(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – January 12, 2016) – With the 53rd annual Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona Int’l Speedway just around the bend, several ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards teams will get a jump-start this weekend at the “World Center of Racing” for two days of open testing this Friday and Saturday, January 15-16.
Series officials expect as many as 20 teams to participate, some with several drivers rotating in and out of a variety of Chevrolets, Fords, Toyotas and Dodges. More than 50 drivers are expected to test.
Eight-time Lucas Oil 200 winner Bobby Gerhart is among the veteran drivers in the line-up, along with Tom Hessert, who just announced a full season in the Venturini Motorsports flagship 25 car, and the 2014 ARCA Racing Series national champion Mason Mitchell. John Wes Townley, the 2013 Lucas Oil 200 winner, is also expected to test.
Series officials also expect to see a sizeable group of rookies looking for experience on the renowned 2.5-mile superspeedway, including Ladera Ranch, California’s Cole Custer (ARCA Pocono winner 2015), Mitchell, Indiana’s Chase Briscoe, Las Vegas, Nevada’s Noah Gragson and Matt Wallace to name a few. Wallace is the son of NASCAR / ARCA veteran driver Mike Wallace. Briscoe, along with his Cunningham Motorsports teammate Kevin Thomas Jr., are expected to commute from the ARCA test Friday to compete in the Chili Bowl Nationals in Oklahoma Saturday.
Other entrants expected include 2015 SCOTT Rookie of the Year and Short Track Challenge champion Kyle Weatherman, Crosley Brands CEO Bo LeMastus, Summerland BC’s Sarah Cornett-Ching, 2015 Superspeedway Challenge champion Matt Kurzejewski, Port Charlotte, Florida’s Josh Williams and Will Kimmel, the nephew of 10-time ARCA national champion Frank Kimmel.
Gates open at 7:00 a.m. each day with on-track testing scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ARCAracing.com will feature live timing and scoring of all on-track activities.
The 53rd annual Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona is live on FS1 Saturday, February 13, and precedes NASCAR’s Sprint Unlimited.
About ARCA Racing:
For more than 60 years the ARCA Racing Series presented Menards has offered race fans a diverse brand of stock car racing on short tracks, dirt tracks, road courses and superspeedways. Founded by John and Mildred Marcum, the ARCA Racing Series is a destination for professional race drivers and a developmental series which transitions and prepares drivers for the advancement of their careers into the highest levels of the sport.
