Series PR Report
Photo by: ARCA Communications

Daytona Beach, FL(December 16, 2012) — Three days of open testing for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards at Daytona Int’l Speedway came to a conclusion Sunday afternoon with nary an on-track incident among 61 drivers who posted time and speed.

While several veteran teams and drivers utilized the open test in preparation for the 2013 season opener, several rookies circled the 2.5-mile superspeedway in search of seat-time with the intention to gain approval to compete in ARCA competition. Given the success of the test, ARCA’s newest rookie crop is off to a very good and safe start.

Venturini Motorsports, in all Toyotas, led the leader board in six separate sessions during which New Castle, Indiana rookie Caleb Armstrong posted the fastest speed overall at 184.192 mph. He was followed by rookie Justin Boston, veteran John Wes Townley and rookie Taylor Ferns.

“As a driver there is no doubt Daytona is the place to be,” Armstrong said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to see my progress in making the transition from open wheel to stock cars. The team has been totally supportive and given me really good equipment.”

Venturini Motorsports also provided some ‘really good equipment’ for Boston, who was second quickest overall at 184.158 mph.

“Obviously there are a lot of variables here but we’ve been able to quickly create a strong baseline and develop a lot of synergy,” said Boston.

“This is new territory for everyone, but the Venturinis prove year after year they can quickly adapt and make it real comfortable to fit in and find speed.”

Boston, with title sponsorship from Zloop, announced recently a full season in the No. 25 Venturini Motorsports flagship machine. Daytona will mark his ARCA Racing Series debut.

“It’s an honor and privilege to drive at Daytona. This place is the real deal. No other place I’d rather make my series debut than here at Daytona. It’s true what they say – all roads do lead to Daytona.”

Rookie Matt Kurzejewski, with an assist from former ARCA champion Bob Keselowski, was the fastest Dodge in the line-up, fifth on the leader board overall at 184.121 mph.

Martinsville Speedway track president Clay Campbell, 52, was impressive, earning the sixth fastest speed in a Ford.

“I grew up in the business and I love this sport,” Campbell said. “I’m a race fan. I love the business. It’s my life. But who in their right mind would not come to Daytona and run a race? This is racing; this is what it’s all about. This place has so much history and tradition. This is big for me.”

Rookie Bo Lemastus, in a Dodge, was seventh overall with rookie Thomas Praytor earning the eighth fastest speed in a Ford.

“Two of our goals for the test were to earn the respect of the ARCA garage and prove our Mobile team could compete at this level,” Praytor said. “Hopefully our performance on and off the track this weekend shows were serious about what we’re doing.”

Cunningham Motorsports teammates Michel Disdier, of Nice France, and series veteran Tom Hessert completed the top-10 respectively. Both were driving Dodges.

Eight-time winner Bobby Gerhart was 23rd fastest.

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards has crowned 30 ARCA national champions in 60 seasons since 1953, and has toured over 200 race tracks in 26 states since its inception. The series has tested the abilities of drivers and race teams over the most diverse schedule of stock car racing events in the world, visiting tracks ranging from 0.375 mile to 2.66 miles in length on both paved and dirt surfaces as well as a left- and right-turn road course in its most recent season.

Founded by John and Mildred Marcum in 1953 in Toledo, Ohio, the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is recognized among the leading sanctioning bodies in the country. Having completed its sixth decade after hundreds of thousands of miles of racing, ARCA administers over 100 race events each season in four professional touring series – the ARCA Racing Series, the ARCA CRA Super Series, the ARCA Truck Series, and new in 2013, the ARCA Midwest Tour – in addition to local weekly events at Ohio’s Toledo Speedway and Michigan’s Flat Rock Speedway.

Daytona Int’l Speedway Open Testing
ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards
December 14-16, 2012 (Overall Results)

NO DRIVER TIME
1.) 55 Caleb Armstrong — 48.862
2.) 25a Justin Boston — 48.871
3.) 15 John Wes Townley — 48.876
4.) 55a Taylor Ferns — 48.876
5.) 54 Matt Kurzejewski — 48.881
6.) 8 Clay Campbell — 49.092
7.) 42 Bo Lemastus — 49.113
8.) 2 Thomas Praytor — 49.305
9.) 77 Michel Disdier — 49.323
10.) 22 Tom Hessert — 49.382
11.) 92 Brennan Newberry — 49.394
12.) 04a Galen Hassler — 49.447
13.) 68 Will Kimmel — 49.465
14.) 3 Drew Charleson — 49.527
15.) 16 Ricky Ehrgott — 49.527
16.) 5b Brandon Hanks — 49.618
17.) 99 John Ferrier — 49.643
18.) 6 Julien Jousse — 49.658
19.) 32 Mason Mingus — 49.661
20.) 99a Chris Buescher — 49.665
21.) 30 Terry Jones — 49.772
22.) 11e Trevor Edwards — 49.782
23.) 5 Bobby Gerhart — 49.82
24.) 23 Spencer Gallagher — 49.835
25.) 75 Benny Chastain — 49.845
26.) 94 Milka Duno — 49.941
27.) 58 Chad Hackenbracht — 49.958
28.) 04b Jeremy Morales — 49.985
29.) 4 Dominick Casola — 50.018
30.) 40e Michelle Theriault — 50.025
31.) 54a Garrett Smithley — 50.032
32.) 17 Chris Buescher — 50.06
33.) 69 Steve Kemp — 50.071
34.) 58a Mason Mitchell — 50.075
35.) 75a Scott Green — 50.103
36.) 40b Jimmy Wills — 50.148
37.) 9 Grant Enfinger — 50.16
38.) 40 Joel Willman — 50.31
39.) 19a Nur Ali — 50.322
40.) 09a Charles Evans, Jr. — 50.397
41.) 11b Jonathan Eilen — 50.409
42.) 19c Donnie Neuenberger — 50.504
43.) 38 Andrew Gresel — 50.512
44.) 40a Richard Altman — 50.531
45.) 10a Rick Clifton — 50.608
46.) 5a Brian Smith — 50.644
47.) 2 Josh Williams — 50.782
48.) 40c Garrett Farmer — 50.874
49.) 11f Casey Hillenburg — 51.01
50.) 40d Michael Bockler — 51.166
51.) 11c Johnny VanDoorn — 51.195
52.) 11d Tyler Speer — 51.195
53.) 10 Richard Doheny — 51.244
54.) 7a George Cushman — 51.319
55.) 19 Cody Ware — 51.342
56.) 11 Dakota Carlson — 51.381
57.) 19e James Swanson — 51.558
58.) 11a Travis Braden — 51.575
59.) 19b Noel Dowler — 51.657
60.) 19d Dexter Stacey — 51.731
61.) 7 Brent Cross — 51.769