Automobile Racing Club of America
Encyclopedia
Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) 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 used in the RE/MAX Series were previously used in NASCAR. ARCA's competitors contain a mix of both professional racers as well as hobby racers alike, in addition to younger competitors trying to make a name for themselves, sometimes driving as part of a driver development program
for a NASCAR team. Most ARCA RE/MAX Series races are broadcast on either MavTV
or SPEED TV.
ARCA also sanctions a truck-racing series called the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series
and owns both the Toledo Speedway
and Flat Rock Speedway
. ARCA formerly sanctioned the ARCA Midget
Series from 1988 until 2002.
series after working as an official for NASCAR
founder Bill France, Sr. In 1964, the name was changed to the "Automobile Racing Club of America" when the series became national by racing on superspeedways. This ARCA is not to be confused with the organization founded in 1933 with the same name (now known as the Sports Car Club of America
). ARCA started racing at Daytona International Speedway
in 1964, during the Daytona Speedweeks, at the request of Bill France, Sr., who had raced against Marcum in the 1940s.
The ARCA/NASCAR relationship continues today. The series frequently schedule events at the same track on the same weekend. The ARCA event is frequently the Saturday support race to the Sunday NASCAR Cup event. For several decades, ARCA used older NASCAR Cup race cars at their events, and with the advancement of the Car of Tomorrow
, teams have been able to sell off older cars to ARCA teams; current Sprint Cup drivers Joey Logano
and Scott Speed
each drove in ARCA in 2008, driving veteran Sprint Cup cars after the move to the COT.
Former NASCAR drivers, such as Benny Parsons
, Kyle Petty
(who won the 1979 Daytona ARCA 200; first race he ever competed in), Ken Schrader
and others, have competed in and advanced through the ARCA series on the way to successful NASCAR careers. ARCA is still often used as a stepping stone
for hopeful NASCAR drivers.
, 10 points for the second fastest qualifier, and 5 for the third fastest qualifier.
There are many ways to score bonus points. Any driver who leads an official lap will receive 5 bonus points. The driver who leads the most official laps will receive an additional 5 points. All drivers who pre-enter and compete in a race will receive an additional 25 points. Any driver who enters and competes in each pre-designated 5 race leg of the overall schedule will receive an additional 250 points.
Frank Kimmel has won the most ARCA Championships.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, founded in 1953 by John Marcum
John Marcum
John Marcum was the co-founder of ARCA and a NASCAR official from Toledo, Ohio, United States. He raced in the 1930s and 1940s. He owned cars entered in two NASCAR Grand National races with one Top 10 finish. He was inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994...
. 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 used in the RE/MAX Series were previously used in NASCAR. ARCA's competitors contain a mix of both professional racers as well as hobby racers alike, in addition to younger competitors trying to make a name for themselves, sometimes driving as part of a driver development program
Driver development program
A Driver development program is a program used by racing teams to develop younger drivers. It is widely used in both Formula One and NASCAR, usually consisting of a team signing a driver to a multi-year contract in which they run in minor-league racing divisions A Driver development program is a...
for a NASCAR team. Most ARCA RE/MAX Series races are broadcast on either MavTV
MavTV
Mav TV is a digital cable channel, focused towards men in the 18-54 age group. It features original programming centered around topics that appeals to men, such as sports, comedies, gadgets, gaming, and women.-History:...
or SPEED TV.
ARCA also sanctions a truck-racing series called the ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series
ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck Series
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...
and owns both the Toledo Speedway
Toledo Speedway
Toledo Speedway is a racetrack located in Toledo, Ohio. It is owned jointly by Roy Mott and ARCA President Ron Drager. It is operated by ARCA and run as the sister track to Flat Rock Speedway in Flat Rock, Michigan.-Weekly program:...
and Flat Rock Speedway
Flat Rock Speedway
Flat Rock Speedway is a racetrack located in Ash Township, Monroe County, Michigan, though the mailing address is Flat Rock, Michigan. It is owned by ARCA and is considered the sister track to Toledo Speedway...
. ARCA formerly sanctioned the ARCA Midget
Midget car racing
Midget cars, also Speedcars in Australia, are very small race cars with a very high power-to-weight ratio and typically use four-cylinder engines.-Cars:Typically, these cars have 300 to 400 horsepower and weigh...
Series from 1988 until 2002.
History
John Marcum founded the Midwest Association for Race Cars (MARC) in 1953 as a regional stock car racingStock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
series after working as an official for NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
founder Bill France, Sr. In 1964, the name was changed to the "Automobile Racing Club of America" when the series became national by racing on superspeedways. This ARCA is not to be confused with the organization founded in 1933 with the same name (now known as the Sports Car Club of America
Sports Car Club of America
The Sports Car Club of America is a club and sanctioning body supporting road racing, rallying, and autocross in the United States. Formed in 1944, it runs many programs for both amateur and professional racers.-History:...
). ARCA started racing at Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a race track in Daytona Beach, Florida, United States. Since opening in 1959, it has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR. In addition to NASCAR, the track also hosts races of ARCA, AMA Superbike, Grand-Am and Motocross...
in 1964, during the Daytona Speedweeks, at the request of Bill France, Sr., who had raced against Marcum in the 1940s.
The ARCA/NASCAR relationship continues today. The series frequently schedule events at the same track on the same weekend. The ARCA event is frequently the Saturday support race to the Sunday NASCAR Cup event. For several decades, ARCA used older NASCAR Cup race cars at their events, and with the advancement of the Car of Tomorrow
Car of Tomorrow
The Car of Tomorrow, sometimes called CoT or "Car of Today", is the car style for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Larger and boxier than the design it replaced, the Car of Tomorrow is safer, costs less to maintain, and was intended to make for closer competition.The car was introduced in the 2007 Cup...
, teams have been able to sell off older cars to ARCA teams; current Sprint Cup drivers Joey Logano
Joey Logano
Joseph Thomas "Joey" Logano , nicknamed "sliced bread" by Randy LaJoie, is an American stock car auto racing race car driver who currently drives the #20 Home Depot Toyota Camry in the Sprint Cup Series and the #20 GameStop/Sport Clips Toyota Camry in the Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs...
and Scott Speed
Scott Speed
Scott Andrew Speed is an American race car driver. Formerly a driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 team, he made his Formula One race debut at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix; becoming the first American to race in F1 since Michael Andretti in 1993...
each drove in ARCA in 2008, driving veteran Sprint Cup cars after the move to the COT.
Former NASCAR drivers, such as Benny Parsons
Benny Parsons
Benjamin Stewart Parsons was an American NASCAR driver, and later an announcer/analyst on TBS, ESPN, NBC and TNT...
, Kyle Petty
Kyle Petty
Kyle Eugene Petty is a former American NASCAR driver and is currently a co-host for NASCAR RaceDay and panel member for NASCAR Smarts which are both on SPEED. He also commentates for TNT in the summer. He is the son of racer Richard Petty, grandson of racer Lee Petty, and father of the late Adam...
(who won the 1979 Daytona ARCA 200; first race he ever competed in), Ken Schrader
Ken Schrader
Kenneth Schrader is a second-generation race car driver. He currently races on local dirt and asphalt tracks around the country while driving part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Racing Series for his own Ken Schrader Racing. He also runs part time in the NASCAR Camping...
and others, have competed in and advanced through the ARCA series on the way to successful NASCAR careers. ARCA is still often used as a stepping stone
Stepping stone
Stepping stone and similar can refer to:* Step-stone bridge, stones placed in a river to allow pedestrians to cross* Stepping stone , a type of computer security measure...
for hopeful NASCAR drivers.
Point System
ARCA uses a relatively simple point system to determine champions. There is only one scale for points awarded per finishing position. Every finishing position between 1st and 40th is separated by 5 points, with the winning driver receiving 200 points and the 40th place driver receiving 5 points. Any driver who finishes behind 40th will receive 5 points. Points are also awarded for qualifying, with: 15 points awarded to the pole positionPole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
, 10 points for the second fastest qualifier, and 5 for the third fastest qualifier.
There are many ways to score bonus points. Any driver who leads an official lap will receive 5 bonus points. The driver who leads the most official laps will receive an additional 5 points. All drivers who pre-enter and compete in a race will receive an additional 25 points. Any driver who enters and competes in each pre-designated 5 race leg of the overall schedule will receive an additional 250 points.
Series
- ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards
- ARCA Lincoln Welders Truck SeriesARCA Lincoln Welders Truck SeriesThe 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...
- ARCA West Series
- ARCA West Mac's Series
- ARCA West Circle K Series