stable in the history of the series. The biggest change being the
introduction of V-6 engines in 2003. The V-6 has proven to be much more reliable and cost effective
than the 4-cylinder
V4 engine
A V4 engine is a V form engine with four cylinders and three main bearings.-Automobile use:Lancia produced several narrow-angle V4 engines from the 1920s through 1960s for cars like the Lambda, Augusta, Artena, Aprilia, Ardea, Appia, and Fulvia....
engines partially because of the rules ARCA has established to build them. Plus
the fans seem to be more interested in the V-6 powered trucks.