Photo Credit: Noel Lanier
Concord, NC — Venturini Motorsports (VMS), known for a successful driver development program, announced today the additions of Toyota Racing’s Christopher Bell, Tanner Thorson and Nicole Behar to the team’s 2016 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards driver lineup. The Toyota teammates will compete in seven events with VMS combined over the course of the remaining season schedule.
The trio will join previously announced Toyota driver, Dalton Sargeant, as part of a stout development driver roster for VMS in the ARCA Series.
Christopher Bell, the highly touted NASCAR rookie, will compete under the VMS banner (No.15 / 66 Toyota Camry) at five events starting at Salem Speedway on April 24. The 20-year-old from Norman, Oklahoma will also drive at New Jersey Motorsports Park, Pocono Raceway, Chicagoland Speedway and Salem Speedway for a second time when the series returns in September. Bell, who currently drives full-time for Kyle Busch Motorsports (No.4 Toyota Tundra) in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS), splashed onto the NASCAR scene in 2015 winning his first career NCWTS race at Eldora Speedway.
Tanner Thorson, widely known for his prowess in the seat of his open-wheeled midget, will sling some dirt ARCA Style in his VMS debut (No.55 Toyota Camry) in Springfield at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in August. Thorson currently pilots the No.67 Keith Kunz Motorsports Toyota Midget on the USAC National Tour. Thorson, a former Rookie (2013) and Driver (2015) of the Year recipient, helped Kunz win the 2015 USAC National Midget Owner’s Championship.
Nicole Behar, a member of the current NASCAR Next class, will make her first team (No.55 Toyota Camry) and ARCA Series start at Madison International Speedway on June 19. One of 12 members of the 2016 NASCAR Next Class, the 18-year-old currently drives for David Gilliland Racing in the CARS Tour and the Pro All Star Series (PASS). Behar competed full-time last season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West tour and was named the series Most Popular Driver in ’15.
Since 2007, Venturini Motorsports has built a strong reputation of preparing the country’s top NASCAR driver prospects for the big stage. Most notable Venturini Motorsports’ Alumni include drivers Joey Logano and Erik Jones.
Logano, winning two races with Venturini Motorsports made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debuts with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008 and in 2015 became the second youngest Daytona 500 winner.
Erik Jones, also a winning driver for Venturini Motorsports, drove for the Concord, NC based team during the 2013-2014 ARCA season and is now considered one of NASCAR’s hottest commodities. Jones won the 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
Other drivers making their rise up the ranks with Venturini Motorsports include Daniel Suarez, Ryan Blaney, Brian Scott, Justin Allgaier, Alex Bowman and Brennan Poole. Overall, Venturini has assisted 39 drivers who’ve gone on to compete in one of NASCAR’s top three series’.
About Venturini Motorsports:
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars for over 30-years in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country. Multiple team championships and consistent on-track success, VMS has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in motorsports. Since 2007, VMS has assisted in the career development of notable NASCAR drivers such as Joey Logano, Justin Allgaier, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, Brian Scott, Kevin Swindell, John Wes Townley, Erik Jones and Justin Boston. Over the years the Venturini name has become synonymous with modern-day racing in America. In 2012, the Venturini family was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (www.NIASHF.org) and now find themselves enshrined with such sports icons as Joe DiMaggio, Mario Andretti, Vince Lombardi, Tommy Lasorda and Rocky Marciano.
Official: www.VenturiniMotorsports.com | Twitter: @VenturiniMotor | Facebook: Venturini Motorsports
