ARCA’s “Road to Daytona” begins this weekend in 'Border Wars' 7-UP 150 at Toledo Speedway
Border Wars 7-Up 150 to Bring ARCA/CRA Super Series & ARCA Midwest Tour together (Special from ARCAracing.com)
April 17, 2013
Toledo, OH (April 17, 2013) – Aspiring young race car drivers have many things in common: the need for speed, a certain skill set, and a fearlessness that allows them to accomplish things the ordinary person would not event attempt.
And, at the back of their mind, a chance to race professionally at the highest levels of the sport, and at places made famous by the likes of AJ Foyt, Mario Andretti, Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt.
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) is a Midwestern-based stock car racing sanctioning body which has for years provided racers with the opportunity to test their skills, and advance their careers. ARCA, along with the help of several supporters, continues that tradition this weekend as the "Road to Daytona" promotion begins at Toledo Speedway.
ARCA's flagship property, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, is a development series for drivers aspiring to someday race in NASCAR. The series has helped develop the careers of some of the biggest names in racing.
In addition to its national tour, ARCA also sanctions a number of regional stock car tours. Two of them will compete together for the first time this weekend at Toledo in the 7-UP 150. The season-long champion for the ARCA CRA Super Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour will be provided the opportunity to test in an ARCA national tour car this December at Dayton International Speedway.
"Of all the people who race cars, and one level or another, only a very, very small percentage of them will ever have the chance to drive a race car around Daytona International Speedway," commented Mark Gundrum, ARCA's VP for business development. "Along with some of our corporate supporters, we have developed a way to provide that experience to some very deserving drivers."
Roush Yates Engines, the North Carolina high performance manufacturer which supplies the powerplants for many of today top NASCAR stars, will supply a legal restrictor plate engine lease for the weekend, to be run by the drivers participating in this year's Road to Daytona.
Three-time ARCA CRA Super Series champion Johnny VanDoorn and the 2012 ARCA Midwest Tour champion Jonathan Eilen participated in the three-day test last December, and each viewed the experiences as the chance of a lifetime.
"There was definitely a big wow factor," said VanDoorn.
"I don't think anyone can explain the rush until you feel it yourself. I'm just grateful for having the opportunity, and I really have a great appreciation for what ARCA is trying to do to build short track racing for these two tours and the drivers within them. I'm honored to be a part of all of this; it pretty-much topped off my year."
Eilen had a similar response.
"From the minute we drove through the tunnel I thought, how can this be happening?" Look at this place, I mean, how many people actually get to experience this opportunity in their racing career," Eilen said.
"All the years that our family has been coming down here and now it's reality. The experience of this whole thing was amazing and I never envisioned being able to go this fast; it's a new step in my career."
In addition to Roush Yates, other supporters of the ARCA Road to Daytona include Hoosier Racing Tire, Sunoco, and Andy Hillenberg's Fast Track Driving School.
7-UP 150 Features Live Timing & Scoring and Live Streaming Audio at ARCAracing.com
The 7-UP 150 will also feature live timing and scoring and live flag-to-flag streaming audio coverage at ARCAracing.com The combination of the two media platforms at ARCAracing.com will mark the first time in history that the ARCA CRA Super Series and the ARCA Midwest Tour will be featured simultaneously in live streaming audio, accompanied by live timing and scoring.
The live timing and scoring element at ARCAracing.com begins Friday afternoon, April 19 with an optional practice session from 3 p.m. to 7. The combination of live timing and scoring in tandem with live streaming audio comes together Saturday for all the on-track activity, including practice at 11 a.m., followed by qualifying at 3 p.m. With so many entries pouring in, as many as two ‘last chance' races will begin at 5 followed by an on-track autograph session that leads to pre-race ceremonies, and ultimately, the 7-UP 150 main event.
Toledo's 7-UP 150 will also air on the Buckeye Cable Sports Network (BCSN) on "Sunday Night at the Races" at 9 p.m. on the local Toledo cable access channel Sunday, April 21. The race can also be purchased through BCSN's video-on-demand programming at bcsn.tv/vod.html. You can also keep with the 7-UP 150 at Speed51.com with live, in-time blogs. Speed51.com, owned and operated by renowned motorsports television analyst Bob Dillner, is considered as one of the leaders in online national late model coverage.
