Contact: John Ewert
Communications Director
O: (920) 893-4206
jewert@roadamerica.com
Don Radebaugh, ARCA
(419) 450-0611 (mobile
dradebaugh@arcaracing.com
CHASE ELLIOT, RYAN BLANEY FILE ENTRIES FOR
ARCA’S DEBUT AT ROAD AMERICA
ELKHART LAKE, Wis., June 6, 2013 – The first annual SCOTT® 160 at Road America is already attracting an interesting mix of rookies and veterans vying for supremacy on the renowned 14-turn, 4-mile road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
The event marks the first appearance of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards at Road America. It’s also providing an opportunity for well-known second- and third-generation drivers to familiarize themselves with road course racing, particularly important at the highest levels of stock car racing, where many hope to end up.
Second-generation driver Chase Elliott has filed an entry, as has third-generation driver Ryan Blaney.
“Anytime you get a chance to race a stock car on a road course, it would be a huge help for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” said 17-year-old Elliott and son of NASCAR champion Bill Elliott.
Elliott made his road course debut in the ARCA race at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2012, and very nearly won the race. Elliott was leading on the last lap before Roxton Pond, Quebec’s Andrew Ranger passed him coming to the checkered flag. Temperatures that day exceeded one-hundred degrees. Elliott still impressed with a second place finish.
“It was by far the hottest race I’ve ever been part of. Road course racing, I found out, wouldn’t be easy on a cool day, much less a one-hundred degree day. It was a rough day. I’ve never worked so hard in a race car before. It was brutal.”
But having come so close to Victory Lane on a road course has Elliott all charged up about getting the opportunity to race at Road America. He’ll be driving the No. 9 Aaron’s Dream Machine-Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet at Road America.
“Having come so close to winning at New Jersey just makes me want to get to Road America all the more. I’ve heard such great things about it; I’m obviously excited to go race there.”
Elliott, in preparation for Road America, will turn to TV, You Tube, and of course, his famous father for advice.
“I’ll watch races from Road America on TV, You Tube, anywhere I can. We’ll utilize practice time as much as possible. I know the car will be good. And now that I have driven on a road course, I have a better idea of the aggression level it takes to run well, and what I need to do to get the win. Like I said, I know the car will be good. It’s going to be up to me to understand what I need to do.”
Blaney will drive for longtime ARCA team Cunningham Motorsports at Road America. Blaney is the son of NASCAR veteran and World of Outlaws sprint car champion Dave Blaney.
“Road America will be my first road course race and I’m very excited to get out and learn,” Blaney said.
“I’ve been to a couple road course schools and I hope that experience will carry over to the ARCA race.”
As Penske Racing’s driver development team, Cunningham Motorsports will provide track time for the 19-year-old driver at various tracks where he has little or no previous experience. Blaney is currently driving the No. 29 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Brad Keselowski Racing, and also racing in selected NASCAR Nationwide Series events in the No. 22 Penske Racing entry.
After signing with Penske Racing in July of 2012, Blaney ran seven Nationwide races and 13 Camping World Truck races, celebrating his first Truck Series victory in only his third start at Iowa Speedway, thus becoming the youngest winner in NASCAR Truck Series history.
Blaney made two ARCA Racing Series starts in 2011 under the Venturini Motorsports banner, finishing a career-best second at Lucas Oil Raceway after leading 67 laps. Blaney nearly won at Winchester Speedway in his ARCA Racing Series debut, leading 154 of 200 laps before a cut right-front tire relegated him to a sixth place finish.
The SCOTT® 160 will mark the 17th time the ARCA Racing Series has raced on a road course, reaching back to its inaugural road course appearance in 1958.
Rain or shine, the inaugural SCOTT® 160 at Road America for the ARCA Racing Series is ready to set sail on June 22 prior to the NASCAR Nationwide Series Johnsonville Sausage 200 presented by Menards kicking off an action-packed stock car double header on the renowned Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin road course.
Tickets are available and additional event details, schedules, ticket pricing and camping information can be found at http://www.roadamerica.com/ or by calling 800-365-7223. Kids 12 and under are free with an adult.
About Road America: Established in 1955 as the first permanent road racing course in the United States, Road America is located midway between Milwaukee and Green Bay in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The world’s best racers have competed at this legendary four-mile, 14-turn road circuit for over 55 years. The 640-acre, park-like grounds offer amazing viewing opportunities, fantastic concessions and high-speed excitement to hundreds of thousands of spectators each year. In addition to public race weekends, Road America offers a variety of group event programs, the Blain’s Farm & Fleet Motorplex for karting and supermoto, and the Road America Motorcycle and Advanced Driving Schools. For more information, visit www.roadamerica.com Follow Road America on www.facebook.com/RoadAmerica and on Twitter: @roadamerica or call 800-365-7223.
